Kimberly Farmer | @kimberlyfarmer via Unsplash
Parents and carers in East Ham are being invited to help shape the future of the SEND system through a nationwide engagement campaign. The initiative aims to gather views from families, schools, and professionals to ensure reforms reflect real experiences and deliver lasting improvements.
The campaign includes nine face-to-face events hosted in partnership with the Council for Disabled Children, alongside five online sessions exploring key principles of reform. Together, these will provide thousands of opportunities for families and practitioners to share feedback and ideas.
Discussions will focus on improving early intervention so children receive support earlier in life when it can have the greatest impact. They will also look at strengthening local provision so young people can learn close to home, alongside their peers, while ensuring specialist support for complex needs. Other priorities include making the system fairer by ensuring schools have the resources to meet changing needs and that families have clear legal safeguards. Evidence-based practice and shared working between education, health, care services, local authorities, families, and experts will also be central themes.
Participants will have the chance to comment on proposals such as written records of support for children, access to independent advocacy for families, and a national framework for SEND provision across all settings.
Speaking about the consultation, Stephen said: “I know from speaking to parents, carers, and schools in East Ham that support for children with SEND is a top priority. This engagement campaign is an important opportunity for families and professionals to help shape improvements that will make a real difference.”
The campaign builds on previous listening sessions with families and will inform proposals for reform set out in the upcoming Schools White Paper. A formal consultation will follow to continue the conversation. Experts including Tom Rees and Dame Christine Lenehan will support the work, bringing years of experience in inclusive practices to discussions with parents and professionals.