🦪Barking and Dagenham 💪 SEND Local Offer Newsletter
March 2026
No Grit, No Pearl
Spring Term offers us with an opportunity to reflect and plan how we can best support our children and young people with SEND in their learning and growth journeys.
Inspired by the formation of an oyster forming a pearl, we recognise that life can present us with challenging experiences. It’s okay to acknowledge that these struggles can be tough; the truth is that many significant achievements often arise from navigating the most frustrating obstacles.
As parents, professionals, or peers, we can reassure our children or friends that they are not alone during these challenging moments, recognising them as opportunities for developing their ‘grit’. Learning and growing is about transforming life’s hurdles into valuable and meaningful growth. Building inner strength is a process that sometimes unfolds quietly and slowly, Let’s have faith in our SEND children and young people’s ability to grow stronger, even when the outcomes aren’t instantly visible.
In our journey through life, we must adapt to changes, whether it’s the transition through adolescence, adulthood, or retirement, or facing difficult times and uncertain futures. In Barking and Dagenham, our SEND partnerships have empowered us to support one another in embracing challenges and to celebrate our differences as one community, recognizing the strength found in our shared experiences. It’s easy to feel frustrated when we focus solely on unmet needs, failures, gaps. However, there is always hope when we shift our perspective to see potential opportunities and acknowledge small kindness and success.
To our schools, parents, colleagues and partners, we are looking forward to continuing travelling together in 2026. Let’s be courageous and creative as we explore the best ways to support all our children and young people to help them shine.
Good Stories and Practices sharing across our borough – March
Here in Barking and Dagenham, we will continue our efforts in open communication and collaboration with children and young people, parents, schools, health services, and other stakeholders. Our aim is to develop a shared vision that promotes inclusive and high-quality support for all. We recognise the outstanding efforts our schools are already making to assist […]
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SEND Local Offer Services Updates
Early Year Inclusion Team Early Years Inclusion Team – Barking and Dagenham SEND Local Offer Education Psychology Service Parent/Carer Support Helpline Education Psychology Service Parent/Carer Support Helpline Virtual SEND and Lead SEND Professionals Team Virtual SEND and Lead SEND Professionals Team School Guidanaces Sensory and Physical Needs (PDF, 862 KB) Cognition and Learning Final (PDF, […]
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Quick updates from Just Say Parent Carer Forum – March
RISE: Strengthening EHCPs in Barking and Dagenham – understanding different perspectives The Council for Disabled Children (CDC), invited by leaders in Barking & Dagenham are delivering this workshop to strengthen and support approaches to EHCPs. This workshop will bring together school leaders, EHCP coordinators and parent carers to explore different themes and challenges and identify […]
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NHS NELFT B&D Children and Families Health Service
The Barking and Dagenham Children and Families Health service delivers the Healthy Child Programme (HCP) in partnership with Barnardo’s. The HCP is a health care programme that is offered to families/ carers with children from antenatal to 19 years of age. Useful resources and information for Parents Contact: Child and Family Centre77 Axe StreetBarkingEssexIG11 7LZ Tel: 0300 […]
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Community Hubs and Community Partners – March
Community Hubs and Community Navigators A place to go, a place to do, a place to connect! All of our hubs are welcoming, safe spaces which provide information, advice, guidance, support, events and activities. Community Navigators give you time to focus on what matters to you by taking a holistic approach to your health and wellbeing. […]
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Children and Young People Disability Hub (CYPD Hub) and Family Hubs – March
The CYPD Hub is for families who live in Barking and Dagenham, who has a SEND child under the age of 18 years old. The CYPD Hub runs a range of different activities during term time and school holidays such as: The Family Hubs, Family Navigators and Early Help outreach services are for parents of […]
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OurHubs Community Navigators – March
Community navigators support individuals in accessing local resources and services to improve their health and well-being. They act as a bridge, connecting people with the right support, whether it’s social activities, education, or information about local services. They give you time to focus on what matters to you by taking a holistic approach to your health […]
Read MoreUseful Contact
- MASH Team: 020 8227 3811 (Monday-Friday) 020 8215 3000 (Out of duty hours)
- Child at immediately risk, call police on 999
- SENDIASS (Carer’s Hub): 020 8593 4422 / carers@carerscentre.org.uk
- Travel Assistance: request@lbbd.gov.uk
- Early Help Service/Family Hubs: 020 8227 5600 / familynavigators@lbbd.gov.uk
- CYP Disability Hub: 0208 227 5500 / CYPDHub@lbbd.gov.uk
- Family Information Team: 020 8227 5395 / fis@lbbd.gov.uk
- Education Inclusion Team: inclusion@lbbd.gov.uk
- Adult Social Care Intake Team (Transition): 020 8227 2915 / IntakeTeam@lbbd.gov.uk
- EHCP Team: 020 8227 2400 / EHCenquires@lbbd.gov.uk
- School Nursing Team: 0300 300 1813 / DutydeskchildrenBD@nelft.nhs.uk
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Older Newsletters
In September 2023, we started on the journey for the co-production of the SEND Local Offer Newsletter in collaboration with families and a broader network of professionals:
In September 2024, the SEND Local Offer Newsletter transitioned to this online webpage platform, offering a more accessible format enhanced by our Accessibility and Language toolbar for an improved user experience.