About Us, School Trips Survey & lots of info 22nd July 2017 Dear All Saturday afternoon… and it’s pouring with rain. Must be the school summer holidays?? We’re around all summer and although we won’t write as often, we plan to send two or three themed newsletters, subjects might include: • Keeping Healthy • Preparing for Adulthood • And suggestions please…
SEND Family Voices – About Us We’re a mix of individual parents, plus leads from disability specific support groups and specialist schools; we all offer our time on a voluntary basis and take responsibility for representing the views of a wider group of parents. www.sendfamilyvoices.org/about-us You can find a list of useful, local disability specific support organisations here: www.sendfamilyvoices.org/useful-links
Our Events We work hard to keep families informed by facilitating and supporting involvement events and workshops. Please look at our events page to see what we have coming up (meetings with Educational Psychologists and specialist support workers are this autumns highlights so far). www.sendfamilyvoices.org/events Our events are always well attended and helps us to feed directly into future decision making within the statutory services on our community’s behalf. We look forward to welcoming you – and if you can’t come along please send us an e-mail, text or give us a call. T: 07469 746 145 E: sendfamilyvoices@outlook.com
The Summer Holidays We’re still here. Like a lot of families, most of us will have time off the school run and will perhaps take time off somewhere. However, we’re a team of twenty. If you have a question or query, please call. It may take a little longer than usual, but we will come back to you.
Three £50 prize-draw – open to young people Short Survey on school trips for those with SEND This survey forms part of our work with the Accessibility Strategy Board; and has been put together by our work experience student. Please encourage your child or young person to complete this very short survey on school trips.
We know that school trips are one of the highs (and often lows) for all our children; completing this survey will make a difference to how local schools and families are able to improve school trips. The survey should take less than five minutes to complete (unless you want to write a lot in the comments boxes) Follow this link: http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/schooltripspupils
Managing your child’s anxiety This is a date for your diary – early September – from the National Autistic Society Richmond Branch: “Would you like help managing your child's anxiety? NAS Richmond have been offered the opportunity of a presentation from a trainee clinical psychologist on: Managing Anxiety in the context of Autism. Thursday 7th September - 10.15am to 11.30am Venue - to be confirmed The plan is that this will be a part presentation, then an open conversation on things parents find difficult - or perhaps sharing ideas on things that have worked for their family. The venue will be in the Borough of Richmond. Please let me know in advance if you would like to come along. Hope to see you there!” Alison Sears T: 07810 505 982 E: richmond@nas.org.uk W: http://www.richmondnas.org/activities-news-and-events.html
Express CIC – events & congratulations Express is a 'not for profit' community organisation supporting young people with autism and their families “We currently run 6 different support groups. We try to cover age groups and different issues over different times and days in the week so that hopefully there'll be one to suit you. We are also available in the office to drop in if you just need someone to talk to who gets it!” http://www.expresscic.org.uk/events.html “Congratulations & thank you to Express CIC’s dragon boat team! We are immensely proud that several young autistic people, parents and supporters took part. They were also joined by teenagers volunteering from the National Citizenship scheme. Thank you to everyone who took part and to everyone who has sponsored the team. We still have a little way to go to reach our target…” https://localgiving.org/fundraising/expressdragon2017/
MeToo&Co – a newsletter on just useful information MeToo&Co open again on 8th September. MeToo&Co’s newsletter (pdf link below) has information on a range of summer activities for you and your children which have been made known to them. Obviously, this list can never
be complete and you will find more information available via the Local Offer website (see below). http://mailchi.mp/metooandco/useful-local-information-from-me-too-co2481809?e=67e589cfe8
Look to the New Local Offer The National Art and Design Saturday Club gives young people aged 13 to 16 years old (in years 9 to 11) the unique opportunity to study art and design every Saturday morning at their local college or university for free. https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/young_people/organisations/25931-national-art-and-designsaturday-club Involve Chat – for adults (and young adults) with learning difficulties https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/community_information/events/25004-involve-chat-gettinggood-lives-for-people-with-learning-disabilities-in-kingston?date=2017-07-25 Music – for young people starting out… https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/local_offer/blog_articles/1494-sound-of-the-times-musiccompetition-for-young-people-aged-17-26 Summer courses from Hook Music studio – see end of page https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/local_offer/organisations/25453-kingston-music-service-hookmusic-centre?term=hook
Autumn Parenting Programme https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/information-andadvice/achieving-for-children-parenting-support/parenting-programme
Free Early Education Children who will have their 3rd birthday on or before 31 August will be eligible for 15 hours free Early Education from September and may be eligible for the extended entitlement of 30 hours https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/community-information/information-and-advice/whereto-apply-for-childcare/30-hours-free-childcare-and-early-education-for-working-parents-of-3and-4-year-olds
And More… SEN Soft Play (early evening) This is a new one on us – thank to you Claire for sending this in. Note, there is a cost £9.50 per session – based in Wimbledon. “Join our exclusive early evening session of play for all Special Needs children, their siblings and Parents. Come along and enjoy! Our sessions include: • Full access to the soft play area • Disco room with music turned down and soft lights • Football pitch • Wheelchair users will have access to area with soft mats, balls and toys • Quiet and chill out area where children can have a little quiet time if needed” http://www.eddiecatz.com/event/sen-soft-play-session-3/2017-07-24/ Calendar with dates here: 27th July - 4th and 29th August http://www.eddiecatz.com/events/?tribe_venues=1372
Two crafty robbers, one tiny ladybird, and a whole farmyard of fun! “Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len have a cunning plan to steal the farmer's fine prize cow. But they reckon without the tiniest, quietest creature of all: The Ladybird has a plan of her own! Recommended for ages 3+ Running Time: 55 mins RELAXED PERFORMANCE* on Tuesday 8th August 2017 at 2pm Access Rate: £9.25 (plus buy 10 and get the 11th ticket free!) E: access@nimaxtheatres.com T: 0330 333 4815 * Relaxed performances are specially designed performances that have been adapted to reduce anxiety and create a supportive atmosphere for people with autism spectrum conditions, learning disabilities and other sensory and communication disorders. “
TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People is a registered charity that provides children and young people with a safe and well-equipped environment in which it delivers a programme of personal, social and educational opportunities to young people with disabilities or additional needs. “I am pleased to say that our new Junior Club is up and running and the feedback has been really positive. We have received funding from both the Richmond Civic Pride Fund and Kingston Council which means the Junior Club is fully funded for this financial year. The Club meets every other week on a Friday at Ham Youth Centre and we have children and young people attending from all over the two boroughs. The Club is open between 18:00 and 19:30 and is for young those aged between 10 and 15. Our Youth Club in open every Friday between 19:30 and 21:30 and is for young people aged between 15 and 25. Those who are aged 14 attend the Junior Club on Junior Club weeks and the Youth Club on the other weeks to provide a transition period. We have a new promo video who you might like to have a look at, the link is: http://mbf.me/THJDco Giles Hobart, Lead Youth Worker TAG Youth Club, Ham Youth Centre, Ham Close, Ham, Richmond, TW10 7PL” E: info@tagyouthclub.org W: www.tagyouthclub.org
Metro Blind Sport welcomes people of all ages and abilities “Metro is a London-based charity; our aim is to open doors to sport for all vision impaired people, regardless of age or sporting ability. We also encourage our members to get together to enjoy social as well as sporting activities. Explore our website to find out about the range of activities on offer.” http://www.metroblindsport.org/
Person Centred Planning Very straightforward animation for children, young people and those around them. “With support from DfE, Independent Support has produced two short animation films, which can be used by local authorities, front line services, professionals and parent groups in their communications with parents and young people. The purpose of the animations is to help explain the EHCP process and its important relationship with the Person-Centred Connection.� 4 mins 21 secs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ElkB6NzWi8 As ever, if you have any queries at all, please ask and we'll always do our best to find an answer. With best wishes, Caroline North (for Kingston) and Romany (for Richmond) Phone: 07469 746 145 www.sendfamilyvoices.org