Thank you to everyone who came to a SEND Surgery in 2025, we were delighted to offer our support.

A big thank you also goes out to the teams and services who attended the surgeries to provide advice and guidance; and to the schools that helps us hosting these sessions.

We’re delighted to share our surgery dates for 2026. Surgeries are open to any Southend resident family. They’re friendly and informal opportunities to speak to different services. All in one place.

Please come along if you’ve got any questions or need some advice. We look forward to seeing you.

The Lighthouse Child Development Centre now has a number of support lines which parent carers can call for advice on how to support their child.

Following the success of previous projects delivering Robo Pets to Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils and special school settings, supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), SENDIASS is now introducing Breathing Red Pandas.

AccessAble provides detailed access guides and photographs of venues so people know what access will be like when they visit.

You can find information about Southend Hospital, Basildon Hospital and Broomfield Hospital; and the AccessAble website has access guides for a range of other venues.

We’re delighted to share some exciting news!

SSIF has been accredited to deliver a brand new 6-week programme: Healthy Parent Carers, dedicated entirely to your mental and physical health and wellbeing. This free parent-led programme offers you the chance to connect with other parent carers who truly “get it,” while learning simple, practical ways to support your own wellbeing.

SSIF would like to wish you and your families a Christmas that feels right for you. Whether your days are calm, full of energy, or a mix of everything in between, we hope you can enjoy the moments that matter in your own way.

Be gentle with yourselves, take things at your pace, and may the season bring comfort, warmth, and little pockets of rest wherever they appear.

As always, we appreciate your feedback on your lived experiences of SEND in Southend-on-Sea – the positives, the negatives and everything in-between!  Please complete our family feedback form.

Eco Wings and Eco Nights is a cornerstone of support for our community's young people, offering opportunities for learning, friendship, and adventure.

They are an essential day centre dedicated to empowering young adults, aged 19 to 30, with learning and/or physical disabilities. Their mission is to provide life and social skills training in a supportive and fun environment, helping participants build independence and confidence.

They offer:

• Day centre (ages 19 to 30): focused programs that build essential life skills, encourage social interaction, and foster personal growth.
• School holiday fun (ages 11+): a dynamic range of activities and exciting trips out for older children and young people.
• Eco Nights (ages 11+): their popular evening clubs provide a great opportunity for socialising, relaxing, and enjoying structured activities after the school day.

Find their new home in Westcliff-on-Sea: Charsley House 32-38 Milton Road Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, SS0 7JE.

Nurturing Bright Futures is a new guide for families and early years professionals in Southend.

Co-created with local voices, it covers pregnancy to school age and shows how everyday interactions and strong environments support children’s wellbeing, communication, independence, health and curiosity. It includes simple ideas, helpful links and local places to explore.

Find it on Livewell Southend or ask your early years setting or health visitor.

Southend’s Educational Psychology Service is excited to announce that S-Well is delivering whole-class sessions across our community.

Programmes like Getting Unstuck (strategies for focus and managing overwhelm) and Bouncing Back (building resilience) are already receiving excellent feedback. We’re committed to refining and enhancing these sessions to support schools even more effectively as we move forward.

The Southend Vocational Profile is a resource designed to support person-centred planning for young people aged 14 to 25.

The tool enables young people to identify and articulate their aspirations for employment and the future. It is intended to be a working document that follows the young person throughout their journey.

Navigating education and training options after 16 can be complex, especially for young people with SEND and their families.

Our new post-16 routemap provides clear guidance on the pathways available. We've also developed a visual Preparing for Adulthood timeline showing key actions and statutory requirements for young people with EHCPs from year 9 onwards.

Follow the Southend SEND Local Offer on Instagram and Facebook for activities, events, and festive fun happening in our area.

What you'll find when you follow us:

• Inclusive events such as sensory-friendly Santa meet ups, accessible pantomimes, quiet hours for shopping, and more.
• Festive fun: Details on local light switch-ons, Christmas markets, and community gatherings tailored to meet diverse needs.
• Activity ideas: Great suggestions for crafts, recipes, and things to do at home throughout the holidays.

SNAP’s updated Christmas Survival Guide is full of tips and advice for this festive season to help support you and your family.

Covering a variety of different topics including making adjustments to decorations, foods and gifts, festive messy play ideas and adapted resources.

The survival guide provides strategies to help make the holiday period less stressful for all the family.

The Southend SEND Network is a dedicated space for organisations and groups supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and their families in Southend-on-Sea.

Are you a charity, group or organisation in Southend-on-Sea supporting children and/or young people with SEND and their families? Join us now!