A session for Southend families of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
On 23 February 2026, the Government published the Schools White Paper: Every Child Achieving and Thriving. This sets out proposed changes to both the schools system and the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system in England. These proposals are now open for national consultation until 18 May 2026.
We understand that announcements like these can cause uncertainty for families of children and young people with SEND. Please be reassured that nothing about the support you currently receive will change at this stage.
To help keep families informed, the Southend SEND Area Partnership invites you to an in‑person information session. The session will take place on Friday 17 April 2026, 9.30am to 10.30am at Southend Civic Centre (Jubilee Room).
What to Expect in the Session
This session builds on the ongoing awareness work across Southend and provides a welcoming space for families to share their thoughts on the proposed changes. Together, we want to ensure your voices are represented clearly and confidently.
During the session, we will:
- share a short overview and updates on the SEND White Paper proposals
- gather feedback on what is working well and where families feel there are gaps based on your lived experiences of SEND services in Southend
- explore how the national changes might affect families locally