Welcome to PaCC’s May Round-Up
This month’s update brings together important developments from across the SEND services in Brighton & Hove, including news from the SEND and Alternative Provision Change Programme, and the SEND Sufficiency Plan. We also share how PaCC is working to ensure that parent carer voices are influencing decisions at every level.
As we move through late spring and into early summer, we know this can be a particularly demanding time for many families. The build-up to the end of the academic year often brings added pressure, from navigating transitions, managing changes in routine, or worrying about how your child will be supported during the summer holidays. These months can highlight just how much parent carers are juggling and how isolating it can feel.
For many, the concern about suitable short breaks and support over the summer is growing, especially for families with children who have more complex needs. We know how important respite is, not just for wellbeing, but for being able to continue day-to-day life, work, and care.
PaCC continues to raise these issues directly with Brighton & Hove City Council and health partners, while also acknowledging the good work that is taking place. We are here to represent your experiences, good or bad, and we would really value your input, and you can do that by emailing any feedback to [email protected].
We have also been settling into our new restructure, which we started at the beginning of April; you can read more about it here
Here’s what we’ve been working on recently:
Autism in Schools (AIS) and Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS)
Both projects are progressing in different ways. Find out how and meet the new members of the PaCC AIS and PINS team here
Courageous Conversations – Brighton and Hove Event
PaCC participated in the recently held Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) Courageous Conversations event, a day of discussions on the rising number of statutory assessment requests that puts Brighton and Hove 1% over the national average. Find out more here
Short Breaks Update
PaCC have continued to host monthly meetings between BHCC commissioners, Jacqui Parfitt and Katie Rowe, and the parent carers community. The meetings offer a space for BHCC to inform parent carers of Short Break developments, and for parent carers to feedback and ask the Local Authority questions. You can read updates from PaCC around Short Breaks here
Learning Disability Partnership Board
The Learning Disability Partnership Board (LDPB) met at the beginning of May; you can read summary of what was discussed here
SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) and SEND Sufficiency
Brighton & Hove have recently released an update around these areas of work; click here to read about SEND & AP and SEND Sufficiency. PaCC is working in both areas; you can read about PaCC’s role and points we have raised on SEND Sufficiency here, and here you can read about SEND & AP Change Programme.
PaCConnect on Education
PaCC are hosting a PaCConnect event on the 3rd of June. During this in-person event, Georgina Clarke Green, Director of Education & Learning, will be updating parent carers around the existing work that is happening around education, as well as future plans. Find out more details about the PaCConnect here
Join PaCC and help us making our voice stronger!
If you’re reading this, and you’re not a member of PaCC, why don’t you join us? Here you can find out how. As a PaCC member, you will receive regular updates, invites to PaCC events and you will be able to join PaCC Facebook.
Thank you for reading our PaCC update, please keep an eye on our Facebook page, and your email inbox too, for more updates about the work we’re doing.
Take care,
Becky, Fiona and Paolo
Co-Chairs of PaCC