Suffolk's official SEND parent forum to close as families voice concerns over support
They're closing due to funding being pulled
The group responsible for representing thousands of Suffolk families with children who have special educational needs and disabilities is closing down, as parents raise concerns about communication and support across the county's SEND system.
The Suffolk Parent Carer Forum (SPCF) has confirmed it is entering a formal winding-up process after losing the Department for Education funding that enabled it to operate.
The charity has acted as Suffolk's official Department for Education-funded parent carer forum, gathering feedback from families and representing their views to Suffolk County Council, health services and education providers.
Its closure comes after parents reported months of cancelled events and limited communication from the organisation.
Suffolk Parent Carer Forum statement
In a statement, the SPCF Board of Trustees said it was "with great sadness" that the charity would close because of circumstances beyond its control.
"We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved together and grateful to everyone who has supported us throughout our journey."
The trustees added that although progress had been made for children and young people with SEND, "there is still a long way to go" to ensure families receive the support they are legally entitled to.
A replacement parent carer forum is now being established.
The trustees said:
"We remain committed to the principle that parent carers' voices should be heard, respected and valued."
They also addressed criticism surrounding the charity's closure.
The statement said trustees had never received payment for their work and described "inaccurate and damaging allegations" as having caused "significant distress" to volunteers who had supported parent carers over many years.
The charity said redundancy notices have been issued to staff, the Charity Commission has been informed throughout the winding-up process and any remaining funding will be returned to funders.
Parents fear families are losing an important voice
Steven Wright, a Suffolk parent of two children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) who helps run online support groups for SEND families, said the closure comes at a particularly difficult time.
Although he said he had previously disagreed with aspects of how the forum operated, he believes losing it removes an important route for parents to engage with decision-makers.
"There are 10,000 families out there whose children have EHCPs," he said.
"That's a huge resource of expertise that the council could tap into."
Mr Wright said parents develop specialist knowledge through supporting their children and believed those experiences should play a greater role in shaping SEND services.
He also claimed communication between families and Suffolk's SEND service had reduced in recent months, leaving some parents struggling to obtain updates about assessments, reviews and support.
Mr Wright told Greatest Hits Radio that, in his experience, families have found it increasingly difficult to receive responses to enquiries and said the closure of the Parent Carer Forum removes another important avenue for communication.
He added:
"Parents have been held in contempt.
"To keep people in the dark in such a situation is unforgivable and counterproductive."
Replacement forum planned
The Suffolk Local Area SEND Partnership, which includes Suffolk County Council alongside NHS organisations, has thanked the forum for its work representing families.
In a statement, the partnership said the forum had played "a vital role" in both representing parents and providing "support and constructive challenge" as services sought to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
The partnership has confirmed work is already underway to establish a new parent carer forum, with further details expected in due course.
We've approached Suffolk County Council, Contact, the charity that administers Department for Education funding for parent carer forums, and the Department for Education for comment.