Firstly, a huge thank you to our SEND community Before we talk about the outcome of the Area SEND inspection, we want to start by saying a huge thank you to every parent carer, child and young person who took the time to share their experiences as part of the inspection. Whether you completed the parent carer survey, supported your child or young person to have their say, took part in a meeting or conversation, or shared your experiences in another way, your contribution was incredibly important. We know that finding the time to take part isn't always easy, particularly when you're already juggling the many demands that can come with being a parent carer. We also know that talking openly about your family's experiences – especially when things haven't gone well – can sometimes be difficult. We'd also like to say a special thank you to those of you who had the opportunity to speak directly with the Ofsted and CQC inspectors at our SEND Information Day . It was really valuable to have inspectors there listening directly to parent carers, hearing about your experiences in your own words and getting a better understanding of what life is really like for SEND families in Southend. Some of you shared positive experiences, some spoke about the challenges and frustrations you've faced, and for many families the reality is a mixture of both. All of those experiences matter. Together, they helped inspectors build a fuller picture of what is working well, where experiences remain inconsistent and where further change is needed. Your voices helped inform this inspection, and they must continue to be heard as we move from the inspection report into the work that comes next. Our Response to the Area SEND Inspection : A message to parent carers. The Ofsted and CQC Area SEND inspection is an important opportunity to understand what is working well for children and young people with SEND in Southend-on-Sea, as well as where further improvements are needed. The outcome report concludes that children and young people with SEND in Southend-on-Sea experience of services and outcomes is inconsistent. It identifies areas of effective practice alongside important improvements that are still needed. The local area partnership is required to work jointly, update its strategic plan and take action in response to the report’s recommendations and a further full Area SEND inspection is expected within approximately three years. At Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) fully recognise the variation highlighted in the report. There remains an inconsistent experience of families across Southend and across different services. While considerable changes have already been made, we recognise that not every family has seen or felt the impact of those changes. SSIF as your Parent Carer Forum (PCF), will continue to work with the Southend partnership and contribute to the ongoing improvement work. Our role is to make sure that the experiences of parent carers remain central to this process and that improvements lead to meaningful and lasting changes for children, young people and their families. Your experience must inform the changes We have extensive experience of the Area SEND inspection and improvement process. We have taken part in two full Area SEND inspections and a revisit, and we attend six-monthly monitoring meetings with representatives from the Department for Education and NHS England. At these meetings, your voice and lived experience as a parent carer are central. The feedback you share helps us understand and communicate: what is working well and should be maintained; where families are experiencing difficulties or inconsistencies; where services are not meeting children and families’ needs; and where further change and improvement are needed. We do not want to hear only about problems. Positive experiences are equally important because they help us identify effective practice that could be shared and strengthened across Southend. How you can share your experience There are a number of ways you can get involved and tell us about your experiences. You can attend: our monthly coffee mornings at SAVS ; our termly drop-in sessions ; our SEND Information Day ; our Feedback Form , which is always open on our website. You can share feedback about any aspect of your child or young person’s SEND experience. Whether your experience has been positive, difficult or mixed , we want to hear from you. Everything we do, we bring the feedback and key themes we hear from parent carers. This gives you a direct route for your experiences to inform discussions, challenge where improvements are needed and help shape the work being taken forward across Southend-on-Sea. If you are a group or organisation based in or working with families in Southend, you can also join the SEND Network. The network meets termly and is a space for groups to share their families experiences and the work they do. You can find out more here: https://www.livewellsouthend.com/send-local-offer/southend-send-network The inspection is not the end of the process The inspection report gives us an important picture of where Southend is now, but the real test is what happens next. Change will take time, and it is important that we continue to listen to families throughout the improvement process. Your experiences can help us understand whether changes are actually making a difference on the ground—not just whether plans have been written or actions have been completed. Please keep sharing your experiences with us. Every piece of feedback contributes to a fuller picture of SEND services in Southend. Your voice helps us recognise good practice, identify where families continue to face barriers, hold services to account and ensure that the experiences of children, young people and their families fully inform the changes being made. The inspection is not the end. This is the start of the change—and your voice helps make the changes.

As another busy term comes to a close, we'd like to take a moment to reflect on what has been a fantastic few months for SSIF and to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been part of it. Supporting Parent Carer Wellbeing Our Healthy Parent Carer Programme is coming to the end of another successful programme, and we'd like to thank every parent carer who signed up and took part. The programme was created to give parent carers the opportunity to make time for themselves, connect with others who understand the unique challenges of caring for a child or young person with SEND, learn practical self-care and stress management strategies, prioritise their own wellbeing, and find a little more calm and balance. Run by Parent Carers, for Parent Carers, these sessions provide a safe and supportive space where wellbeing really matters. We hope everyone who attended found the programme helpful and came away feeling supported and equipped with strategies they can continue to use long after the sessions have finished. Southend SEND Information Day 💙 What a day! In June, we proudly co-hosted our second Southend SEND Information Day alongside the Southend SEND Local Offer Team, welcoming more than 100 visitors from across Southend. The event brought together parent carers, education, health and social care professionals, representatives from the local authority, community organisations and the NHS to share information, answer questions and strengthen relationships across the SEND community. We'd like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended, as well as all of our fantastic stall holders who gave their time, knowledge and expertise to support families throughout the day. It was a privilege to facilitate so many meaningful conversations, helping families better understand the SEND system and the support available to them. If you attended one of our topic talks—or weren't able to make it on the day—you can still access the presentation slides here: Topic Slides Thank You for Your Contributions to the Area SEND Inspection We would also like to thank all of the parents, carers, children, young people and practitioners who contributed to the recent Area SEND Inspection. Whether you completed a survey or shared your experiences directly with inspectors, your willingness to speak openly and honestly has helped provide a meaningful picture of SEND services across our area. A special thank you goes to the children and young people who took part. Your voices matter, and it is so important that your experiences continue to shape the services designed to support you. To every parent and carer who took the time to contribute—thank you. Your insights and lived experiences are invaluable in helping drive positive change for SEND families across Southend. Wishing You All a Wonderful Summer ☀️ As we head into the summer holidays, we know this can mean very different things for every SEND family. For some, it brings excitement and opportunities to spend quality time together. For others, the change in routine can feel challenging or overwhelming. Whatever your summer looks like, we hope you'll remember that there is no "right" way to do the holidays. Try not to worry about expectations or comparisons—do what works best for your family. Sometimes the best days are the simplest ones. If you're looking for ideas over the summer, there are lots of fantastic resources and organisations offering activities, support and affordable days out. Some helpful places to start include: Southend SEND Local Offer Events & Activities – Find local events, activities and support available throughout the summer: https://www.livewellsouthend.com/events-activities CEA Card – If your child or young person needs additional support at the cinema, you may be eligible for a complimentary ticket for a carer: https://www.ceacard.co.uk/ Kids Eat Free & £1 Meals – Discover restaurants and cafés offering family-friendly meal deals during the holidays: https://moneysavingcentral.co.uk/kids-eat-free Southend Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme – If your child is eligible, there are lots of free activities available throughout the summer: https://www.livewellsouthend.com/activities/holiday-activities-food-programme-haf Access Card – The Access Card can help communicate your child or young person's access requirements at attractions and events, making visits easier and more inclusive: https://www.accesscard.online/ There are also some fantastic local organisations running events over the summer, including you can click on their name to take you to their Facebook profiles: Little Heroes Just Ride Southend Ronnie's Way Blossom SEND STRM (Send The Right Message) We'll continue sharing activities, events and opportunities that we come across on our social media channels throughout the summer, so be sure to keep an eye out. Finally, we'd like to wish every family a happy, restful and enjoyable summer break. However you choose to spend it, we hope you find moments of fun, laughter, connection and rest. We look forward to seeing you in September! 💙

Support for Children and Young People's Mental Health and Wellbeing For those who were unable to attend our recent event, we are pleased to share the presentation slides from the day. We were delighted to host a range of speakers who highlighted the support available to children, young people and families across Essex. Representatives from NHS Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) provided an overview of their Babies, Children and Young People portfolio and their commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people through their ROAR values – Ready, Organised, Ambitious and Relentless. Their work spans a wide range of areas including mental health, neurodiversity, SEND and physical health services. The School Nursing Team and Mental Health Support Team (MHST) shared information about the support they provide to children and young people, including emotional wellbeing support, resources available within schools and colleges, and ways families can access advice and guidance. The NHS Essex ICB delivered information about Mid and South Essex Children and Young People Counselling Service, delivered in partnership by Kids Inspire, Renew Counselling and Open Door. The service provides accessible emotional wellbeing and counselling support for children and young people experiencing challenges such as anxiety, low mood and the impact of trauma. We also heard from SNAP, who outlined the wide range of support they offer to families of children and young people with additional needs and disabilities, including information, guidance, counselling, helplines and face-to-face support. We hope you find the information within these slides helpful in understanding the services and support available to children, young people and families across our area.

Sometimes it helps just to sit down with people who understand , o ur monthly Coffee Mornings are a chance to meet other parent carers, share experiences, ask questions and enjoy a coffee and a slice of cake in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Whether you're looking to meet other families, share experiences, ask questions or simply enjoy a coffee and a slice of cake with people who understand, our monthly Coffee Mornings are here for you. There's no set agenda and no pressure – just a relaxed, friendly space where you can chat as much or as little as you like. We know that everyone is on their own journey, and sometimes it helps just knowing you're in a room with people who 'get it'. Each month, we also invite professionals from education, health and social care to join us, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and access information in an informal setting. Our Local Offer team is always there too, helping families find the right support, services and advice. If you're a regular at our Coffee Mornings, we can't wait to catch up with you again. And if you've never joined us before, we'd love to welcome you. Come along, have a coffee, enjoy some cake, meet our team and connect with other parent carers – we'd love to see you. A quick note for those who have attended in the past: unfortunately, we are no longer able to offer the Chaos & Calm crèche at our coffee mornings. We can't wait to welcome you! Everyone is welcome, and there's no need to book – just come along!

Healthy Parent Carer Programme – Starting in September 2026 - Booking Now Open! Following the fantastic success of our recent Healthy Parent Carers programme, we're delighted to be opening bookings for our next course starting this September. We were thrilled to receive such positive feedback from participants, many of whom told us they had gained practical tools and strategies to help them prioritise their own health and wellbeing, alongside the demands of caring for their family. Taking time to look after yourself isn't always easy, but it is so important, and this programme is designed to support parent carers to build sustainable habits that benefit both themselves and their families. If you're ready to invest a little time in your own wellbeing, we'd love you to join us. Healthy Parent Carers is a 6-week programme dedicated entirely to your health and wellbeing. As parent carers, you spend so much time looking after everyone else. This programme is a chance to focus on you — to breathe, recharge, and connect with others who truly understand your journey. Starts Monday 8th June 2026 Only 14 spaces are available to keep the group supportive and personal. Over the 6 weeks, we’ll explore ways to: Make time for yourself Connect with other parent carers Learn simple self-care and stress-management strategies Prioritise your own wellbeing Find a little more calm and balance Our sessions are run for Parent Carers, by Parent Carers — a safe, understanding space where your wellbeing really matters. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided, and there’s an onsite café at the Civic Centre. Parking can be limited, so please allow extra time if you're driving. To help you truly switch off and focus on yourself, babies and children can’t be accommodated during the course. Find out more: www.healthyparentcarers.org Book tickets HERE  Or Scan the QR Code on the poster.

Healthy Parent Carer Programme – Booking Now Open! We’re so pleased to share that SSIF has been accredited to deliver a brand-new 6-week programme dedicated entirely to your health and wellbeing. As parent carers, you spend so much time looking after everyone else. This programme is a chance to focus on you — to breathe, recharge, and connect with others who truly understand your journey. Starts Monday 8th June 2026 Only 14 spaces are available to keep the group supportive and personal. Over the 6 weeks, we’ll explore ways to: Make time for yourself Connect with other parent carers Learn simple self-care and stress-management strategies Prioritise your own wellbeing Find a little more calm and balance Our sessions are run for Parent Carers, by Parent Carers — a safe, understanding space where your wellbeing really matters. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided, and there’s an onsite café at the Civic Centre. Parking can be limited, so please allow extra time if you're driving. To help you truly switch off and focus on yourself, babies and children can’t be accommodated during the course. Find out more: www.healthyparentcarers.org Book tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/.../healthy-parent-carers-6... - Or Scan the QR Code on the poster.