Useful resources
Here you can find useful resources about Special Educational Needs and Education in Essex.
Please note: SEND Sensation is not affiliated with the organisations listed, this page is for information sharing only.
- Essex Short Breaks
Essex Short breaks give parent carers and siblings of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities a break from their additional caring responsibilities, whilst enabling children and young people to meet friends, take part in activities, develop independence and have fun. It is part of Essex County Council’s early help approach.
SEND Sensation is part of the Essex Short Breaks offer.
- Beach Huts (From Essex Short Breaks)
Essex Short Breaks offer days out at their Beach Huts – they have five beach huts in total. Each registered family are able to make one beach hut booking per season.
- Max Cards (From Essex Short Breaks)
Essex Short Breaks offer days out at national attractions through a Max card and to local attractions through our Tickets.
- Caravan Hire (From Essex Short Breaks)
Essex Short Breaks offer caravan holidays, with caravans hired at a reduced rate. They have a range of adapted and un-adapted caravans available. Please note each registered family is allowed one caravan booking per season, and can book a prime date (in the school holidays) only once every two years.
- Essex SEND Local Offer
Find out about help available for children and young people with SEND in Essex (aged 0 to 25).
- Essex Local Offer Directory
The Essex Local Offer Directory lets you search for support, groups and activities happening in Essex. It has over 700 listings on the Directory, and you can search by age, location or type of support.
- SPACE (Support for Parents and Carers in Essex)
SPACE is a team of Peer Educators who are all parents and carers. They all have lived experience of supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
SPACE offer one-to-one support, online group sessions, a podcast and resources on their website.
- Essex Family Forum
Essex Family Forum is a parent-led carer forum for families whose children and young people (up to age 25) have special educational needs or disabilities.
- Essex SEND IASS
Essex SEND IASS offers free, confidential and Impartial information, advice and support on issues related to Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). This includes information and processes related to health and social care.
- Bright Futures Essex
This is a regular support group, run by parents for parents with children with an ASD diagnosis or related condition, or awaiting a referral or an assessment. Meetings happen regularly around Essex.
Contact by email to find out when the next meeting is being held at mrsdltyler@gmail.com
- Families in Focus Essex
Families InFocus (Essex) is a parent-led charity, supporting families who have a child (or children) or young person up to the age of 25 with any Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND).
- SNAP! Charity
SNAP informs, encourages and supports parents and carers. They offer lots of online resources and guides and also have a directory of useful contacts.
About SEND Sensation
SEND Sensation is a local trusted partnership committed to improving experiences for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
SEND Sensation’s core vision is to build a future where every person is recognised, valued and supported to achieve their potential. Working with partners across Essex, we brings together communities to offer SEND families choice and empower children and young people to access opportunities.