Lots on the SEND Reforms, plus bits & pieces 18th July 2015 Dear All Just in case, this bulletin goes a bit wild in your Inbox – a Word file is attached and you can also view it here: www.richmondsendfamilyvoice.org/news
88 free ice creams eaten! The Local Offer launch was a success with around 180 visitors throughout the afternoon. Many said how relaxed they felt and “what a lovely atmosphere” the event had. It was a true team effort and example of co-production in both organising this launch and getting the Local Offer up & running. Did you know that if you are a part of an organisation (eg Richmond Dyslexia) you can register on the Local Offer and create an account that allows you to update your details and add events to the Local Offer calendar? Please contact Karen Lowry, Local Offer Content manager, for straightforward instructions on how to do this: sendlocaloffer@achievingforchildren.org.uk
Kids – Information & Advice Lena Vantol recently sent out her first bulletin as the Kids Information & Advice Officer for Kingston & Richmond. If you would like to receive Lena’s bulletins in the future (we won’t routinely send them out from here) – please contact Lena on: lena.vantol@kids.org.uk
SEND Implementation meeting – 9th July 2015 This is a decision making forum held every two months within Achieving for Children and chaired by Simon James (Associate Director for SEND). The meeting is attended by Education, Health, Social Care representatives, plus parents and young people. With thanks to Penny (ECHP Lead, RSFV) for attending & writing this report... 1) SEN Team Anna Chiva (Head of SEN) reported on the progress with the SEN team reorganisation. Highlights included: 60% of Year 11 transfer reviews were completed by May 31 The team is consulting on a new structure with two new posts (including a Deputy for Anna). Should be complete by end of this week. SEN Panel workshops were held with SENCOs to help explain and educate about the process and improve the quality of submissions to panel. These were well received by the SENCo’s. SEN team case management tool is due to go live shortly (to help with management and escalation of all SEN cases – transfers, assessments and new requests) There will be an SEN survey launching in the autumn to canvass views from families and young people about the SEN team and provision. This is being developed nationally by InControl. Paul Mowat will share a draft with parent leads by the end August. It will also be discussed at the Young Champions meeting in early September
On-going issues: Section A of EHCP needs to be reviewed – not fully fit for purpose. Scanning issues and data migration issues are holding up the transfer of records onto the new case management system and the EHCP system Synergy Concerns about missing the deadlines for EHCP transfers and assessments over the summer period due to lack of availability of key individuals Concern about finding suitable staff to fill vacancies in the SEN team 2) Local Offer Paul Mowat (SEND Programme manager) gave an update on the Local Offer. Highlights included: Parent and young person representation continues to be strong Local Offer launch for 13th July Final content to become fully DfE compliant (out of borough schools listed as in borough schools) due to be uploaded by 10/7 On-going Issues Need to increase content owner engagement to ensure content continues to be expanded and updated (see first item in this bulletin) Since writing this report, we can now add the news that the Department for Education’s SEND Advisor considers AfC’s Local Offer to be an example of best practice and will be sharing it with other Local Authorities. Personal Budgets and SEND Commissioning were postponed to the next meeting (Personal Budgets because there wasn’t sufficient time to review the detailed report created at the end of the pilot) 3. Wikis James Manion presented the prototype Wiki page that families and young people can use to present “all about me” and can include videos, pictures and text. It could also be used to include information on Health Passports for example. It was felt to be a very useful tool. Here is a link to Ajay’s public Wiki… and we will be giving more news on ‘how to get a Wiki’ in next week’s bulletin. https://www.klikin.eu/page/view/cat/1035 4. Synergy Gateway – online EHCPs This is the new online system that will be used to hold and create all EHCPs in a format that allows professionals and families access to the information, rather than everything having to be held in a paper copy. Currently the plan is for the parent portal and gateway to be start to be implemented from 31/10/15 for those families whose child or young person has, or is transferring to an EHCP 5. SEN Transport Eamonn Gilbert gave an update on transport policy. Achieving for Children are now running SEN transport for Richmond (as well as Kingston). It is expected that the service will continue in its current guise until September 2016. Drivers and escorts that choose to are transferring across in their current roles. From October 2015 there will be a formal consultation with parents, carers and young people to define an updated joint Richmond and Kingston transport policy and service. More details about this to follow next week. Finally, Simon James (Associate Director, SEND) covered SEN Ofsted – and an extract from last week’s bulletin can be found under our Useful Documents pages.
Young Writers wanted “We are looking for young people with disabilities aged 14 to 25 who would like to write an article for our magazine, My Future Choices. My Future Choices is a free magazine for young people with disabilities. It aims to give a voice to young people. It gives young people with disabilities the chance to show they have the same goals, dreams and aspirations as non-disabled young people. The magazine was started in 2003 and goes out to over 5,000 people. These people include families, supporters, service providers and professionals.” http://transitioninfonetwork.org.uk/news/calling-all-budding-writers!.aspx
News #1 “Welcome to the July 2015 edition of the 0-25 SEND Newsletter, produced by the Department for Education. In the Newsletter, which can be found at this link: http://bit.ly/1TC5Ja4
New transition arrangements – changes to the timescale for Education, Health and care (EHC) needs assessments in transfer reviews. Using existing assessment advice and information for EHC needs assessments A summary of the results of the June 2015 Local Authority (LA) and Parent Carer Forum (PCF) surveys - more details in Annex A at the end of the Newsletter Sharing information on children and young people with learning disabilities with GPs Post-16 update Consultation on plans for the SEND Inspection Framework Data and research to support local area benchmarking and measure user experience Update on SEN2 data published in May 2015
The Department will circulate this to all partners and, through them, to a wider range of organisations and individuals. Please feel free to cascade this newsletter within your organisations, and to anyone you think would find the information in it helpful.”
News #2 …extending the EHCP transfer timescale Last week, we covered the news that SEND Minister Edward Timpson had just announced the government are extending the transfer timescale to EHC Plans from 16 weeks to 20 weeks from 1st Sept 15. Below is a link from Special Needs Jungle which covers this in more detail and includes the letter from Ed Timpson. http://www.specialneedsjungle.com/changing-to-an-ehc-plan-time-frames-are-changing/
News #3 …reassessments and transfers to EHCPs As well as the announcement above, the Department for Education has clarified when new assessments should be sought. Below is a link to another Special Needs Jungle article on the topic of assessments. The key message is: “The point of the DfE advice here is to check it through and think ahead before you get your transfer notification. If you think new assessments are likely to be needed, get in touch with your case officer and flag this up so that they can check your transfer date and see if it would be a good idea to ask for new assessments straight away so that there is a cat in hell's chance of meeting the 20 week deadlines.” http://www.specialneedsjungle.com/sen-assessments-and-outcomes-what-and-when/
News #4 “If your statement is being transferred independent supporters can advise you. If you live in Richmond, Kingston or Hounslow, and want to find our more please get in touch with us; staff are available all summer to talk to you about the process.” http://www.richmondaid.org.uk/services-disabled/independent-support-partnership/
Bits & Pieces …and thank you to the parent who sent these Advice and tips on making travel easier for those with asd. http://www.autisticglobetrotting.com/ This lists advice and help. https://www.yahoo.com/travel/your-ultimate-guide-to-traveling-with-special122976627174.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma “With over a thousand apps now available to help individuals with special needs it has become increasingly difficult to find and choose the right special needs app. The Friendship Circle App Review gives you the ability to find the perfect special needs app for your child.” http://www.friendshipcircle.org/apps/ This company sells clothing for children & young people who struggle with sensory issues and their clothes (so no zips, labels, buttons etc). It’s a US company – is there similar here? http://www.independencedayclothing.com/ As ever, if you have any queries at all, please ask and I'll do my best to find an answer. With best wishes, Romany RSFV phone: 07469 746 145 www.richmondsendfamilyvoice.org