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Travel Training is free for students and adults who receive one or more of the following services from their local authority:

free home to school transport

post-16 transport

social care transport (in Essex and Suffolk only)

If you live in Southend, you should contact your allocated SEN case officer or social worker to enquire about Travel Training.

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What is Travel Training? - Essex Travel Training

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Travel Training helps people with special educational needs or disabilities travel independently on buses and trains.

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STS General SEND Padlet - Southend City Inclusion Ideas and Inspiration 

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STS General SEND Padlet - Southend City Inclusion Ideas and Inspiration 

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Example of a Transition-Booklet for Primary to Secondary

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Video and more information from Shoeburyness High School

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Welcome to our information to support you in joining Shoeburyness High School in Year 7. Here you will find answers to many of the questions you may have before joining Year 7.

School Tour

Your child will get the opportunity to see around our school on the Borough Transition Day in July. If you wish to become familiar with key areas in our school before then, please click here

Preparing for Year 7

Below are some resources for the core subjects which will help prepare your child for moving into Year 7.

Maths Secondary Ready - Numerise

Secondary Ready is a free course within Numerise that is designed to prepare Year 6 learners for starting Year 7 in September.

It is available free of charge to learners in the UK until September 2020.
https://www.numerise.com/secondary-ready/

The Book Buzz

We love reading!

Here are just five reasons why:

Reading is food for the brain.

Reading makes you more confident.

Books are the world's cheapest travel agents.

Reading reduces stress

Reading improves your focus, memory and makes your more likely to achieve success.

We would love you to read as much as you can and enjoy it just as much as we do.

At Shoeburyness High School we have The Book Buzz which encourages you to spend time reading.

There are some amazing books to read and here are a few of our recommendations that you could maybe look at over the Summer.
Recommended reading books

SPaG - BBC Bitesize

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Welcome to our information to support you in joining Shoeburyness High School in Year 7. Here you will find answers to many of the questions you may have before joining Year 7. Your child will get the opportunity to see around our school on the Borough Transition Day in July.

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Photos of key areas in Shoeburyness High School

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Padlet - Southend City Council Transition Toolkit (1)

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Pathways to Independence – Preparing for Adulthood webinar series – Livewell Southend

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Advice for the Nursery Early Years Booklet

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S-Well Guide to Making a Virtual Transition Video

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National Supported Internship Day 2026 (2)

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To help students transition from primary to secondary school the BBC has partnered with YoungMinds Find your Feet project, aimed at enabling schools to actively support the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children as they start the next chapter in their lives.

Four key topics associated with starting secondary school are listed below. Each one has a Find Your Feet activity and a short film that can be used as a conversation starter either in the classroom or at home.

First is a film which shows how one school has benefited from using the YoungMinds resources.

Being brave

Being brave means different things to different people.

In this film students talk about what they think being brave means when faced with the challenges of starting secondary school.

We hear from primary school students who share their worries ahead of the move and secondary school students who talk about what life is really like.

It could be used to encourage pupils to talk about what being brave means to them, ways that they could be brave in difficult situations and how this could make them feel more resilient.
Download your YoungMinds activity pack

Changes

This film highlights the main differences students will face when they make the move from primary to secondary school - from catching the school bus to making sure they arrive at lessons on time and having the correct equipment for the day ahead.

It could be used to explore how students feel about the changes they will face in secondary school and how they can plan for them.
Download your YoungMinds activity pack

Hopes and dreams

Secondary school brings with it a new world of opportunities, from joining a sports club or learning to cook in food technology to channelling your acting skills in drama.

Here, secondary school students talk about the subjects they are most passionate about and how they play a part in their hopes and dreams for the future.

This short film could be used to encourage students to consider exciting new opportunities in the future and how they can use them to cope with the challenges of starting secondary school.
Download your YoungMinds activity pack

Support networks

For many students moving to secondary school is a worrying time, new building, new teachers, new subjects and new classmates.

This film explores the different people who will be able to offer support and look after them.

This short film could be used to help students identify their support networks, both inside and outside of secondary school.
Download your YoungMinds activity pack

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Teacher resources for students transitioning to secondary school

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To help students transition from primary to secondary school the BBC has partnered with YoungMinds Find your Feet project, aimed at enabling schools to actively support the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children as they start the next chapter in their lives.

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A application recommended by the National Autistic Society to support planning and organisation.

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Practical human support and digital tools to help you think about what you need and plan for the things you find difficult. Access personalised strategies from your phone, when you need them most.

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Supporting school transitions | Resources

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Resources providing practical tips and tools to help pupils, schools, parents and carers to manage changes and transitions throughout their time at school.

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- Help your child make that huge leap from primary to secondary or high school. Here are some things to that'll build your child's confidence, resilience and self-esteem.

Things you can try

1. Start by understanding why it's hard, it can really help

2. Consider other things they may be worried about before they start their new school

3. Prepare yourself (as a parent). It's okay to be worried too

4. Your child is unique and we hope there are some takeaways here that work for you. If you're looking for help parenting children with additional needs, you can get specific advice from specialist organisations. Check out our list of support that we can recommend.

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Place2Be: Parenting Smart: Helping your child prepare for Secondary or High School

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Help your child make that huge leap from primary to secondary or high school. Here are some things to that'll build your child's confidence, resilience and self-esteem. Start by understanding why it's hard, it can really help Consider other things they may be worried about before they start their new school Prepare yourself (as a parent).

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Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If you or a young person you work with is in crisis right now and wants to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

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Transitioning to further education | Resources

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Advice and practical tips to support school staff in preparing their students for the transition from school to university or further education.

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Preparing for adulthood timeline for young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

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This timeline outlines key statutory requirements and decision-making milestones for young people navigating Preparing for Adulthood pathways, based on the Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Regulations 2014, and the SEND Code of Practice (0 to 25 years).
Download the routemap for: Preparing for adulthood timeline for young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
To view a list of all routemaps, visit: SEND routemaps | Your say Southend

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We use cookies to ensure our site functions properly and to store limited information about your usage. You may give or withdraw consent at any time. To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.

Necessary Only Accept All Manage cookies

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Post-16 pathways for young people with SEND.

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This routemap has been produced to help young people and those who support them consider their options after the age of 16.Download the routemap for: Post-16 pathways for young people with SEND.To view a list of all routemaps, visit: SEND routemaps | Your say Southend

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Southend Careers Service is a leading provider of Careers, information advice and guidance for young people in Essex.In line with legislation, Southend Connexions has MATRIX Accreditation and our

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Please find a link to training on 'Planning transition for those with sensory impairment and a range of needs'.

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If you’re affected by sight loss, we’re here for you

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Quick advice If your child uses WhatsApp, set up these 3 controls for a quick safety net. Video guide More resources

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Set up parental controls on devices and platforms | Internet Matters

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Set up parental controls on a range of devices and platforms to help children develop key online safety and digital literacy skills.

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Great resource to teach about online relationships designed for SEND students 

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Great resource to teach about online relationships designed for SEND students 

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This download contains:

Thrive Online Educators Guidance

Lesson Plan 1: Understanding healthy and unhealthy relationships

Lesson Plan 2: Managing online conflict

Lesson Plan 3: Consent in online relationships

Accompanying slides, including three short films

To view the accompanying short films separately or if you are unable to access the embedded versions provided in the lesson slides, please use the link below:

These resources have been produced as part of Thrive Online and are designed to empower young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to build happy and healthy online relationships. Childnet have also produced resources covering the topics of online pornography and digital wellbeing.

For

Topics

Type

Donate

Even a small donation can support the development of our online safety resources and help our Education Team to connect with more children and young people.
Donate

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Teaching about healthy online relationships (SEND) | Childnet

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Teaching resources including video on healthy relationships online for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities aged 11-17 years old.

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Highly recommend all families take 10 mins to complete this

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Highly recommend all families take 10 mins to complete this

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My Family’s Digital Toolkit - tailored online safety advice | Internet Matters

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Every child is different with their own online interests and activities. We created a simple tool to provide tailored advice to meet family’s digital needs.

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Roblox has recently launched some new parental controls, offering more transparency and management over young people’s accounts.

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BBFC Online pornography and age verification what parents need to know

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FREE advice to help you set up parental controls

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FREE advice to help you set up parental controls

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Learn how to use parental controls. | Childnet

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Setting up parental controls and filters on your home internet can help to avoid age-inappropriate images, videos and websites being seen by your child whilst they are using the Wi-Fi.

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Southend City Council Specialist Teaching Service 

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Welcome to S.T.S- Specialist Teaching Service

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Southend City Council Specialist Teaching Service 

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Welcome to S.T.S- Specialist Teaching Service

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Talking to new people and being understanding.

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If you’re having problems with your friends then we’ve got advice and tips to help.

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Guides for autistic people, parents and carers, on making friends and socialising.

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If you’re struggling with your feelings, we have tips and advice from other young people, and information on getting the support you need for your mental health.

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The importance of friendships for your mental health

Friends can help you with your mental health in lots of different ways. They might check in with how you are feeling, or simply make you laugh with the best TikToks. They might also help you by:

When friends help and support you, they can boost your self-esteem, make you feel good, and remind you that you are loved for who you are. They can help you to look after your mental health.

Advice from young people like you

Our Activists and other young people like you, share how their friends have helped them with their mental health.

Talking to friends about mental health

Talking to a friend about your mental health is one of the first steps on the road to feeling better. But sometimes, this can feel quite scary. You might not know what to say, or you might be nervous about sharing how you are feeling. That's okay! Here are some tips that can help:

Pick a good time when you won't get interrupted and find a quiet space to chat.

Explain how you are feeling.

Be clear about what you want shared. You may not want other friends to know yet, and that's okay. Let your friend know that you are not ready to share with others. However, if your friend is worried that you aren't safe, they will need to tell a trusted adult.

Remember: Good friends will want to be there for you so you don't have to struggle alone. For more tips, have a look at our page on reaching out for help.

It is normal to feel nervous or uncomfortable when it comes to talking about your mental health. This can make you feel like it is not something you want to do, but talking about your mental health with the people you trust is often the first step to feeling better.

If you are struggling with a friendship

Throughout our lives, we might struggle with our friendships. We might argue with friends, no longer speak to friends we were once close to, or we might lose some friendships. You might struggle with a friend because:

one of you moves away, making it difficult to keep in touch

your friend makes new friends that you do not feel comfortable around

you might be left out of the friendship group

you meet new friends and aren't able to spend as much time with your old friend as you used to

one of you might be struggling with your mental health, meaning that you/your friend might be withdrawn and not keeping in touch as much

your friend might not understand how you are feeling or what you are going through - this can make it difficult to chat to your friends, or make it feel like they aren't taking your feelings seriously

you are making the effort to see your friend and stay in touch but they aren't making the effort back

they often ask you for advice and it feels like a lot of responsibility that you are struggling to manage

We might have arguments with friends, and sometimes fall out, but often you can get through those difficult moments together. You or your friend may not have realised how each other were feeling or understood what either of you were going through.

By talking things through and explaining how you both feel, you can both learn to better understand how you can support each other. Overcoming these tough times together can sometimes help make your friendship stronger.

Coping with the loss of a friendship

In some situations, however, your friendship might come to an end. You may have tried to work through an argument and it hasn't worked out, or they may have not been very nice to you.

Friendships can come to a natural end too. There might not be a specific reason, but you might no longer keep in touch. Sometimes people grow apart and that's okay.

When friendships come to an end, it can be really tough. Friends are there through the highs and lows - they can be like our chosen family, meaning that it can feel tough to move on - but things can get better over time.

If someone close to you passes away, it can be extremely difficult. Jacob shares how he coped with the death of his best friend and Nia shares advice on how she coped with losing a friendship.

If you have lost a friend, our page has advice if you're finding it hard to cope.

When I lost my best friend to suicide at 16 years old, I had panic attacks and walked out of lessons at college, flooded in oceans of guilt and upset.

I went from being a very hard-working media student to not caring. I became very distant and didn't put much effort into my work.

I reached out to my GP who was very useful in supporting me. I found a counsellor, which has been a lifesaver for me in getting me back on my feet and learning how to manage my grief while keeping the memories of my friend alive.

Jacob's story: Coping with the death of my best friend

Over the years of hurting and healing, I have unfortunately learnt that there is no magic cure for dealing with the loss of a friendship. You can't ambush a heart into healing or speeding up the process, but the days get less painful and in my experience, you will come through the other side.

Take time for yourself. Don't try and replace them. Learn what it was that you valued in that friendship. Figure out what it is that you feel like you are missing without them. This will help you to look for it in future.

Cherish those friends who are currently around you, hold onto the memories you've made and trust the process.

Nia's story: How to cope with the loss of a friendship

Tips and advice from our Activists

Our Activists share their tips on what to do if you're struggling with a friendship.

Understanding when a friendship is unhealthy

While occasional arguments or disagreements can be normal between friends, there are times when friendships can become unhealthy and affect you in a negative way. This can be things like:

your friends pressuring you to do something you feel uncomfortable with, like taking drugs or drinking alcohol

when jokes or banter become hurtful and disrespectful

you are constantly arguing and falling out

they continue to ask you for help when you have told them you are unable to

they make you feel guilty

they make you feel uncomfortable when spending time with different friends and make you feel like you have to choose between them

they bully you

the friendship feels 'one-sided', where they ask a lot of you but you don't feel like they support you in return

they isolate you from a group on purpose, making you feel lonely

Sometimes, friends might do these things unintentionally or without realising, or they might continue to do them after you've asked them to stop. Ultimately, it's about how you feel about the friendship.

Show/hide caption

Artwork by @thetypewriterdaily. An open sketchbook shows a drawing that represents releasing what isn't for you. The left-hand page shows a hand releasing grey colours from its palm. The right-hand page shows a hand receiving a rainbow into its palm. The text reads, 'release what isn't for you so you can receive what is - Mansi.'

If you're finding a friendship difficult

If you're finding a friendship difficult, you might want to talk to that friend about how they have been treating you. You might be nervous about talking to them, or worried about how they will react. Childline have some tips on how you can talk to your friend and be assertive to explain how you feel.

If your friend is constantly asking you for help but you're not sure what to say, it can make you feel stressed or anxious. Our page on how to support a friend with their mental health has tips on how you can set boundaries and look after your mental health, which you may find helpful.

When a friendship becomes unhealthy, it can impact other areas of your life and how you think and feel. It can make you feel down or anxious, or might lower your self-esteem and how you feel around other people. If you feel like this, it's important that you are able to get help. Even when you disagree with friends, you still deserve to be treated with kindness and respect.

You are confused, the world seems scary, and it feels like everyone else fits in and you don't. As if they all have the rule book to life which you forgot to pick up.

Right now, fitting in seems so, so important. But understanding friendships seems impossible and people are just really hard work! Growing up is hard. I know people say this a lot, but it really is true.

I know it feels like nobody gets you - you feel like an outsider looking in. You feel like an alien, born onto the wrong planet and in some ways, I guess you are. But actually, being different isn't a bad thing.

Coping with peer pressure

It's normal for people to compare themselves to their friends and peers, and often the influence of your friends can have a positive role in shaping your identity. Sometimes though, the influence of your friends and peers can be a cause of stress.

If you feel like you're being pressured by friends or peers into doing something that you don't want to do, this is called peer pressure. For example, you might feel pressured to take drugs or drink alcohol, to take dangerous risks when driving, or to have sex before you feel ready. If you are in a situation like this, it's important to say how you feel and that you don't want to take part. If your friends keep trying to get you to take part, speak to a trusted adult about how you are feeling. You need to make sure you are safe, so if you do feel at risk, you should reach out to professional services.

Seek out good friendships

You may worry that by not doing something that your friends are doing, you will be left out, or it will damage your friendship.

But remember, a good friend won't pressure you to do anything you're not comfortable with.

You deserve to have friends that accept your decisions and make you feel as though your feelings are valid.

Below are some tips to help you cope with peer pressure. Rose, 20, also shares her advice in our blog.

Real stories about friendship from young people

Get help now

If you are struggling with a friend and not sure who to talk to, there are people who will help you get through this. Here are some organisations that can provide you with support.

Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If you are in crisis right now and want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

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Friends | Tips and Advice about Friendships

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Friends can be a source of mental health support. But sometimes, you might find you're not getting along. Our page has tips and advice that can help you.

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Generic yr 6 flyer outlining information and events 

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Generic yr 6 flyer outlining information and events 

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Please share with all EHCP students/ students we are working with 

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Please share with all EHCP students/ students we are working with 

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Specialist Teaching Team Permission Form June 2025

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Welcome to STS for Yr 6 families we are working with or have an EHCP 

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Welcome to STS for Yr 6 families we are working with or have an EHCP 

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Advice for the Nursery Early Years Booklet (002)

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Eye tests for children with special needs

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Southend City Council Transition Booklet (1)

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Lanyard-Sized Transition to Secondary Prompt Cards (1)

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Webinar from Young Minds - advice for staff

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Webinar from Young Minds - advice for staff

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Braydon vs Mr Burton: the truth about starting secondary school

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YouTuber, Braydon Bent challenges head teacher, Mr Burton about the realities of starting secondary school.

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This film was recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic. Malachi and Libby were both worried about making new friends. They talk about the challenges of moving to secondary school without existing friendship groups. Malachi found that joining a sports team was a great way to meet like minded people. Libby shared her concerns with her teacher and was encouraged to be brave and present a project in front of her entire class which helped her grow in confidence.

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This film was recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic. Malachi and Libby were both worried about making new friends. They talk about the challenges of moving to secondary school without existing friendship groups. Malachi found that joining a sports team was a great way to meet like minded people.

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Logan, Jessie, Zoe and Ryan all know what it's like to start secondary school. Here, they share eight things they wish they had known at the start, which might help you settle in. From making sure you're not carrying too much stuff in your bag to tips to help you know where you need to be at all times.

Tips:

1. Make sure you get a good night's sleep because if you don't get a good night's sleep, you'll end up looking like death and feeling like death in the morning.

2. Not all schools allow mobile phones, but if they do a good idea when you get your timetable is to take a photo of it and set it as your lock screen, so when you don't know where to go you can easily just check your phone and go to that class. Alternatively, keep your timetable in a laminated sleeve so it doesn't get damaged and you can pull it out anytime.

3. Only bring what you need in your bag rather than everything.

4. Go to your classroom early to see if there's somebody there, and you can sit with them and talk to them for five minutes before the class and you've already got a friend.

5. Eating breakfast in the morning will keep you energised until you go on your break or lunchtime.

6. If you are allowed your phone in school, you should put it on silent as you don't want to be worrying about it accidentally ringing whilst you are doing algebra!

7. Definitely don't suffer in silence when you're in school or in class as the teachers are there to help you.

If you need support

You should always tell someone about the things you're worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help. Your GP can let you know what support is available to you, suggest different types of treatment and offer regular check-ups to see how you're doing.

If you're in need of in-the-moment support you can contact Childline, where you can speak to a counsellor. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are more links to helpful organisations on BBC Action Line.

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Things I wish I'd known before starting secondary school

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Some seriously useful advice from students who've been through it.

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Follow Alfie through a typical day in Year 7.

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Tips that can help you and your child prepare practically.

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This film was recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr Radha Modgil gives her advice on how to best prepare your child practically and emotionally for the start of secondary school.

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Supporting a child moving to secondary school with Dr Radha

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Dr Radha Modgil advises on how to support children moving to secondary school.

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This film was recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Parents share their concerns before their child starts secondary school, including forming new friendships, new routines, and being overprotective. The film offers tips that can help you and your child prepare emotionally for these changes.

Tips:

Get your child to make a list of things they like about themselves, making sure they identify the attributes behind those qualities

Don't let your worries become their worries

Don't let them feel unsafe because you are constantly talking about safety

Prepare them for all of the new and fun opportunities that they'll have by talking to them about clubs and activities and encourage them to explore what's available

Increase the independence that you give them over the summer holidays or even their last months at primary school so that the jump to secondary feels natural

Let them know that should they need you, you are there for them and will help them no matter what

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Tips that can help you and your child prepare emotionally.

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Supporting online wellbeing for children with SEND

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Supporting online wellbeing for children with SEND

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We won't stop until every child is safe online.

The COVID-19 pandemic means children are online more than ever. In the first year of the pandemic, our helpline saw a 45% increase in contacts from people worried about online sexual abuse.

Together we can make sure it's safe for every child to go online. We're here to support parents with online safety advice, and we're here for children - to protect them and help them recover from abuse.
Help us protect children online Worried about something?

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We won't stop until every child is safe online. The COVID-19 pandemic means children are online more than ever. In the first year of the pandemic, our helpline saw a 45% increase in contacts from people worried about online sexual abuse. Together we can make sure it's safe for every child to go online.

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Campaigning for change

We fight to change laws to make society safer for children. Our Wild West Web campaign has pushed for new regulations through the Online Safety Bill to make sure websites, apps and games are safe for children to use. But the draft Bill doesn't go far enough to protect children.
Help us end the Wild West Web

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Understanding online safety is tricky for all ages - we have advice and guides to help you learn about staying safe online as a family.

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Mr Burton’s top 5 tips for mobile phone and online safety

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Head teacher Matthew Burton gives his advice on how to manage your child’s mobile phone and online use.

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How to spot the signs of cyberbullying with Dr Anna Colton

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Looking at the common signs of cyberbullying, and what can be done to help.

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Starting secondary school with Special Educational Needs (SEN)

This film was recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic.

As a parent or carer of a child with special educational needs, or a child with an educational health & care plan the very idea of moving from primary to secondary school can feel daunting. Here are 5 top tips from an experienced inner city secondary school special educational needs co-ordinator, SENDCo, to help.

1. Create a one page profile about your child noting the difficulties and barriers they face at their primary school, and the strategies that work and that don’t work. This will help the school understand the world of your child quickly, from the people who understand them best, you. Things to consider when pulling it together; what’s currently working well at primary school? Can these strategies be replicated at the secondary school? Situations for your child to avoid, and main concerns about secondary school?

2. Visit the school on a regular school day with, and without, your child. When there, ask as many questions as you like; the school is new to you so don’t feel anything is silly to ask. What do you see are the barriers when you walk around; take notes if you need to.

3. Request a multi-agency meeting that will bring all key adults and agencies connected to the support and care of your child together in one meeting. Any key adult involved with the child would attend this meeting; class teacher, TA, parents, educational psychologist, communication interaction team, speech & language therapist etc. Your current primary SENDCo will be able to co-ordinate this with their secondary school equivalent. Bring along the one page profile, multiple copies if possible, so that it can be shared with everyone, and questions following your visit to the school.

Sample questions to ask:

Where can my child go if they are struggling/anxious/having a meltdown?

What happens at break and lunch time when it is unstructured time?

How can my child get help with reading/spelling/maths/homework?

How will support in assessments work?

Will my child get a Teaching assistant?

4. Ensure you have a named contact at the secondary school and their contact details. This can be the form tutor, SENDCo or head of year. Ask the school which is the best way of contacting them.

5. Consider what needs to be shared with your child:

Transition plan - between the professionals. Lists of multiple individuals and agencies could be overwhelming for the child.

Transition booklet – a go-to guide for the child with named staff and photos of key adults and rooms that they can keep in their bag or locker.

Avoid making your child anxious by saying things like "I don't know how it works, I don't know who to ask". Hopefully with a named contact this shouldn't happen.

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Starting secondary school with Special Educational Needs (SEN)

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SENDCo Trudi Skinner gives advice for parents of SEN children about to start secondary school.