Adjustments, Unravelling EHCPs & Growing Up 20th January 2016 Dear All Busy, busy, busy…
Reasonable Adjustments #1… "I just want to be like everyone else" We have just published a Guide to Reasonable Adjustments for parents and carers. This booklet provides examples what a 'reasonable adjustment' looks like, an overview of the law and points to sources of further information. Reasonable adjustments apply for all children and young people, in mainstream and specialist schools. This project has been a genuine example of equal partnership and co-production – across differing Achieving for Children departments, Schools, Parents, Young People and SEND Family Voices; from writing a school’s survey, drafting the plan & strategy, conducting the Chocolate Cake Consultations, to producing this booklet (alongside the overview tied into the detail & living document on the Local Offer). We hope that it will make a real difference to children and young people's experience of school. An electronic copy is attached and you can also find it on the Local Offer. If you would like a copy, or copies, sent to you – just reply with a postal address.
Reasonable Adjustments #2… Win a Red Letter Day Design competition – we’ve mentioned this before and attached is the poster. We’ve advertised this through schools, but can’t be sure how many will take up the offer. If your young person, or group would like to enter – go for it!
Unravelling EHC processes Just over one year on and the Education, Health & Care (EHC) assessment processes, new applications, transfers from Statement to EHC Plans have been a challenge for most of us. Included in that are parents & carers, the SEN Team, Schools and health & care providers. Also, Educational Psychologists, Speech & Language and Occupational therapists and we could go on. It’s true that the Department for Education finalised the Code of Practice on the Friday night before the move to EHC Plans became law on the Monday in September 2014 (yes, really!) also there had been a lot of work gone into planning of new templates and processes. But ultimately implementation told its own story and there have been tweaks and updates all year – both locally and from the Department of Education. Unsurprisingly, the consequence of this feels like chaos (organised or otherwise); issues and problems with EHC Plans have been the single biggest category of emails and calls that we have received at SEND Family Voices this year. So, after many meetings with Achieving for Children (AfC) we decided to offer to jump in the deep end and unpick the processes, templates, everything – in collaboration with AfC’s SEN Team. More accurately, our EHCP Lead, Penny Hoffmann-Becking jumped in! The consequence was a day long process review workshop, with Penny, plus Anna Chiva and Wendy Bolsover from the SEN Team, Sarah Herbert (Lead Education Advisor SEND), a parent from each borough, two Educational Psychologists and Oliver Sheppard, a graduate trainee who is supporting the work on process and guidance. The attached picture indicates the complexity of the legislated and local processes.
To be honest, this level of involvement goes beyond the usual parent participation (thank you Penny!), but it is an example of collaborative working that makes the best use of everyone’s expertise and energy – all in the name of ‘making things better’. Follow up meetings will be needed before we reach the outcome that we are working towards - which is a clearer, more effective process with a single set of guidance documents available to
everyone involved in the process (families, SENCos, SEN Team, Health professionals, Educational Psychologists etc etc). Obviously sorting all this out will take a bit of time but we will keep you updated and we hope to have something by the summer term. In the meantime anyone going through the EHC Plan process just keep going - and do keep contacting us if you have any questions or are having difficulties. If you would like to get more directly involved please contact sendfamilyvoices@outlook.com
Making friends Are you the parent of a young person with autism? Do they have special interests? Would they like to meet others with a similar interest (be that ancient Rome, lifts or giant land snails)? SEND Family Voices are developing a joint project with CAMHS to create a database of young people with similar interests. Might that be something that would interest your family? All feedback welcome!
Transition Fair Monday 25th January – 5pm-8pm Langdon Down Centre, Teddington, TW11 9PS “This drop-in event is for young people with disabilities and additional needs aged 14 to 25 and their carers. All are welcome; come and speak to providers about options during transition to adulthood, including providers of education, work, housing, health, care and leisure services.” The attached flyer includes more details of who you can expect to meet.
World of Work 2016 From Achieving for Children’s 14-19 Team; note the quieter time arranged for young people with SEND… “Following the success of the World of Work Roadshow 2015 we are arranging the World of Work Roadshow 2016: Harlequins Rugby Club, Twickenham - Wednesday 9 March 2016 There will be over 70 exhibitors available including employers and training providers who will talk to the young people about training, apprenticeships and future employment opportunities. The attendees will have a chance to hear what it is really like to work in the wide range of sectors represented. There will also be interactive stands providing the visitors with hands-on opportunities to get involved, as well as ongoing careers advice. We have ensured that providers who have a specific offer to young people with SEND are invited to showcase their offer including: Capel Manor College * Kingston Adult Education * Kingston College * Nescot * Orchard Hill College * Project Search * Richmond College ...as well as many other providers and companies that will also support young people with specific needs in accessing vocational opportunities. The quieter session will begin at 11am and end at approx 12.30pm, when the hall will begin to become more crowded. This event is open to students from Key Stage 4 upwards and parents are also very welcome to attend. Please let Amanda Dowden at Achieving for Children know if you would like to attend: amanda.dowden@achievingforchildren.org.uk “
Kingston Youth Service
The Youth Service in Kingston* is changing - and they are keen to know what young people think of this. The consultation went live on Thursday and will be open until 11 February for young people, parents/carers and other users of the Youth Service to complete. (* we can’t find anything similar on the Richmond council website) http://www.kingston.gov.uk/info/200274/consultations_surveys_forums_and_petitions/1246/yo uth_services_consultation
Richmond Mencap …have a brand new website where you can find links to their latest newsletter and activities: http://richmondmencap.org.uk
Cycling… Achieving for Children offers cycling lessons for children with special needs. These can be provided in schools to children aged between 9-12 (free to families) as per attached flyer. In Richmond there are also some instructors with special needs experience who are available to give 1-2-1 private lessons. These cost £10 each and can be booked via the website: http://www.richmond.gov.uk/home/services/roads_and_transport/road_safety/cycling_cour ses/book_cycling_training.htm For both types of session, children need to bring their own bike.
…and KidzRock! This has attracted a lot of interest; we’ve lost count of how many have forwarded it to us! “Kidz Rock will be introducing a brand new play session entirely for children with disabilities. They would like to give the chance for children with special needs to come down and enjoy the facilities all to themselves!” Starts Monday 1st February. 9.30am to 10am. 366 Ewell Road, Surbiton, KT6 7AZ Tel: 0208 390 4727 / 0789 993 8225 Email: kidzrocksoftplay@yahoo.co.uk http://www.kidzrocksoftplay.co.uk/#!contact/c1ttv 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, Romany (for Richmond) and Caroline North (for Kingston) Phone: 07469 746 145 www.sendfamilyvoices.org