Current News
Save the Date: 9 & 10 November 2026 – Preparing for the Future (Online Information Event)
We’re pleased to share that we are bringing together a free online event for parents and carers, shaped by what families have been telling us they need to support young people from age 13 to 25 and beyond.
Our aim is for the event to share clear, consistent information to help families plan for the future. It will support families from Year 9 onwards, whatever their young person’s age, needs, or situation, and will cover themes such as education, employment, independent living, and community inclusion.
We are working with Essex Carers Network, Essex County Council, and other services to share information across key Preparing for Adulthood topics. Sessions will reflect the themes families have raised with us and offer practical guidance to help parents and carers feel more confident about next steps.
Register your interest - Be the first to receive updates and booking details: https://forms.office.com/e/BqtRutQvmz
Preparing for Adulthood Timeline
We are pleased to share a new Preparing for Adulthood roadmap for neurodivergent young people who are not currently accessing social care.
We shaped this together with the Partnership Delivery Team in South Essex and SNAP Charity, with wider partners involved in the early stages of the conversations. We used the real questions families ask us at events and through our feedback wall to guide what went into the roadmap. It brings together the key things families often want to know as their young person moves from early teens through to age 18, including education choices, health transitions, independence skills and money matters.
The roadmap is a simple, one page guide designed to sit alongside the Post 16 Guide and Events Calendar. Families can use it as a clear starting point and refer back to it at home, with the option to explore any of the topics in more detail through the linked guide, which you can find here Post 16 Parents & Carers Guide
Our hope is that it helps things feel a little easier to navigate.
Essex Family Forum has now submitted our response to the DfE SEND Reform Consultation: Putting Children and Young People First.
This response has been shaped directly by the voices and experiences of families across Essex through our surveys, Graffiti Wall, SEND Reform Padlet, coffee mornings, social media engagement and webinar discussions. Click here to view the ‘EFF Consultation Response’ or click on the image opposite.
Thank you to every parent carer who shared their experiences, concerns and ideas. Your feedback has helped ensure the realities facing families in Essex are reflected throughout our response.
We have strongly emphasised the importance of:
✅ Genuine co-production
✅ Timely support and accountability
✅ Workforce capacity and specialist provision
✅ Inclusion that is properly supported
✅ Mental health and neurodivergence
✅ Clear legal safeguards and transparency
Thank you for helping us ensure Essex family voices are heard nationally.
Update – Essex Family Forum (EFF) and Essex County Council (ECC) Parent Information Session on the SEND Reforms” webinar.
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the above webinar, we know not everyone was able to join us live, so we are pleased to share the recording of the session along with a thematic Q&A document covering the key questions raised and responses discussed. Please see below for the relevant links or click on the relevant image opposite.
Click here for ‘Thematic Q&A document’
Click below for recording:
The session provided an opportunity for families to hear more about the proposed SEND reforms, ask questions and better understand what the changes could mean for children, young people and families across Essex.
The Government consultation is currently open and closes on Monday 18th May. We would strongly encourage parents, carers, young people and professionals to respond and share their views.
You do not need to answer every question within the consultation — you can simply respond to the questions that feel most relevant or important to you.
You can access the consultation here: SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First consultation
Preparing for Adulthood: Parents and carers guide to post‑16 opportunities
If you’re supporting a young person as they move toward adulthood, it can sometimes be difficult to understand what options are available after the age of 16. The Parents and carers guide to post‑16 opportunities, produced with Essex Family Forum by the Preparing for Adulthood team at Essex County Council, brings together clear, practical information to help families navigate this important stage of life.
This guide covers a wide range of Preparing for Adulthood topics, including:
- Further education and training options
- Routes into work, Supported Internships and apprenticeships
- Employment pathways and local services that can help
- Travel training and developing independence
- Day opportunities, community‑based activities and support
- Key questions to consider, timelines and useful contacts
Whether a young person is exploring education, work, community activities or a mix of different supports, this guide is designed to help parents and carers feel informed and confident about the next steps. Access the guide by clicking here, by clicking on the image opposite or via the link below.
https://www.essexopportunities.co.uk/post-16-parents-carers-guide/post-16-parents-carers-guide/
Family Forum Response to the Schools White Paper and SEND consultation document.
Essex Family Forum welcomes the publication of the Schools White Paper. We understand that recent misinformation and leaks have caused uncertainty and frustration for families, and we hope the publication of the full document provides clearer information about the Government’s proposals. We would like to reassure families that this document suggests no change in current support and EHCP’s for pupils.
Through our work with the National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF), and by participating in the National SEND Conversations, Essex Family Forum has represented the lived experiences of Essex families.
What is a White Paper?
A White Paper is not a law. It is a document that sets out the Government’s ideas and proposals for changes they would like to make.
What happens next?
- Consultation :The Government has asked for views.
This is where organisations like Essex Family Forum, the National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF), and families like you can share feedback over the next 12 weeks.
- Review and changes: The Government considers the feedback and may revise their proposals.
- New laws (if needed) : If changes to the law are required, which we suspect there will be, the Government must introduce a Bill to Parliament.
- Parliamentary process : The Bill is debated and examined by Members of Parliament and the House of Lords, and amendments can be made.
- Becoming law: If both Houses agree, the Bill receives Royal Assent and becomes an Act of Parliament.
Some proposals in a White Paper do not require new legislation and may instead be introduced through changes to policy or statutory guidance.
What Essex Family Forum will do next
Over the coming weeks, we will be working closely with NNPCF and other Parent Carer Forums across England to review the proposals and contribute to the national response through NNPCF.
We will also be gathering the views of Essex families to inform our own local response. We plan to hold a small number of listening sessions to ensure families have the opportunity to share their experiences, concerns and views before any formal response is submitted. Further details on how you can take part will be shared shortly.
Join Our Management Committee
Voluntary Role · Flexible Commitment · Make a Difference
Essex Family Forum is seeking passionate SEND Parent Carers to join our voluntary Management Committee and play a key role in guiding the direction and development of our parent-led organisation. If you care deeply about inclusion, strategic thinking, and collaborative leadership — and you’re ready to make a meaningful impact — we’d love to hear from you.
