Becky Jones

Many families are in severe need of short break and respite services in East Sussex. Read the key messages from our recent focus groups, the short breaks survey results and find out what happens next.

Read about upcoming workshops and local drop-in sessions, as well as what parent carers told us they need from the new support service for families with children and young people on the neurodevelopmental pathway.

Read our response to the government’s review of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), which we submitted to the Department for Education just before the summer, on Friday 22 July 2022.

Read our statement on the new East Sussex special educational needs and disability strategy. A number of elements in the strategy have been strengthened to address some of our concerns, but we maintain that it needs greater clarity and detail on how things will be changed for the better.

Parent carers in East Sussex: the strategy will be strongest if it represents a full range of parent carers views and experiences. If you can find the time during the next three weeks, please have a read, and let the local authority know how it can be improved.

ESPCF held three engagement events between February and June 2022 to bring parents and carers in East Sussex together with decision-makers and service leads from the local authority and the NHS. Have a read of our summary report.

ESPCF met with the ESCC home to school transport department to check on progress following our discussions around various aspects of the service.

We’re looking for parents and carers to get involved.

Here’s ESPCF chair Holly’s round up of her most recent meeting with Alison Jeffery, Director of Children’s Services at East Sussex.