About us
SEND Family Voice Redcar & Cleveland
We are a group of parents whose children each have an array of special educational needs. We feel incredibly passionate about ensuring the services in our area meet the needs of all our children and young people. We want to make sure that each one of our families feel fully included, supported and empowered throughout their journeys in caring for someone with additional needs.
SEND Family Voice supports young people with special educational needs and their families
Emma Hebb
Chair
My name is Emma Hebb and I am the Chair of the parent carer forum in Redcar & Cleveland, recently renamed as ‘SEND Family Voice, Redcar & Cleveland’.
My journey into the world of SEND started in early 2016 when our youngest child was diagnosed with autism. At the time he was pre-verbal, still in nappies and was frustrated which was being demonstrated by challenging behaviours. We, as a family, had no idea where to turn for help and support. We had missed out on early help from lots of services so I was on a mission!
I attended every course and workshop I could find to help us understand autism, our son and the journey we were about to embark on. Our son started a local specialist school in Redcar and has grown so much during that time. We find ourselves going back through the assessment process again with our oldest child who is in a local secondary school, and so much has changed since the first time around so it has become a bit of a minefield to navigate – so we are learning again.
A positive from all the information and knowledge I had learnt lead me to a change of career and I retrained as a teaching assistant specialising in SEND working in a local primary school for just over 4 years. I am keen to ensure all parents and carers know about everything that is out there and available to them, so they do not have to struggle like we did.
We are working hard at Send Family Voice, Redcar and Cleveland to engage with professionals as well as parents and carers to help spread the word about what we do, and how we can help, whichever point you are at on your journey.
SEND Family Voice’s aim is to improve families’ quality of life.
Supporting young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families
We feel incredibly passionate about ensuring the services in our area meet the needs of all our children and young people.
