Annual Report, Have Your Say & Tweets 14th October 2017 Dear All Have Your Say… dates for your diaries, reminders and please note the date change for the SEND Forum with the local MPs.
What we’ve been up to… Annual Reports are something like a labour of love… and it does make it you look at what has happened over the last year. SEND Family Voices Trustees have just published the FY 2016/2017 Annual Report – which details our activities up to end of March 2017. We might have to start writing FY 17/18 now… You can find our full report by following the link below. For now, this is our current focus for FY 2017/18. We’d welcome your thoughts.
FY 2017/2018 Our goals and aspirations are to change the world for the families that have young people with special needs but in the meantime, here are a few key things that we’re planning to focus on for the coming year: • Continue to try to improve the way that EHCPs and Reviews are handled • Focus on the offer for post 16 – which is developing but is problematic for many young people, their parents or carers. • Continue to challenge and improve services; Short Breaks, Respite and CAMHS (CAMHS = mental health services for children and young people) • Use our surplus resources to develop support for families • Continue to develop our reach to be even more representative through improved website and social media and a continuing programme of open meetings and information events Full Trustees Report here: http://www.sendfamilyvoices.org/annual-reports/
Have Your Say… #1 Talk Educational Psychology - last chance ! There is one more focus group with the Educational Psychology Service; an opportunity to influence a service our children need. Achieving for Children's Educational Psychology Service (AfC EPS) are front line workers with our children, young people and the schools. They are highly trained professionals and they want to understand how parents experience EPS, and then improve their services where needed. The final focus group is: Monday 16th October - 7pm to 9pm Doubletree Hilton, 1 Skerne Rd, Kingston, KT2 5FJ Parking at Seven Kings, Skerne Road, Kingston, KT2 5AD
#2 SEND Forum – Date Change with local MPs Vince Cable, Ed Davey & Zac Goldsmith Ruils and SEND Family Voices are jointly facilitating this opportunity for parents, carers and young people to address their concerns directly to local MPs. Friday 1st December - 12.30pm to 2.30pm (was 20th October) central venue to be confirmed Booking: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/send-forum-tickets-38335644946 The aim is to allow the MPs to understand the extent and seriousness of the issues faced by families as a result of the 2014 SEND reforms and cuts to education budgets. Time will be very limited, and if you wish to contribute it would be very helpful if you could send a precis of your experiences / concerns, as soon as possible, to: E: Alexhardy@ruils.co.uk or E: Penny@sendfamilyvoices.org This is an extraordinary chance to influence local and national policy through personal testimony, and we hope you will join us.
#3 EHCP Transfer (from Statements) Workshop This short workshop is for families who would like help with the Transfer process (from a Statement to an EHCP). It being co-delivered by SEND Family Voices with the Independent Supporters. More details to follow soon. For now, dates for your diary. Friday 3rd November - 10:00am to 12:00noon at Winter Garden, York House, Richmond Rd, TW1 3AA Thursday 9th November - 7pm to 9pm at DoubleTree Hilton,1 Skerne Road, Kingston, KT2 5FJ Friday 17th November - 10:00am to 12:00noon * at MeToo&Co, The CrossWay Centre, Twickenham, TW1 2PD * creche available. Contact Fiona: info@metooandco.org.uk
#4 Meet the specialist Social Workers & Family Support Workers We have arranged these meetings for families to understand how the Achieving for Children's specialist support teams work - and to answer your questions. Exact details are being finalised; more detail to follow. Thursday 23rd November - 10am to 12.30pm at King Charles Centre, 22 Hollyfield Rd, Surbiton, KT5 9AL Thursday 7th December - 10am to 12.30pm at York House, Richmond Rd, Twickenham, TW1 3AA
@SENDFamilyVoice We've sent out hundreds of tweets this week - here are just a few examples: What does award-winning SEND home/school transport look like? http://network.autism.org.uk/knowledge/insight-opinion/top-5-autism-tips-transport-schoolautistic-students
A beautiful short film on a dad building his relationship with his ASD son - please watch Kevin & Ged - its full of such hope https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stories/why-do-places-mean-so-much If you read only one book for the rest of the year, make it this one, Justice for Laughing Boy. Here's a review from former director of The Rose Theatre, Stephen Unwin: http://www.stephenunwin.uk/thoughts-and-provocations/2017/10/9/justice-for-laughing-boyby-sara-ryan-a-book-review Lots of high profile media exposure on dyspraxia this week… https://dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/pr-children_falling_under_radar/ …including a slot on Victoria Derbyshire's TV show: https://mobile.twitter.com/i/web/status/918751928464502784
New on the Local Offer… Choosing a school - more information, including the CDC School Admissions document https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/education/choosinga-school This event, on 3rd November, aims to give disabled and dyslexic learners a better understanding of university life and study. https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/local_offer/events/26101-university-information-day-for-disabledand-dyslexic-learners?date=2017-11-03 A Family Learning Festival from Kingston adult education https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/community_information/events/26109-kingston-adult-educationfamily-learning-festival?date=2017-10-14
And a new school in Cheam… Plans for a new specialist day school in North Cheam have been approved by Sutton Council; Brookways School London will provide education and support for boys and girls who on the autistic spectrum. The school is aiming to open in January 2018 http://www.suttonguardian.co.uk/news/15589578.New_specialist_school_for_young_autistic_ people_approved_for_Cheam/ 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