Welcome to the SEND Families in Partnership newsletter for November 2026 - supporting families with SEND

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This edition includes:

Progress on the Annual SEND Surveys 2026 for SEND families and young people. A big thank you to all the parent carers and young people who have responded to the surveys so far and, if you haven't had an opportunity to do this yet, there is still time. Both surveys, one for parent carers and one for young people, run until Friday, 4 December 2026. You'll find links to both the surveys by reading the full article here.

Experts at Hand. As part of the SEND Reforms, this is a new way of helping schools and settings access specialist SEND support more easily. The aim is to bring education, health and other support services together so that children and young people can get help earlier and schools can access the advice they need more quickly. To find out more, read the full article here.

Inclusive activities for winter. This article includes information on a range of inclusive activities and events across Gloucestershire for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families. Whether you are looking for festive fun, opportunities to meet other families or regular activities in your local area, there is something for everyone. Read the full article here.

Hardwicke Rangers SEND Youth Football team. Hardwicke Rangers has recently begun to offer Comets sessions, providing inclusive football opportunities to disabled children and young people aged 5 to 11.  To find out more, read the full article here.

Carers Rights' Day. Thursday, 19 November is Carers Rights Day, a national campaign led by Carers UK to raise awareness of the rights of unpaid Carers, making sure they have access to support and information. To find out more, read the full article here.

Holiday Activities and Food Programme for SEND families - Winter 2026. The Holiday Activity and Food programme (HAF) returns this winter with lots of fun activities and delicious food available for children and families.  In this article, the HAF team and Lucy from the SEND Community Connectors team detail what families with SEND can expect. Read the full article here.

News from the SEND and Inclusion Local Area Partnership (SILAP). In this article you will find some links to bulletins from across the partnership. These bulletins cover some of the latest news from Education, Health, Social Care and our partners in the voluntary and community sector. Read the full article here.

Be prepared: small steps that work for your family. Helen Bond, Director at Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum shares simple, practical ways to prepare for emergencies. Start small and focus on what works for your family, from keeping useful numbers handy to planning for essential supplies. Read the full article here.