South Glos Parent Carers - not for profit CIC

14/11/2025

At SGPC, we know first-hand what it’s like to raise a child or young person with SEND - because we’re all parent carers ourselves. 💛

Our support email is a simple way to connect with someone who truly understands. Whether you’re feeling isolated, unsure about next steps, or overwhelmed by forms and processes, you’re not alone - and you don’t have to navigate it all by yourself.

📩 Email our peer support team for help with:
✔️ Finding out what support is available for your family
✔️ Signposting to helpful services and organisations
✔️ Understanding forms, processes, or confusing jargon

💬 Reach out from the comfort of your own home - we’re only an email away.
➡️ Find the email address and further information about our email support here: https://sgpc.org.uk/online-support

13/11/2025

Just like adults, children can become anxious. However, when children feel anxious, they cannot always understand or express what they are feeling or what’s making them anxious. You might notice them becoming tearful and clingy, having difficulty sleeping or resisting trying new things.
In this workshop we will:

🟡Explore what anxiety is and the effects on the body
🟡Discuss how anxiety may affect you and your child.
🟡Share strategies and ideas to help support you and your child.

This 3-hour session is for families with children aged 0 - 25 and will be delivered ONLINE via Zoom. The main workshop and presentation will be around 2 hours long, and will be recorded and there will be plenty of time at the end for further discussion around the subject, that will not be recorded. Your child doesn't need a diagnosis for you to attend.

This workshop will be delivered online by Corrina from Platypus Training, who has a wealth of personal and professional experience of neurodiversity and a masters in Autism. She has worked as a Family Services Manager for over 15 years and has developed services for families, children and young people. Corrina has extensive experience of working with families where there are children with autism and ADHD.

Join us on 10th December 10am, to book your slot please click on the link in the comments.

Does your child or young person sometimes struggle with their levels of anxiety?

12/11/2025

Due to staff shortages, we have had to adjust our opening hours to ensure that we can continue providing a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for all.

From 18 November, our Community Base will be open for drop-in support sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 12pm.

During these sessions, you can:
Receive personalised support from our friendly Peer Support team
Access information and signposting to services that can benefit you and your family
Connect with other parent carers in our community and share experiences in a supportive environment

Find us at: The Kingswood Centre, New Cheltenham Road, Kingswood BS15 4FS

For more information about our Community Base, visit: https://sgpc.org.uk/our-community-base
We understand that this change may require you to adjust your plans, and we are very grateful for your understanding as we work to continue offering invaluable support with our available resources.

12/11/2025

📣We have been asked to update you all on a new mental health service for children and young people locally.

Developed by clinical experts and backed by research, SilverCloud provides interactive tools and strategies to help manage anxiety, low mood, stress, and build resilience. Programmes are confidential and can be accessed at any time from a computer or mobile device.

The programmes, which use a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach, are most suited to young people over 13 years old with mild to moderate levels of anxiety or low mood, who are willing to give online support a try. There are also modules available for parents and carers to help them support their children and young people with anxiety or low mood.

There are two options, either for children aged five to 12 years old or for children over 12. In most cases, users should be able to use the system independently, but SilverCloud supporters are also available to help young people, parents, or carers if needed.

To self-refer, visit the Northpoint SilverCloud referral page for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. (https://northpoint.jotform.com/252652370816357) If you are unsure about the suitability of the programme, you can contact Northpoint directly on 0113 868 3483 or bnssg@northpoint.org.uk.

Children and young people can still access or through self-referral. Alternatively, if they currently go to a school that has a mental health support team, you can contact the school’s mental health lead or school nurse for a referral into these services.

11/11/2025

In the last of our posts breaking down the inspection report which was published last week, we are highlighting the next steps and areas for improvement outlined in the report.

A summary of the report findings and a list of the 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 can be found in the news post on our website here: https://sgpc.org.uk/news-feed/inspection-report-2025

These will become areas of focus for the next three years ahead of the next inspection.

11/11/2025

It was fantastic to see so many people at our workshop last week, Understanding and supporting sensory differences.

We love reading the evaluation forms after the sessions, it's clear from the responses just how much families appreciate these sessions. These are just a couple of the comments which families made when asked what they would tell another parent about the session.

"It was a real eye-opener. My understanding of our sensory processing systems has grown dramatically, and the content was delivered in an accessible, easily retainable way. In a safe, supporting environment. I did not know there were 8 senses!"

"That it is definitely worth participating in. The wealth of knowledge and experience and understanding is priceless"

Want to know more about those 8 senses? Check out this video in the resources section on our website

This presentation provides practical ideas for supporting children with specific sensory needs; Tactile, Visual, Auditory, Taste/Oral, Olfactory, Vestibular, Proprioception and Interoception.

10/11/2025

In July 2025, the services across the areas of Education, Health and Social Care in South Gloucestershire were inspected by OFSTED and the CQC, with a focus on SEND provisions. The inspection report has now been published. The inspection highlighted both progress and ongoing challenges.

Today we're focusing on the ongoing challenges highlighted by the inspection.

The inspectors found that whilst children and young people and their families are increasingly participating in decision making, the strength of engagement with some families is weaker. Sometimes, front-line services have not secured the confidence of children and young people with SEND and their families.

Check out our latest news https://sgpc.org.uk/news-feed/inspection-report-2025

10/11/2025

This month SEND and You - SAY are sharing lots of information on the support children should be able to access in school without an Education Health and Care Plan.

November Topic- SEN Support.

There is a responsibility for mainstream schools to make sure that they do all of the following when providing for pupils with SEND:

● use their best endeavours to make sure that a child with SEND gets the support they need – this means doing everything they can to meet children and young people’s SEN/D
● ensure that children and young people with SEND engage in the activities of the school alongside pupils who do not have SEND
● have a SENDCO (special educational needs & disability coordinator)
● inform parents when they are making special educational provision for a child
● publish a SEND information report on the school website and update this annually
● have systems in place to identify children who are in need of support and to assess, monitor and secure appropriate support for any SEND they may have.

https://www.sendandyou.org.uk/sen-support/

Our SEN Support information session recording is also available to view on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/NzBatMkw_Qo?feature=shared

09/11/2025

We're excited to see what toys and equipment families have borrowed from Gympanzees this month. If you've reserved items, don't forget to pop along on Tuesday to collect them. Everyone is welcome to stay for a cuppa and chat with our support team too.

On Thursday we are joined by SEND and You - SAY in the morning. Your chance to have a quick 1:1 with one of their team of advisors.

For details of all our opening hours, head to our website https://sgpc.org.uk/get-support

07/11/2025

Over the next few days, we're breaking down the Local Area SEND inspection report, which has just been published.

Today we’re focusing on one of the positives from the recent SEND inspection - the SEND cluster model.

After the 2017 inspection, mainstream primary and secondary schools across South Glos were grouped into six clusters. These schools now work together to share ideas, resources, and funding to better support children and young people with SEND and other additional needs. The inspection found that this model was an example of the positive work being done by the local area partnership

👉 Check out our latest news to read the full report https://sgpc.org.uk/news-feed/inspection-report-2025

06/11/2025

Join us for the launch of a new series of video resources designed specifically for parent carers on Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA). Developed by the South Glos Educational Psychology team in collaboration with South Glos Parent Carers (SGPC), these videos will give information on EBSA, starting with the Psychology of EBSA including working with schools through to Recovery to Rediscovery.

At this relaxed in-person event, you’ll have the chance to watch the first two videos in the series, meet the SGPC Peer Support team, and connect with representatives from SEND and You - SAY and Kooth There will also be an opportunity to meet with other local health and education professionals to hear about services available within South Glos. It’s a friendly, supportive opportunity to gain information, share experiences, and meet other parent carers.

This event is designed to be a gentle, welcoming space to meet other parent carers and hear valuable information on a topic that we know can sometimes leave families feeling isolated and exhausted. We want this event to meet you where you are — whether you’d like to come along for a cup of tea and a chat, watch the videos quietly, or connect with others for support and advice.

📅Thursday 27th November 10:00am - 12:30pm
📍Baileys Court Activity Centre, Baileys Court Road, BS32 8BH

Book your spot 👉https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cant-not-wont-tickets-1964347465147?aff=oddtdtcreator

We understand that many of you may have children and young people currently not in education who may need to attend with you. Please book a child ticket for them alongside your own ticket.

06/11/2025

The Local Area SEND Inspection report is out, and we know it’s a lot to take in! All this week Over the next few days, we’ll be breaking it down and explaining what it means for local families.

The inspection found that whilst improvements are underway to improve SEND provision in South Glos, children and young people with SEND and their families’ experience of services can be mixed.

The report highlighted several services working well together to support families with very young children, but for those children reaching school age and into adulthood support is inconsistent

👉 Check out our latest news to read the full report https://sgpc.org.uk/news-feed/inspection-report-2025