Dear Hackney SEND Parent Carer Forum,
Please read on for a Summer update from the Hackney SEND Parent Carer Forum (PCF), including: –
- PCF coffee morning hosted with Peabody Housing – open to all SEND families in Hackney.
- Two surveys CLOSING SOON from Hackney Council asking for your input to help shape the future of SEND in Hackney.
- A new Education Strategy consultation survey from Hackney.
- A specialist webinar for carers about Power of Attorney
- Details of many family and SEND events across Hackney this Summer, including newsletters from 10×10 Hackney and City & Hackney CAMHS
PCF EVENT: SEND Parent and Carer Coffee Morning
Wednesday 23rd of July
10:00-12:00
Pembury Community Centre, Atkins Square, Dalston Lane E8 1FA
☕☀️🌳
Join our free coffee morning with Peabody in partnership with Hackney SEND Parent Carer Forum.
*This free coffee morning is open to all SEND families across Hackney.*
This space is for you to come and have a talk with other parents, come and let us know if you need support with anything or just to have a little break from your caring role.
Refreshments will be provided.
https://hspcf.org/event/23rd-july-send-parent-and-carer-coffee-morning/
Please see attached poster
SURVEY: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Strategy Questionnaire
Closes: 20th of July
Shared on behalf of Hackney Council.
Hackney is working with residents, colleagues, and partners to create a new Special Educational Needs (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Strategy. The current SEND Strategy finishes at the end of 2025, so this is our chance to get together and set new priorities and ambitious targets for 2026-2030… we want to hear from as many people as possible, working together to create a strategy that drives meaningful change! Please help us build on the feedback we have had so far, by sharing your knowledge and suggestions.
https://consultation.hackney.gov.uk/children-education/edc5ed3b
SURVEY: Hackney SEND Parent Carer Survey 2025
Closes: 25th of July
Shared on behalf of Hackney Council.
Hackney’s Local Area Partnership wants children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to have the best possible start in life and a bright future. Our aim is for them to be happy, healthy, included, and successful. We want the support they get to help them develop the skills they need now and in their future as young adults.
To help us we are asking you to share your views and experience of your child’s SEN (Special Educational Needs) Support or Education Health and Care Plan (EHCPs), and the benefit or impact of this on their development and progress towards their goals. This will help us develop our systems, process and support services so that they better meet the needs of Hackney’s children and young people who have SEND.
https://www.hackneylocaloffer.co.uk/kb5/hackney/localoffer/advice.page?id=JrPZf53W4Hw#sub_1
SURVEY: Three-Year Education Strategic Plan 2025-2028 Survey 2025
Closes: 22nd of September
Shared on behalf of Hackney Council.
[Please see attached letter from Jason Marantz (Director of Education and Inclusion) addressed to the Hackney SEND Parent Carer Forum. The link provided details online and in-person information sessions, and an online survey.]
We are consulting on a new draft three-year education Strategic Plan for Hackney. Your views will help to shape the Plan and the delivery of education within Hackney over the next three years.
The success story of schools and education settings in Hackney is well known. Having been one of the lowest performing Boroughs, to now being one of the best. However, maintaining the high-quality education our schools and settings provide faces challenges.
Our draft Strategic Plan, developed with engagement from a wide range of stakeholders, sets out the vision, commitments and priorities that we have identified to inform our approach to education in Hackney.
ONLINE EVENTS
Free Carers Webinar: Lasting Power of Attorney, Office of the Public Guardian
Microsoft Teams Meeting
Monday 28th of July, 13:00
Join the webinar via this link / MS Teams Meeting ID: 347 381 726 370 5 / Passcode: xP65dg7Z
A specialist webinar for Hackney carers providing information about Power of Attorney, hosted by the Office of the Public Guardian.
– Particularly of interest for parent carers interested in preparation for adulthood.
– Learn about lasting power of attorney, who it is for, why it is important and who needs it.
– PCF members welcome to attend this event organised for the PCF’s host organisation: City & Hackney Carers Centre.
Shared on behalf of the Office of the Public Guardian, https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-public-guardian
COMMUNITY SEND EVENTS
External summer event newsletters and event listings
10×10 Summer Events Newsletter
Various Dates
Across Borough
Shared on behalf of 10×10 Hackney.
The Hackney 10×10 Programme is a new initiative to support every child in Hackney to achieve 10 amazing activities by the time they are 10 years old.
Summer Newsletter. Please find attached a 10×10 Summer Newsletter for Families/Carers designed to support families over the Summer holidays. It would be great if this could be shared with your families.
Please do share this with your families as it includes lots of up to date information on free and low cost activities available to support children over the Summer break and includes digital links.
Please also let families know that they can use: 10×10 Online Directory Website – https://education.hackney.gov.uk/content/10×10-programme-info-parents
For ideas on planning activities, community links to organisations delivering all 10 activities are broken down into
- Early years
- Key stage 1
- Key stage 2 and upwards
- SEND links included throughout
There are also free resources including
- 10×10 maps to help see where in Hackney you can access the activities
- 10×10 Journey guides
- 10×10 Directory
Please see the attached 30 page newsletter
City & Hackney CAMHS Summer Newsletter July-September
Various Updates and Activities
Across Borough
Shared on behalf of City & Hackney CAMHS Alliance, https://cityandhackneycamhs.org.uk/contact/
Please see the attached newsletter for full details
Victoria Park SEND Family Fun Day
Wednesday 30th of July, 11:00-15:00
Victoria Park – Lido Field, Grove Road, E3 5TB
Shared on behalf of Tower Hamlets Independent Parent and Carers SEND Forum.
An amazing fun-filled SEND family day in Victoria Park including a bouncy castle, arts and crafts, sensory area, go karts and more. Hackney SEND parent and carers are welcome to attend.
Please see the attached poster for full details or email thsendforum@gmail.com
Holiday programme for children and young people with disabilities and additional needs aged 8 – 16 years
29, 30, 31 July & 1 August
STRICTLY PRE BOOKABLE ONLY
Ickburgh School Park, E9 5RB
Sign-up for our safe and supportive holiday programme for children and young people with disabilities and additional needs aged 8 – 16 years.
At Endorphins we will encourage your child to make friendships and flourish. We offer activities such as playing games, sports, painting, colouring, building and have lots of fun together doing this.
General HAF criteria is as follows:
- 8-16
- Has an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
- Unable to access universal services due to level of need and/or requires additional support to access provision
We offer 5 x 1 : 1 spaces & 12 x 1 : 3 spaces on each of our sessions (please select the correct ticket), medical needs are considered, an assessment will be carried out prior to all bookings being confirmed
E8 SEND Stay and Play
Every Monday, 10:00-12:00 (weekly event)
Ann Tayler Children & Family Hub, E8 3RP
Shared on behalf of Hackney Children and Family Hubs.
Bring your children to this weekly meetup, a welcoming space for you to connect and share similar experiences; openly discuss concerns or challenges, and celebrate achievements. Every Monday, and on the last Monday of the month there is in attendance a portage worker and SEND specialist to offer support and guidance to families.
Please see the attached poster for full details.
Event Listings
- Love Hackney: Free activities for kids in Hackney
https://email.hackney.gov.uk/cr/AQiL-RIQhKF-GJ6ht8IB1etXlR_PS518m5edag0l8bTT0CePkWnDfjnVHLM-NM8 - Hackney Local Offer – What’s On
https://www.hackneylocaloffer.co.uk/kb5/hackney/localoffer/whats_on.page?localofferchannel=0 - Summer Activities Guide — Young Hackney
https://www.younghackney.org/summer-activities-guide/
