Listening, Learning and (more) Links 12th April 2017 Dear All The long weekend is nearly with us (yippee!!) news…
Here are some updates and mostly good
Opportunity to talk with an Educational Psychologist (Richmond) “This is a pilot scheme being offered to 20 families in Richmond in the first instance. The offer is to families whose children have had a neurodevelopmental/CAMHS assessment, between November 2016 and March 2017, through the neurodevelopmental assessment team based at Springfield Hospital. Educational psychologists (EPs) help children or young people who are experiencing problems that hinder their learning and emotional well-being in school and the wider community. EPs work in a range of community settings, as well as within all primary and secondary schools, and can think collaboratively with you about ‘next steps’.” If you fit the criteria above, and feel that a meeting with an EP would be helpful to discuss the results of a recent neurodevelopment assessment, please contact Achieving for Children’s Educational Psychology Service: T: 020 8487 5464 E: educational.psychology@achievingforchildren.org.uk W: https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/1008-educational-psychology-offer-postneurodevelopmental-assessment-support
What does ‘Preparing for Adulthood’ (PfA) mean? The link below has had really good reviews from parents and professionals, from ‘Brilliant!’ to ‘Makes sense to me’. If your young person is moving into adult services (from age 14 onwards, ready for age 16), have a look at this: “This supportive tool has been designed by the Department for Education (DfE) to promote consideration of the four PfA outcomes as part of EHC planning across the age range. This includes consideration of aspirations, activity and provision that can support progress towards the PfA outcomes and what this might mean at different ages and stages of development.” http://www.preparingforadulthood.org.uk/media/442444/final_dfe_-_no_bullets__pfa_outcomes_tool.pdf
Thank You for your views! …on the proposed overnight respite facility at Moor Lane. All being well, this facility will be available to & for children and young with a wide variety of needs from next year. During March, SEND Family Voices held two open meetings to share the designs for this new building. And talked with parents who couldn’t attend these meetings. Plus, the architects also arranged to meet a young person with physical disabilities (in a motorised wheelchair) via one of the parents, to hear their thoughts.
Family’s questions included: • The table height needs to be sufficient with no restrictions to enable wheelchair users to fit underneath • Will there be adjustable sinks? • Will there be hoists in the calm room and common areas to enable a young person to come out of their wheelchair outside their bedroom? (eg to get onto the sofas) • Will there be special seating in the calm room and common areas to allow for those with limited mobility? • Will the rooms have black out blinds? Or spaces to fit them? • Will the windows open enough for air, but not too much for someone to escape? • Will the lights be on sensors to switch on when entering the room? • [the types of] Handles on doors should be considered to accommodate users’ needs. • Will the tree in the outdoor area also be protected in such a way that a young person can't easily climb it? If you would like to see the full summary of discussions, please reply to this e-mail and ask for a copy.
We need to hear from you… Short Breaks Survey – Enter draw to win a £50 voucher Short breaks are a hugely important service for families with disabled children, and one which all local authorities are legally obliged to provide. Please take a few moments to fill out SEND Family Voices online survey (it takes about 10 minutes); all responses will be completely anonymised. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NQZZC3R And the original, longer article on the Local Offer: https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/885-enter-a-draw-to-win-50-voucher-byparticipating-in-send-family-voices-short-breaks-consultation
What’s new on the Local Offer?
Practical ideas for happier living - free six week courses in Kingston https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/1011-practical-ideas-for-happier-living-freesix-week-courses-in-kingston
Places to go for Funding This is a list of organisations that offer grants or funding that can be used towards short breaks, equipment and other things. Please contact the Local Offer if you have any suggestions that we can add to this list. https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/leisure-activities-and-short-breaks/otherfunding-and-grant-sources
Sports for adults Disability Sports Sessions in Kingston for young adults https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/events/23829-inclusive-adults-football-league-pandisability-5-a-side-league?date=2017-05-14 and https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/events/23830-pan-disability-football-sessions?date=2017-0418
Albany Outdoors “Albany Outdoors is an outdoors activity centre based on the River Thames between Kingston Bridge and Teddington Lock. The centre is licensed under the Adventure Activities Licensing Service as an activity provider and is also a British Canoe Union approved centre and a Royal Yachting Association approved centre.” https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/leisure-activities-and-short-breaks/albanyoutdoors
Independent Living – free courses Help with getting a job: https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/events/23843-help-with-getting-a-job-independent-livingfree-courses?date=2017-06-09 …and help with everyday life: https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/events/23842-help-with-every-day-life-independent-livingfree-courses?date=2017-04-28
@SENDFamilyVoice
Just some of the highlights from this week’s Tweets – and welcome to our 50 new followers! Britain's social care system for SEND children being dismantled https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/06/child-social-care-system-quietlydismantled?CMP=share_btn_tw Talking about alcohol with your SEND teen https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/talkingalcohol-special-needs-teen/?utm_source= Let Me Shine - fabulous song and film clip from Prior's Court School https://www.priorscourt.org.uk/letmeshine Autism & the children who find haircuts painful http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-39502366 Cutting teaching assistants will have dire consequences https://www.tes.com/news/schoolnews/breaking-views/dedication-teaching-assistants-foundation-most-good-teaching-andyet National Autistic Society release a video, Make it Stop, on what it's like to have autism http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_58e648cce4b0fe4ce088c87f?utm_content=buffer370fa&u tm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer Choosing a school if your child has SEND https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/education/choosing-a-school Home educating a child with SEND https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/home-educating-a-child-with-specialneeds/?utm_source= Council fined £5000 after failing to provide education http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/education/council-fined-5-000-for-loss-of-education-bywatchdog-after-string-of-failures-caused-autistic-boy-significant-injustice-1-4967728 List of disability grants http://www.disability-grants.org/Disability_Grants_News-disability-grants-news-April-2017.html
Health passports for children with SEND https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/health/going-into-hospital-and-healthpassports Holiday cottages with hoists https://www.euansguide.com/news/holiday-cottages-with-hoists/ Support Singing Hands' quest to record a new album and DVD http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/singinghands/updates/82420?referrer=artist234470&u tm_campaign=project15222&utm_medium=activity
The Removing Barriers Game Disabled people should receive the same levels of service and access as anyone else. The Removing Barriers Game is designed to raise awareness of the barriers faced by disabled people, helping players understand what real life issues still exist, before focussing on what they can do to remove these barriers. http://www.removingbarriersgame.co.uk/?mc_cid=2bd1b166b1&mc_eid=19a2f21afa 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