The Southend SEND Youth Forum was replaced by Southend SEND Youth Voice in November 2024. The group is for young people aged 11 to 25 years who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Read about Southend SEND Youth Voice.
The Southend SEND Youth Forum was created in September 2021. It was set up to support young people to:
- express their views
- influence services they use
- identify gaps in things they want to do
- help to develop new things and services
- raise the profile and awareness of SEND
- represent other young people with SEND
The SEND Youth Forum had participation from:
- The St Christopher School
- Westcliff High School for Girls
- South Essex College
- Chase High School
- St Thomas Moore High School
Development of an annual review guide
The Local Offer Team worked with members of the Forum to produce an annual review guide. This work is ongoing.
Spring and summer 2022: co-designing an annual review survey
Southend-on-Sea City Council want to know what young people with Education, Health and Care Plans think about their annual reviews.
Members of the SEND Youth Forum helped develop a survey for children and young people about the annual review process.
In April and May 2022, 18 young people gave their feedback on the annual review process. They told us that having time to prepare for their review was key, as well as having a say about how they took part in the review and how they shared their views. Draft survey questions were co-produced from these conversations.
The questions were reviewed by over 20 young people in November and December 2022 and changes made.
The survey can be completed here: www.southend.gov.uk/MyARSurvey
We produced a video about the survey, featuring members of the forum who helped us develop it:
Youth Voice Matters Conference
Some members of the SEND Youth Forum attended the Council for Disabled Children's annual youth conference in February 2022.
Development of information for young people on the SEND Local Offer
The Local Offer Team are keen to work with young people to develop information on the SEND Local Offer. If you'd like to get involved, please contact us at LocalOffer@southend.gov.uk or call 01702 212328.