✍️ Updates to Our Family Impact Survey

For several years, EFF has conducted an annual survey to assess parental satisfaction with local SEND services. This data has helped us track progress, highlight areas for improvement, and amplify the voices of SEND families across Essex.

Our survey is widely recognised by service providers as a key indicator of family experience. To maintain this credibility while improving accessibility and impact, we’re making important changes to how the survey is designed and delivered.

🔄 Why Are We Changing the Survey?

The previous format aimed to capture a broad range of insights across the SEND system. However, its length made it challenging for parent carers to complete and time-consuming for EFF to analyse. As a result, reports were often delayed—reducing their relevance and effectiveness in strategic discussions.

🛠️ What’s Changing?

• Streamlined Format: The survey will feature fewer questions, with open-text boxes to allow families to share detailed feedback in their own words.
• Faster Reporting: Data will be visualised using Power BI, enabling quicker analysis and more flexible sharing with services.
• Targeted Follow-Up: Where trends or concerns emerge, we’ll conduct focused follow-up surveys to explore specific issues in greater depth.

📊 How Will the Data Be Used?

• Reports will be shared with relevant service providers and strategically across health, education, and social care.
• Insights will inform policy discussions and help shape support and information for families.
• We will request formal responses from services to our findings and share these with families.
• Data will also be used in preparation for future Ofsted/CQC inspections.

🎯 What Do We Hope to Achieve?

• A quicker, more accessible survey experience for families.
• Timely, high-quality analysis that reflects current realities.
• Clear, actionable insights for services—prompting faster and more focused responses.
• Meaningful improvements that have been clearly driven by the voices of families who live the reality every day