Changing Places, Meeting other parents & Safety 10th November 2017 Dear All We hope that many of you will find some of the events listed useful and we note that all these SEND related meetings are also a really good way to meet other parents!
Changing Places Toilets for Kingston - meeting at Westminster Imagine heading into Kingston for the day – maybe shopping and some lunch – and knowing that there is no toilet facility that you can use at all. Would you still go out? On Tuesday this week, 2 of our steering group members (Sam and Penny) met up with Ed Davey MP for Kingston & Surbiton and Martin Jackaman from the Changing Places Toilets campaign group at Portcullis House in Westminster to discuss how we can progress getting Changing Places Toilet facilities installed in Kingston Town Centre. Ed, Penny and Martin at Westminster The meeting was very constructive, very positive and several ideas were discussed – which will lead to further meetings with possible sites in Kingston over the coming months.
What is a Changing Places Toilet? Changing Places are for people who need assistance with getting on or off the toilet or who need changing because they use pads. Here are a couple of videos (2 minutes each) that explain the issue. Here is the problem: http://www.changingplaces.org/real_life_stories/jenny_and_craig/jenny_and_craig_video.aspx Here is the solution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mzG6sKcSsM If you are interested in helping us campaign for these facilities for our area, please do email us and we’ll let you know how you can get involved. Penny@sendfamilyvoices.org or Sam@sendfamilyvoices.org
Meeting Other Parents… Meetings, Workshops and Consultations
#1 EHCP Transfers (from Statements) – final workshop The second of three workshops for parents (run by Penny from SEND Family Voices, and Alex from Independent Support) was yesterday evening, and was no less lively than the first meeting! Final meeting is next Friday: 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
#2 New to diagnosis? Or just on the way? Autism support groups with a specialist Education Psychologist and parents These groups are funded by the Richmond Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and will offer support to families who are 'on the pathway' or have just received a diagnosis of autism for their child (irrespective of any other needs). The Educational Psychology Team will be attending with parents to facilitate this informal meeting. Monday 20th November - 10.30am to 12.30pm at York House, Richmond Rd, Twickenham, TW1 3AA
#3 Meet the specialist Social Workers & Family Support Workers We have arranged these meetings for families to understand how the Achieving for Children' specialist support teams work - and to answer your questions. 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
#4 Phyz “Phyz is a local support group for parents of children and young people with physical disabilities in South West London. We are a group of local parents with children/young people with physical disabilities who feel that there is a need for a place (both face to face and virtually) where we can meet and chat and support each other. To find out more or to join our group please e-mail us at info@phyz.org.uk or come along to our next meetings. Penny, Sylvie and Stacey “ Friday 24th November - 10:00 to 12:00 at MeToo&Co, The CrossWay Centre, Twickenham, TW1 2PD * creche available. Contact Fiona: info@metooandco.org.uk
#5 SEND Forum with local MPs - 1st December Ruils and SEND Family Voices are jointly facilitating this opportunity for parents, carers and young people to address their concerns directly to local MPs Vince Cable and Ed Davey (unfortunately Zac Goldsmith is unable to attend) 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. During the first hour facilitators will listen to parents’ concerns and produce an agenda. In the second, we will be joined by the MPs, we will present our agreed issues and they will hear your stories. 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: Alex: alexhardy@ruils.co.uk or Penny: penny@sendfamilyvoices.org This is an extraordinary chance to influence local and national policy through personal testimony, and we hope you will join us; please register here so we know how many people to cater for. Booking: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/send-forum-tickets-38335644946 1st December 2017 -12.30pm to 2.30pm at DoubleTree Hilton,1 Skerne Road, Kingston, KT2 5FJ
#6 Therapies: SaLT, OT and Physiotherapy As part of our participation and consultation work, SEND Family Voices are hosting these meetings on family's experiences of therapies. Therapies is a hot topic – there is never enough, and we know there is limited funding. We encourage as many parent/carers as possible to attend. We are also holding a specific event for Young People (they are, after all, the direct recipients of these therapies) and we hope that you will encourage your young person to attend our evening consultation (Christmas goodie bag guaranteed!). Booking is essential for the young people’s consultation. Please book via: events@sendfamilyvoices@outlook.com "Achieving for Children and its health partners are currently consulting with professionals, schools, parents, carers and young people about the current therapy provision across Richmond and Kingston. The consultation will be used to shape the review of therapy provision next year as part of the work of the SEND Action Group and the initial focus will be on improvements to Speech and Language, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy provisions."
Parent/Carers only: Monday 4th December - 10am to 12noon at DoubleTree Hilton,1 Skerne Road, Kingston, KT2 5FJ Monday 4th December - 7pm to 9pm at DoubleTree Hilton,1 Skerne Road, Kingston, KT2 5FJ
Young People only (with Christmas goodie bag): Thursday 14th December - 7pm to 9pm at DoubleTree Hilton,1 Skerne Road, Kingston, KT2 5FJ
#7 Transforming Care Plans – call for experiences “The Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and Local Authorities (LAs) across South West London are working together as part of a national project called Transforming Care. This project is ALL about making sure people who have learning disabilities and/or autism and behaviours that challenge receive the right care and support to live good lives in the community. We are inviting you. if you: • currently receive support or • you are a carer or family member of • someone who receives support. If you are able, please come along to a community workshop (on 4th December) or contact us to participate in other ways including completing a survey or 1-1 interview.” If you’d like to know more, or would like us to contact you, about getting involved please contact Sally on T: 07792 405 976 E: sallyw@paradigm-uk.org
@SENDFamilyVoice Hundreds of tweets, many retweets, lots of great articles and blogs out there... Fab film explaining Developmental Language Disorder https://www.charityfilmawards.com/videos/dld-1-23?utm_content=buffer800a1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign =buffer SEND & being left out - an open letter to other school parents http://www.carrieanddavidgrant.co.uk/blog.aspx?id=2635 What 10 years of interrupted sleep feels like https://disabledchildrenspartnership.org.uk/secret-life-rachels-son/ Doing SEN Support Well http://www.sendgateway.org.uk/resources.effective-sen-support-a-guide-for-senior-leadersin-education-settings.html
Digital Parenting – keeping our children safe This is a magazine produced by Vodaphone which aims to provide the latest expert advice to “help children develop the life skills and knowledge they need to use the on-line world safely and with confidence.” Schools and registered charities (like SEND Family Voices) are able to request copies. We have a small stock and are very happy to post a copy/copies to anyone who asks. Just send an e-mail to sendfamilyvoices@outlook.com with your name and postal address. Below is a list of some of this issue’s contents and the link to the pdf version of the magazine. • Digital resilience: what it is and how to nurture it in your children • Fake news – spotting lies online • Essential digital life skills, and creating a positive digital footprint • Spotting harmful sexual and sexist behaviour online • Cybersecurity: a parent’s guide • How new guidance is helping schools deal with underage sexting incidents • Age ratings and what they mean https://parentzone.org.uk/system/files/attachments/Digital%20Parenting%206%20NEW.pdf
How to Stop a Bully Our children and young people are often bullied more than most. We hope this short video could be empowering for some. “Author/Speaker Brooks Gibbs explains bullying in the most simplistic terms = Dominance behaviour. Brooks provides a simple solution to bullying as well = Don't get upset.” • Running time is 7.04 minutes • at 4.23 mins shows bullying • at 6 mins - shows theory in practice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oKjW1OIjuw
24th Nov: The night of the snow dragon approaches... Thank you to one of our younger reader for sharing this accessible performance with SEND Family Voices and the Local Offer. “Billy has everything a young goat could need – and more besides. On New Year’s Eve, Billy is looking forward to the annual visit of the legendary Snow Dragon, who will bring him even more goodies…” https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/local_offer/events/26247-the-snow-dragon?date=2017-11-24 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