SEND support groups and events

Making Sense of SEND are free events for parents/carers who have a child with SEND. They are also for professionals who work with them.

Each event has between 15-20 information stands. They'll give you the chance to:

• Visit information stands to learn about local services and support
• Listen to a talk on a specialist subject
• Ask questions
• Share ideas 

Next event

• Theme: My family is supported
• Date: Thursday 23 January 2025
• Time: 10am-12pm
• Place: Cromer Parish Hall, Cromer
• Talk: The Family Network Approach - supporting families to feel confident in identifying and using their support network when they need it most

Go to Eventbrite to book your free place

Services attending this event

We (SEND Local Offer) will be there alongside:

• Norfolk SEND information advice and support service (SEND IASS): give SEND information, advice and support to children, young people, and parent/carers 
• Family Voice Norfolk: Norfolk's parent/carer forum who work with families and service providers. They help improve outcomes for children and young people living with SEND. 
• Healthwatch Norfolk: making sure NHS leaders and other decision-makers hear your voice 
• Vision Norfolk: support to vision impaired children and young adults aged 0-25 years, and their families through information, advice and guidance
• Travel independence training across Norfolk (TITAN): focuses on helping young people with SEND get skills for safe independent travel
• Norfolk and Waveney children and young person's health services: children's health information and advice and the delivery of speech and language services
• Family Information Service: gives information about local services and support for children including funded early education and childcare, home learning and related services in Norfolk
• Travel independence training across Norfolk (TITAN): help young people with SEND get skills for safe independent travel
• DRAGONS: young people with disabilities who help ensure opportunities in Norfolk are accessible and that young people enjoy their services
• Norfolk and Waveney children and young person's health services: children's health information and advice and the delivery of speech and language services 
• Family hubs Norfolk: support for parents and carers of children and young people from birth to 19 (or 25 with SEND)
•  Family Action: provides support and advice, resources and signposting to parents/carers of children awaiting assessment of a neurodevelopmental different or recently diagnosed
• Community Dental Services CiC: specialist dental care services for people with learning disabilities, mental health difficulties and severe anxiety, covering Norfolk and Waveney
• Fostering Recruitment: learn about Norfolk Fostering Service and whether fostering could be for you
• Direct Payment Support Service: provides information, advice and guidance, help with finding a personal assistant carer, employment support, personal assistant carer training and payment services
• Learning disability health checks: helping young people with a learning disability aged 14 or over get a yearly health check 
• School and community teams: advice and support for education settings and families to ensure children's needs are met at SEN Support within mainstream places of learning
• Tech Skills for Life Team: help to use devices and develop technology skills, advice about affordable broadband and available to support people to complete the SEND survey
• Supported internships: often the first step into the world of work for a young person with an EHCP. Supported internships help bolster skills, and help young people to secure permanent, paid jobs
• Family Networking Advisory Service: help a family identify and mobilise their natural network to support them in a time of need and if needed, we can organise a family network meeting.
• Participation team: works with youth groups and schools to give children and young people with SEND opportunities to get involved in activities and have their experiences and views heard. Runs the Article 12 participation group.
• Nansa Family Services: provides free support for parents and carers of children with SEND, including bespoke early intervention sessions, peer support groups, advice, guidance and advocacy, and support with Sleep challenges

Future events

• Wednesday 19 March 2025, 10am-12pm (Knight's Hill Hotel, King's Lynn)
• Thursday 22 May 2025, 10am-12pm (Fakenham Community Centre, Fakenham)
• Thursday 3 July 2025, 10am-12pm and 1-3pm (County Hall, Norwich)
• Thursday 18 September 2025, 10am-12pm (Charles Burrell Centre, Thetford)
• Tuesday 25 November 2025, 10am-12pm (Great Yarmouth Town Hall)
• Wednesday 21 January 2026, 1-3pm (Sheringham Community Centre)
• March 2026 is to be confirmed (TBC)
• May 2026 is TBC
• July 2026 is TBC