Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF), and the SEND Local Offer Team invite parent carers and professionals to our 2nd SEND Information Day.

Join us for an information packed day! Meet local support services and teams and listen to informative talks.

Why not pre-register and get information about the event direct to your inbox to help you plan your visit?

The Government's Schools White Paper, Every child achieving and thriving was published on 23 February 2026. It sets out proposed reforms to the schools and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system in England.

The Government is consulting on the proposals until 18 May 2026.

SSIF, the Parent Carer Forum, are hosting drop-in sessions throughout the consultation period, where parent carers can share their views and ask questions.

They have also developed a short 5-question survey for families, to help ensure that local voices shape how reforms are developed and put into practice in Southend. The survey is open till 4 May.

Southend-on-Sea City Council are committed to making our elections as accessible as possible for every voter.

To support this, there are a range of arrangements designed to remove barriers at the polling station and throughout the voting process.

You can find full details on the support available and how we are improving the experience for everyone on our dedicated Election Accessibility page.

Southend EPS have been piloting two therapeutic interventions alongside other core and traded offers at local schools. Brilliant Brains, led by Assistant Educational Psychologists (AEPs), helps young people understand emotions in addition to building resilience and self‑regulation using the DNA‑V model (Louise Hayes), a child friendly approach based on Acceptance Commitment Therapy ideas.

The Homunculi Approach, delivered by Trainee Educational Psychologists and AEPs, uses Cognitive‑Behavioural principles to explore everyday challenges. Participants design “agents” and “gadgets” to complete missions, creating individual or group stories that strengthen future problem‑solving skills.  Data from both interventions is positive and the EPS are looking at offering this to all schools in the Summer Term.

The Specialist Teaching Service (STS) are delighted to welcome Laura Gordon-Rust as our new Deputy Head following the Easter break.

We are currently receiving up to 60 support requests weekly, alongside supporting 1,200 students, so we appreciate your patience with referrals.

Two new videos will be available on our YouTube channel, including introductory British Sign Language.

Next term, we will begin our transition programme. Further details to follow.

We are improving accessibility and supporting residents with the introduction of free peak bus travel for residents with disabilities and their companions. From 1 April 2026, Southend residents with disabled concessionary bus passes will be able to travel free from 6am for journeys starting within Southend.

This will help residents who need to travel earlier in the day for work, appointments or education. The council will also receive £8.5 million in dedicated bus funding over the next three years.

We will be hosting a series of informal drop-in sessions for parent carers to share their views and ask questions about the Government’s SEND reform proposals and consultation. These sessions are a chance to have your voice heard in a relaxed setting and to talk through any concerns or ideas you may have.

Just a reminder that our monthly coffee mornings are continuing, but with a temporary change of venue to Southend Civic Centre until the end of the current school year.

These friendly sessions are a great opportunity to meet other parent carers and get support.

We are planning the topic talks for our upcoming SEND Information Day on Tuesday 16 June, and we want them to reflect what you really want to hear about.

Please visit our website to complete a short survey and find out more about the event. Your feedback will help shape the sessions on the day.

As always we appreciate your feedback on your lived experience of SEND in Southend-on-Sea, the positives, the negatives and everything in-between!

Are you a parent carer of a child or young person with SEND? Need some advice?

Come along to our next friendly SEND Surgery on 27 April at Leigh North Street Primary School.

There’s no need to book, just drop-in anytime between 9am and 11am.

Visit the Local Offer for further information including details of the services and teams that will be in attendance.

Mini Talkers is a weekly targeted early language intervention and prevention 'test and learn' group for children aged 2 to 4 years.

Sessions are run by a Speech and Language Therapist and an Early Years SEND Link Advisor to Best Start Family Hubs.

Health visitors/health visiting assistants signpost families if children score as 'cautionary' for Communication and Language at Ages and Stages Questionnaire checks.

A social group for primary school aged children with hearing loss and their parent carers is organised by Southend-on-Sea City Council.

Join us to enjoy arts and crafts, puzzles, games and sign of the month. Siblings are welcome too.

The Early Years SEND Support Service offer a Play and Development Group for parent/carers and families of children with SEND aged 0 to 5 in the Southend Area.

The stay and play sessions are designed to support you and your child with a variety of play and sensory experiences. A range of different services also join the sessions to provide support and information. See below for information.

We've simplified complex information into easy-to-follow visual guides called routemaps. These resources are designed to help you navigate the various SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) processes across education, health, and social care.

The Southend Youth Council wants to hear from you!

We believe every young person deserves the right tools to build a successful future.

Because you are the expert on your own experiences, help us make sure that careers education in Southend works for everyone.

We want to find out what is missing from careers support for young people with SEND. Your feedback will be used to:

• directly shape improvements to local education and training
• promote equal access to job opportunities for everyone
• ensure your voice is heard by the people making the decisions

If you are aged 14 to 25 and have SEND, we want to hear your thoughts. It only takes a few minutes, and your input makes a huge difference.

Southend-on-Sea City Council’s Preparing for Adulthood Advisor is hosting a series of online webinars designed to build practical knowledge and confidence around Preparing for Adulthood outcomes and transition pathways for young people with SEND.

The next online webinar:“Navigating adult social care – preparing young people and families” will take place on Thursday 14 May, 6pm to 7pm.

Don’t miss out if you’re a young person with SEND, a parent carer or family member, or a professional. Book your place now!

Southend-on-Sea City Council are hosting a career’s day for young people with SEND, Looked after Children, Electively Home Educated young people and young people with SEND who are not in education, employment or training.

Young people will be able to access the day through their schools who will be invited to the event. Young people who are not in school or who are unable to attend via their school are welcome to attend with parents/carers at a time suitable to them.

Greater Anglia have a Supported Internship programme being delivered in partnership with South Essex Colleges Group, providing work placement opportunities for young people at train stations, with an opportunity to gain experience in 3 key areas.

Contact Lisa Bennett at supportedinternship@southesssex.ac.uk for more information.

Are you looking for the latest SEND activities, news, and events happening in Southend-on-Sea?

Make sure you're following the Southend SEND Local Offer Team on Facebook or Instagram. We share regular updates to help families with children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) find out what's on and access vital information.

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