- Description
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Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) is the Parent Carer Forum (PCF) for Southend-on-Sea. Funded by the Department of Education, PCFs work alongside local authorities and health services, making sure that the voices of parents and carers of children with SEND are heard.
The work of SSIF is led by a steering group, all of whom are parents or carers of children with SEND and live in Southend. SSIF are a part of the Southend SEND Area Partnership and steering group members work alongside Health, Education and Social services to ensure that families are at the heart of all decisions taken.
Any parent or carer who lives in Southend and has a child or young person who is under 25 and who has SEND can be a member of the forum. SSIF gather the views of parents and carers in a number of different ways. Steering group members regularly visit local support groups, listening to parents and carers and establishing what is important to them. They conduct surveys and questionnaires to find out what is working well and what needs to be improved. Parents and carers can also share their views through the SSIF website.
In addition to this, SSIF organise a number of events throughout the year that seek to empower parents and carers with knowledge, information and wellbeing techniques. They hold a monthly coffee morning where parents and carers can meet and share their experiences, with guidance and advice also available from a variety of different SEND departments, including the SEND Local Offer Team and Advisory SENCos. The best way to keep up to date with the work of SSIF is to sign up via the SSIF website and follow us on Facebook.
SSIF coffee mornings
SSIF hold a monthly coffee morning where parents and carers can meet and share their experiences, with guidance and advice also available from a variety of different SEND departments, including the SEND Local Offer Team and Advisory SENCos. Parents and carers of children under 5 can enjoy a cup of tea and a biscuit in peace, thanks to the free sensory play creche provided by Chaos and Calm.
The sessions are on a Tuesday morning, 10am to 11.30am at SAVS, 29 -31 Alexandra Street, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 1BW. There is no need to book. The dates for 2024 are:
- 14 May
- 11 June
- 9 July
- 10 September
- 8 October
- 12 November
- 10 December
- Email address
- Website
- LO provider type
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Local Offer - General provider
- Offering services to;
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Parent carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
