Chaos & Calm

17/10/2025

Elaine will be at this event and would love to see some familiar faces passing by to say hi…. It could be a really worthwhile event for families looking to
Find out more about local service providers.

🌟Southend SEND Information Day 🌟

Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF), and the Southend SEND Local Offer Team are delighted to invite parent carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), as well as professionals to our SEND Information Day.

📅 6 November 2025
🕘 9:00am to 3:00pm (drop in anytime)
📍 Southend Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, SS2 6ER.

Come and meet a wide range of local services and organisations who support SEND families across Southend-on-Sea at our SEND Marketplace. You'll be able to speak with teams including The Specialist Teaching Service, Educational Psychology Service, Early Years Team, and many more.

There will also be talks on key topics:
▪ 10am to 11am: Transitions from the Children with Disabilities Team to adult social care
▪ 11.30am to 12.30pm: Health information session; Decision making; young people with additional needs
▪ 1pm to 2pm: Collaboration Counts: Supporting your young person with SEND in education

No booking needed, just drop-in at a time that suits you.

Free tea, coffee and water will be available. Food can be bought from the Civic Centre cafe, or people are welcome to bring their own. Civic Centre parking is limited, so attendees are advised to use public transport or town centre car parks.

Please note, the event is for adults and there will not be a creche provision or activities for children. The marketplace is open to all, but we kindly ask that babies and young children are not brought into the information sessions.

Please contact the Local Offer Team at localoffer@southend.gov.uk with any questions.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Visit: www.livewellsouthend.com/SENDInformationDay

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15/10/2025

We have had a busy first half term .... Our usual five face to face sessions per week, an extra session for our friends at Little Heroes ASD Support, and Southend SEND Independent Forum and delivering a course for professionals from City Family and other local organisations. We love what we do!!!

25/09/2025

These are our weekly term time sessions for children who have limited mobility they may be creeping, crawling, rolling or lying but haven't yet found their feet. Lots of children who attend these sessions require extra or specialist equipment so please don't worry if you need a plug socket nearby or space for a specialist seat we can accommodate you and look forward to welcoming you!

24/09/2025

We run lots of different sessions every week and are confident we have something for everyone....

These two sessions are suited to children who are independently mobile, who like to run, walk and jump! Our sessions are very relaxed and informal and children are invited to engage in a wide variety of activities.

One of our most asked questions is about our story time sessions 'Does my child need to sit still? - because they can't'!! The answer is absolutely not - these story sessions are fully interactive and active participation is encouraged - we have lots of resources to explore as well as singing and opportunities to develop communication skills through Makaton and symbols.

If you are curious about our sessions please do get in touch, we would love to meet you ....

08/09/2025

Awesome Alfie was a huge part of our inspiration to set up Chaos and Calm and we continue to be inspired by his legacy at Alfies A Team. They have supported so many of our wonderful families with micro grants so if you can support this amazing event please do…

We’re excited to announce that tickets for our annual Halloween Party are now on sale!! 🎃🎃🎃👻👻👻 🧟 🧟‍♀️ 🧟‍♂️
Friday 31st October. 730pm start. The Royal Hotel, Southend high street.
Tickets are £20 each
Fancy dress is compulsory

Dj Ghoulish Greg May and Devilish Dj Damo Stone are confirmed.

Please message me if you want tickets and you can pay via bank trasnfer or PayPal to he added to the

Account name : ALFIES A TEAM
Sort Code: 821208
Account Number: 20161047
Or
PayPal

05/09/2025

Come on down for all things farm sensory play today including our ultra slimey tapioca duck pond! We are at Blenheim children’s centre group 1. 13.00 and group 2. 14.15 we can’t wait to see you all - new families always welcome so please do get in touch!

03/09/2025

Come along to Sparkles sensory story time on Thursday to find out more about Mrs Honey's Hat! Here are some Makaton signs for you to practice!

We are based upstairs at SAVS on Alexandra Street in Southend

Group 1 10.00, Group 2 11.00

Please get in touch to find out which group is best for your child - new families are very welcome!

The National Lottery Community Fund, People's Postcode Lottery City Family

27/08/2025

We can’t wait to get back to sessions next week starting on Thursday 4th September with Sparkles sensory story time at SAVS in Alexandra Street Southend

Any guesses what our first story might be???!

We are looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces but also love welcoming new ones so if you haven’t been along before and are interested please get in touch - story sessions are fully interactive and lots of fun!

18/08/2025

Think a lot of our families would have lots to share if any of you are available to go along …

🧩👪 Are you a SEND parent, work in SEND, or been through the SEND system yourself? If so, I want to hear from you!

As part of my See Every Need initiative, I want to chat with you about the SEND system, how it's broken, and what's needed to fix it.

Sign up: https://forms.gle/RcMafuMGapegioYR9 👪🧩

*Please note that spaces are limited, anyone that misses out this time will be contacted first ahead of the next event to get a place*

07/08/2025

These sessions look great and may be of interest to our families .. please get in touch with The MegaCentre Rayleigh directly ….

30/07/2025

Hi all, we hope you are having a great start to the summer holidays - we just wanted to give a shout out to Inclusive Communication Essex. I have recently borrowed some bits from them for our little one and they have been so helpful and the resources are really excellent. They have a huge range of sensory stories and communication aids and switch toys you can borrow for free - a great way to test out what might work for you! Registration was quick and easy and their website is easy to use but as always if you need any help to access it give us a shout and we will be happy to help!

https://www.essexice.co.uk/

16/07/2025

We have a difficult last week before the holidays. We are preparing to say goodbye to many of our friends who are heading off to big school in September. We wish them all the very best and hope in some small way we have helped set them up in skills and confidence for what lies ahead!

Some of those we say goodbye to this week have been with us for many years as we met them at just a few months old 4 years ago!

We know you will all be amazing and we hope your days are filled with fun, happiness and learning!