We’re looking forward to welcoming you to Together for SEND on Monday 16th March
Here are the key things you need to know for the day. We’ve kept this short so it is easy to check when you need it.
Coming on the day
You’re welcome to come along on the day even if you don’t have a ticket. You can register when you arrive, although talks will be subject to available space. If you’d like to speed up the check-in process, you can book a ticket in advance here: Book a ticket.
Before you arrive
The event brochure will help you get familiar with the venue, rooms and exhibitors.
It will be available on the day, so there is no need to print it.
There is yellow tape on the floor in the exhibitors area to help you find the To YouYou room - the lifts and stairs are at the back of the venu and the tape will guide you there.
Tickets
Please bring your entry ticket and, if you booked talks, your talk confirmation send via email. Digital or printed is fine.
Your ticket must be checked at the venue and before you enter each talk room.
If you cannot find your tickets, search your emails for “Your tickets from Bristol Parent Carers” for talks and “Ticket Tailor” for venue entry.
If you still cannot find them, we can reprint them on the day at the desk. There may be a short wait.
Arrival
Please have your QR code ready to scan.
Education staff: please arrive from 8:15am at the main entrance to We The Curious.
Families and anyone connected to SEND: please arrive from 9:30am at the main entrance to We The Curious.
Wi-Fi details are in the brochure.
Parking and travel
The cheapest parking is usually at City Hall. The closest is Millennium Square.
Full travel and parking details, including a good park and ride option, are on our event page.
Talks and sessions
If you booked talks in advance, bring your talk confirmation and show it at the door for each session.
Your confirmation email shows the name and time of your talk.
If you did not pre-book talks, please go to the room shortly before the session starts and speak to the member of staff at the door. They will let you know if there is space.
Slides will be shared after the event.
Finding your room
The venue is large, so some rooms can be tricky to find.
Use the brochure map on the day, or check it in advance.
For the To Youyou Room, the lift and stairs are at the back of the venue. Follow the yellow line on the floor in the exhibitors area and look for signs.
If you get stuck, please ask a member of staff in a blue t-shirt.
Access, support and facilities
Available support and facilities include:
If you told us about access needs, these should already have been arranged. If you need support on the day, please let us know.
Food and drink
Breakfast and lunch are included in education tickets.
Food is not included with free tickets, but there is an on-site café and sandwiches will be available on each floor at certain times.
Photographs
If you do not want to be included in photographs, please collect a lanyard from the check-in desk.
Need a bit of extra support?
If you are feeling nervous about coming on your own, please tell us. We are very happy to meet you on arrival and help you get settled.
If you need help at any point during the day, please speak to a member of staff.
Speakers
Please arrive 30 minutes before your slot. If you can not find the email which confirms your time slot, find it in the event brochure.
You will enter via the main entrance, there may be a queue. Do not stand in the queue. Head to the information desk, and someone at the desk will meet you and explain where you need to go and give you an information sheet and a map.
In your room, there will be a BPC representative.
If you have also booked an exhibitor table please see the exhibitors section.
Exhibitors set up by 9:15am
Please come to the loading bay entrance on Explore Lane - do not arrive via the front entrance as there is no entry.
Arriving by car: Please unload your items in the loading bay on Explore Lane and leave them in the Good Entrance while you park your car. You will then be able to re-enter to set up via the same door.
Arriving by foot: Please come in via the goods entrance on Explore Lane.
All tables will have the location number and Wi-Fi login details on. Your location number has been sent in advance, if you can not find it, check the event brochure page 10 and 12.
Thank you
Huge thanks to everyone who has donated to support our work.
If you would still like to donate, you can do so here: Support Bristol Parent Carers
Safe travels, and we’ll see you on Monday 16th March.
Turning shared learning into better support for SEND
Together for SEND 2026 returns to Bristol, bringing families, schools, and professionals together for a day of learning, connection, and inspiration.
Together for SEND 2026 returns to Bristol, bringing families, schools, and professionals together for a day of learning, connection, and inspiration.
This event tackles the real challenges faced by those supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities. Offering practical insights, strategies, and support to improve experiences across education, health, and community settings.
- Join workshops, talks, and interactive sessions designed for families, school staff, and anyone supporting children with additional needs
- Discover practical solutions, connect with local and local organisations, and leave empowered to make a difference for every child.
Some sessions are aimed specifically at school staff, some for families, and some are mixed. We understand that some topics are private or sensitive, and it can be difficult to discuss certain things in front of families or professionals. You can choose the sessions that work best for you.
To explore what we offer specifically for families or for schools, click the buttons below.
Families, why come along?
Practical support, friendly faces, and clear next steps — for parent carers. No diagnosis is needed.
What you’ll get
Clear next steps
Leave with a plan — who to contact, what to ask for, and what to do next.
People who get it
Talk with other parent carers in a welcoming, no-judgement space.
Trusted info
Practical guidance on education, health and social care.
What happens on the day?
What is available: click to read more
A full event brochure, including all talks and sessions, will be available from the start of February. This will help you plan your day in advance and decide which sessions feel most useful for you.
On the day, you’ll still have flexibility. If you change your mind or feel a different session would be more helpful, you’re welcome to switch. In previous years, although some talks have appeared “sold out” in advance, we’ve often had space on the day due to last-minute changes by families.
Alongside the talks, there will be around four hours of peer support, where you can drop in, ask questions, and get answers there and then from people who understand SEND.
Who it’s for: click to read more
Any family with worries about a child or young person aged 0–25 and wondering where to go for help.
Whether you’re right at the start and just beginning to ask questions, or you’re already knee-deep in appointments, plans and paperwork, you are very welcome here.You don’t need to know the “right” words, and you don’t need to have everything figured out. We know exactly what it's like.
On the day, you’ll be able to speak directly with local services, charities and organisations, as well as peer supporters who have lived experience and understand what it’s really like. You can ask questions, get information, and talk things through - all in one place.
Access, interpreters and expenses: click to read more
If you have access needs or need support to take part, please tell us when you book and we will do our best to support you.
Support available on the day includes:
- support with English, including one “New to SEND” session delivered in Somali
- a friendly buddy to show you around and help you settle in
- a free crèche available for up to 2 hours
- a prayer room and a quiet area
- ear plugs and a free sensory bag for anyone who needs one
- bus fare refuded on the day, just bring your receipt to the front desk
- BSL is avilable, please let us know when bookng that this is needed.
If busy spaces feel overwhelming for you, the best time to visit the exhibitors is during talks, when the area is usually quieter.
We can reimburse reasonable bus travel costs. Please speak to a member of staff on the day or contact us in advance if you would like to discuss this.
School staff: why attend?
A full day of SEND-focused learning, collaboration and practical problem-solving - designed for Bristol educators.
What you’ll gain
Leave with practical strategies, local context, and stronger connections to support children and young people with SEND in Bristol.
Connect with peers
Meet and collaborate with over 150 fellow Bristol educators in one place.
Senior updates + Q&A
Hear updates from senior education, Bristol City Council and health leaders, with time for questions.
Actionable practice
Industry-leading speakers plus local troubleshooting sessions you can use straight away.
What happens on the day?
Talks, sessions and Q&A: click to read more
Each hour offers three sessions to choose from, so you can build a timetable that fits your role and priorities.
- Two SENCO-only talks each hour
- At least one mixed talk each hour
You’ll also hear an update from senior education staff from Bristol City Council and health services on progress made in the last 12 months along with a Q&A session.
Details of talks will be available from the start of February.
Exhibitors and support services: click to read more
A wide range of local and national organisations, including:
Bristol City Council, bringing together:
- SEND Team
- Educational Psychology Team
- Bristol Autism Team
- Sensory Support Service
- Disabled Children’s Service
- Independent Travel Training
- Home to School Travel
- Fostering Services
- We Work for Everyone (Post 16)
- Family Hubs
- Early Years
Sirona Care & Health, including:
- Public Health Nursing
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Community Paediatrics
- Autism and Neurodisability
Alongside:
Education & Schools
Briarwood School • Kind Education • Neuroteachers • The Bridge in Schools & The Bridge Foundation • Neurodiverse Training • Oasis Hub South Bristol • North Star Outreach • Hamish & Milo Ltd
Health, Therapy & Wellbeing
Bristol Royal Hospital for Children (UHBW) • BIBIC • Cerebral Palsy Plus • Grounded in Connection • Platypus Training & Consultancy • PlatyPLUS Therapeutic & Support Services CIC • Synergy Mind and Body • Jessie May • Watkins Solicitors
SEND Support, Advice & Advocacy
SEND and You (SENDIAS) • ACT4SEND • SOS!SEN • Bristol Autism Support • SENDsenses CIC • Sense • Ups and Downs South West • FACE Charity Bristol • FFLAG • People First Voices & Choices
Families, Community & Inclusion
Bristol Family School • Bristol Family Hubs • The Family Centre for Deaf Children • Carers Support BSG • Enemy of Boredom • NeuroConnect CIC • Autism Independence
Other Specialist Services & Organisations
Glue Ear Together • Guide Dogs Children’s Services • Suziebooks • Sensory Oojamabobs • Global Mediation • Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation
Food and accessibility: click to read more
Breakfast and lunch are included in the price of the ticket.
A prayer room and a quiet area will be available.
The exhibitors will be quietest when talks are on — if you want time with exhibitors, leave a gap in your schedule to visit during sessions.
Access arrangements are made on request when booking.
Anyone else: why come along?
If you work with, support, or advocate for children and young people with SEND in Bristol, this day is for you.
Who this is for
This space brings together people working across SEND, education, health, social care and the community — whether your role is frontline, strategic, or somewhere in between.
- youth and community workers
- social care and early help teams
- health, therapy and wellbeing practitioners
- VCSE organisations, charities and advocates
- local authority and system partners
What you’ll get out of the day
A practical, grounded understanding of what SEND looks like across Bristol — and how different parts of the system connect.
- insight into current local SEND priorities and pressures
- better understanding of family experiences and expectations
- opportunities to connect across sectors and roles
- practical ideas you can take back into your own service
- a clearer picture of what good joined-up working looks like in practice
How the day works
Talks, sessions and networking: click for more info
Sessions run throughout the day, with a mix of talks, discussion spaces and time to connect with others working in SEND.
You can choose the sessions that feel most relevant to your role and interests.
Exhibitors and local services: click for more info
A wide range of local and national organisations will be present, offering insight into support, training and services available across Bristol.
Exhibitors are quietest while talks are running, so you may want to leave space in your schedule to visit them then.
Food, access and the venue: click for more info
If you have access needs or need support to take part, please tell us when you book and we will do our best to support you.
Support available on the day includes:
- support with English, including one “New to SEND” session delivered in Somali
- a friendly buddy to show you around and help you settle in
- a free crèche available for up to 2 hours
- a prayer room and a quiet area
- ear plugs and a free sensory bag for anyone who needs one
- bus fare refuded on the day, just bring your receipt to the front desk
- BSL is avilable, please let us know when bookng that this is needed.
If busy spaces feel overwhelming for you, the best time to visit the exhibitors is during talks, when the area is usually quieter.
We can reimburse reasonable bus travel costs. Please speak to a member of staff on the day or contact us in advance if you would like to discuss this.