Hustings, Smorgasbord & Music 29th April 2017 Dear All There’s no escaping the General Election, not even here… otherwise, a wide mix of articles and subjects…
The Golden Booklet The Golden Booklet is the shorter, easy read version of the Golden Binder (the definitive guide to support in education for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities). A copy of the Golden Booklet will be sent to all families of a child/young person with a Statement or EHC Plan in the next fortnight. If you are a professional or organisation working with children and young people and would like a small supply of Golden Booklets, please reply and let us know. You can read the booklet on our website, and download a copy from the Local Offer here: https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/1031-the-golden-booklet-has-arrived
Dyslexia – AGM and coffee morning
AGM: The Richmond Dyslexia Association has Professor Maggie Snowling* coming to talk about 'Dyslexia and Language disorder: Same or different?' at their AGM on: Tuesday 9th May 2017 at 7pm The Old Town Hall, Whitakker Avenue, Richmond TW9 1TP. Booking is essential - free to members and £10 on the door for non-members. Places can be reserved at bookings@richmonddyslexia.org.uk *Professor Snowling is currently the President of St John’s College, Oxford. Professor Snowling was appointed CBE in 2016 for her services to science and the understanding of dyslexia.
Coffee morning: Richmond Dyslexia Association also have a parent’s coffee morning: Friday 5th May from 9.30am to 11.30am Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park. All are very welcome (Kingston & Richmond). Specialist Teachers and Educational Psychologists will be there to offer advice/support. For more information, please refer to their website: http://richmonddyslexia.org.uk/
Hustings
Definition: “Noun: A meeting at which candidates in an election address potential voters Late Old English husting ‘deliberative assembly, council’, from Old Norse hústhing ‘household assembly held by a leader’, from hús ‘house’ + thing ‘assembly, parliament’ ” Oxford Living Dictionary
Local Hustings Express CIC are holding hustings (joint with Churches Together in Surbiton) in Kingston and Surbiton. There will a roaming microphone on the night or if you would prefer you can submit your question to be read by the chair for the evening - email anna@expresscic.org.uk or paul@community-church.org.uk
Kingston and Surbiton Confirmed canditates: Ed Davey and James Berry. We are awaiting declaration of other candidates. Thursday 18th May - 7.30pm to 9.30pm Surbiton Hill Methodist Church Book here: http://mailchi.mp/expresscic/be-heard-general-election-2017-kingston-andsurbiton-hustings Ruils have rallied gathered candidates together from both constituencies in Richmond for question and answer sessions. Details below, and contact Kirsty on 020 8831 6083 or email kirstycox@ruils.co.uk
Richmond Park Constituency Confirmed Candidates: Sarah Olney, Zac Goldsmith, Andree Frieze Saturday 20th May - 2pm to 4pm Sheen Lane Centre, Sheen Lane, SW14 8LP Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/richmond-park-general-election-questiontime2017-tickets-34103046129
Twickenham Constituency Confirmed Candidates: Dr Tania Mathias, Dr Vince Cable, Caroline Hand Saturday 27th May - 2pm to 4pm Venue TBC, in either Twickenham or Whitton Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/twickenham-general-election-questiontime2017-tickets-34109409161
Easy Read Guide for the General Election “You have probably heard that there is going to be a general election on Thursday June 8th. We hope that people with learning disabilities take this opportunity to vote and have some influence on the next government.” http://www.easy-read-online.co.uk/news/general-election-information-sheet/ “Mencap Guide on How to Vote: Wondering about how to register to vote in the upcoming elections? Find Mencap's easy-read guide and don't miss out on your vote!” https://www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/files/2016-07/Guide_to_registering_to_vote.pdf
More National News
Channel 4 extends their recruitment “Channel 4 has announced that it will advertise all of its future vacancies on a specialist job site run by and for disabled people, Evenbreak. Channel 4 hopes the initiative will attract even more applications from disabled people in a bid to further diversify its workforce and help disabled people break into the media industry.”
http://posabilitymagazine.co.uk/channel-4-to-advertise-all-its-jobs-on-specialist-sitepromoting-disabled-talent/
EHC Plans – survey results on process “The Department for Education publish results from family survey on EHC process; The government published their report on the results from their survey of families and young people who received an EHC plan.” https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/news-opinion/news/dfe-publish-results-familysurvey-ehc-process
Study into ‘progress so far’ on the Government’s Future in Mind initiative: “Last week the National Audit Office announced that it would be doing a study into children and young people’s mental health services. The study will consider the progress of the government in implementing its ambitions for more sustainable and effective mental health services for children and young people by 2020-21 laid out in Future in Mind. This study will focus mainly on NHS funded services but will look at relevant interventions being undertaken in schools and by local authorities. Please click the below link for more information about the study and for a contact with whom to share any relevant evidence.” https://www.nao.org.uk/work-in-progress/mental-health-services-for-children-and-youngpeople/
@SENDFamilyVoice 100 tweets this week, lots of new followers and some really great stories and reports to share: NHS urges parents to use anatomically correct terms for private parts http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/willy-woo-woo-tinkle-no-12960483 Some great pics and stories on Undiagnosed Children's Day on 28th April https://uk.pinterest.com/InclusiveHome/undiagnosed-childrens-day2017/?fb_ref=ed7b08efa2cd4228951f03691b56e3da%3Ae4cae168120d9107fa26650 I have dark thoughts about my children's autism http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/disability-39732511 Learning disability and finding love - a great clip from Channel 4 https://www.channel4.com/news/no-go-britain-the-right-to-love Online SENDsupport and making friends from around the world https://www.cafamily.org.uk/news-and-media/suddenly-i-had-a-family-that-stretchedaround-the-globe-sally-blogs-about-meeting-parents-online/ Police publish a guide to autism http://www.npaa.org.uk/police-autism-guide/ Rory Bremner on ADHD http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4431084/I-ve-got-attention-deficit-disorder-admitsRory-Bremner.html Does your child have a feeding tube? Check out this great bodysuit: https://specialkids.company/collections/tube-access?platform=hootsuite Pica (eating inedible objects): great info from Challenging Behaviour Foundation http://www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/understanding-behaviour/pica-polydipsiasheet.html
New study on benefits of horse riding https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2017/04/25/study-benefits-horseback/23622/
What’s New on the Local Offer Newly published! Available and transparent to all (parents and schools alike): the SEN Threshold Guidance https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/assessment-and-education-health-and-careplanning The Parenting Programme has been updated for spring/summer (includes a Cygnets course for parents of children with autism) https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/information-and-advice/achieving-forchildren-parenting-support/parenting-programme Receiving a diagnosis of ADHD for your child or teenager can be a confusing time. What does it mean? Is it my fault? Am I the only person dealing with this? What do I do next and where do I start? https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/1032-adhd-post-diagnosis-information-groups In February, SEND Family Voices organised a Music & Magic afternoon for families at the Langdon Down Centre. Here is the report from the NHS on the South West London programme: https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/1045-south-west-london-and-surrey-downsgrassroots-engagement-programme-evaluation-report
Friendly places – Music! “BBC Proms is holding the World's first ever Relaxed Prom on Saturday 29 July 2017 at the Royal Albert Hall, featuring the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. A concert suitable for children and adults with autism, sensory and communication impairments and learning disabilities as well as individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind and partially sighted.” https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2017/prom-19-relaxedprom/?dm_i=3QOP,751Z,MMJQV,P7F9,1 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