Support & advice for parents on SEND services

Special education needs and disabilities (SEND) can affect a child or young person's:

  • Behaviour or ability to socialise, for example they struggle to make friends
  • Reading and writing, for example because they have dyslexia
  • Ability to understand things
  • Concentration levels, for example because they have ADHD
  • Physical ability

 

Support services for parents and carers in Hertfordshire and west Essex

The Local Offer lets parents and young people know what special educational needs and disabilities services are available in Hertfordshire, and who can access them. For more information, please visit the Hertfordshire Local Offer website.

The Essex Local Offer provides information about support services and local opportunities for children and young people with SEND. For more information, please visit the Essex Local Offer website.

The Essex child and family wellbeing service provides educational services, support and advice, parenting support groups, specialist equipment and safeguarding. For more information, please visit the Essex child and family wellbeing website.

More information about supporting your child can be found in the Neurodevelopment Family Resource Pack produced by the Essex Family Forum.

Essex SEND IASS provides free, confidential and impartial information, advice and support about Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) for children and young people (0-25), parents and carers.  For more information, please visit the Essex SEND IASS website. The Hertfordshire alternative can be found here.

Moving Home Guidance for Families of CYP with SEND Living in Essex

If you have a child waiting for and/or receiving care and support for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), and are planning on moving home, there are a few things you need to consider.  Essex Family Forum has developed, with local partners, a moving home guidance available on the Essex Local Offer at https://send.essex.gov.uk/what-do-when-youre-moving-home

The guidance provides information specifically on:

  • speaking to your child’s nursery, school or college 
  • speaking to the Education Awards Team, if using school transport
  • transferring an EHCP, if your child has one 
  • transferring healthcare services 
  • informing social care 

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