New school places, EHCPs, Health & Relax… 24th February 2018 Dear All Wow! There’s a lot going on. Please take the time to read through – be guided by our headings…
New school places for SEND – Parent Meeting New Richmond and Kingston school places for children with SEND Thursday 1st March – 10am to 12noon at the Doubletree Hilton, Kingston (close to the Seven Kings car park) Please come to the meeting SEND Family Voices are hosting this Thursday where AfC (Achieving for Children) will present their proposals for expanding places for children with SEND in mainstream schools. These places will be in so-called specialist resource provisions (SRPs) and will include a specialist teacher in charge, therapies and educational psychology support as well as bespoke accommodation. The proposals represent a significant expansion of existing capacity, with a potential increase in Kingston of up to 75 places in primaries and nursery and in excess of 25 places at secondary. In Richmond the current proposals encompass approximately 45 new primary and nursery places and 20+ at secondary.
These proposals are not the complete picture, more is still being considered. The plans will be of particular interest to parents who are looking for places for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Complex Learning Needs, MLD/ASD, SEMH (social, emotional and mental health), and SLCN (speech, language and communication needs). There are also some plans for places that would support Hearing Impairment / Communication with Associated Learning Needs, Social Communication Needs, and SpLD (specific learning disabilities e.g. dyslexia).
If parents feel that there are groups that are not included that should be then it would be very helpful to feed this in as part of the consultation. AfC are very keen to have parent feedback to further shape their current plans, hence the public meeting on Thursday where parents can hear directly from Matthew Paul, the AfC Manager running the project and Sarah Herbert the lead School Improvement Advisor for SEN in AfC. For anyone who is unable to attend the meeting there will be additional opportunities to comment on the plans before and after the meeting via an online consultation process (we will send details of this once it is available). If there is sufficient demand we will also try to organise an evening meeting where parents can hear the plans directly and comment on them.
Attendance details Please if you are able, could you let us know you are planning to attend by replying to this email, just so that we know how many are coming and we have enough space. (of course, you are also welcome to just turn up on the day). E: Sendfamilyvoices@outlook.com Parking at the Seven Kings Car park is directly opposite the venue and is only £1 per hour. The train and buses are also very close. If you are unable to attend but would be interested in attending another (evening) meeting then please could you also let us know and we will do our best to get this set up before the end of March (when the consultation closes)
We hope that many of you will be able to attend and make your thoughts known about these important proposals.
EHCPs and Deadlines Many of us are still in the process of having our statements transferred to EHCPs. We are resending the links to our QA document and some previous advice, in case you still have any questions about this. Our EHCP Quality Assurance criteria - or what to check when you receive your draft EHCP W: http://www.sendfamilyvoices.org/golden-binder People who can help, and resources that you may find useful are available in our newsletters dated 23rdJanuary and 3rd February W: http://www.sendfamilyvoices.org/news-2018 The deadline for finalising EHCPs for children who are moving to a new phase of education (early years to primary, primary to secondary etc.) was on 15th February. (For children moving to post 16 placements it is March 31st.) We hope that all has gone smoothly for families. If things haven’t quite gone to plan you may find the information in this article written by a SEN solicitor useful: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/transfer-deadline-day-has-arrived-hayley-dawn-mason/ You can also contact us on: T: 07469 746 145 E: sendfamilyvoices@outlook.com
Finally – and this is important… At the CDC conference in London last week, the Children and Families Minister, Nadhim Zahawi said this about the March 31st deadline to complete all transfers of statements to EHCPs: “this is not about meeting the deadline at any cost: I want to stress children still on statements will still be covered until they get an EHC Plan’.
Your questions answered… from Special Needs Jungle (SNJ)
“Last year, the Department for Education offered to answer SNJ readers' questions about SEND. It's not the first time they've done this, you can see the previous session in 2016 on our website Once again, you sent your questions in, we grouped them into themes and put them forward and waited. And now, dear reader, the answers are here. Now, of course, it's a given that the answers will not completely satisfy you. Only a properlyfunctioning SEND system will do that. But with that acknowledged, I for one, appreciate the fact that the DfE has been open enough to do this in the first place and that we have had very good access in general.” https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/
Legal advice and more from SNU… This page contains a useful set of previously and frequently asked questions – in alphabetical order (from Advocacy to Transport) “SEND legal charity, IPSEA, answer your special educational needs and disability legal conundrums on this page. We'll send out a blog post each time we receive a new batch of answers.” https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/ask-ipsea/ipseas-legal-agony-answers/
SEND Community coffee morning Just come along, have some cake and talk. We will listen and offer help where we can. Whatever you talk about is confidential and will help us plan what else we could do to help our community. In addition to our peer support, information on topics from support in schools to local knowledge, the SEND Family Voices hosts next week have the following specific knowledge Tuesday 27th February – 10am to 12noon at Castlenau Centre, Barnes, SW13 9AQ Physical disabilities * Home adaptations * EHCP process (incl. transfer) * Inclusion in mainstream school * Exam access arrangements * Moderate Learning Disability * Down syndrome * Clarendon School * Fragile X * ASD related co-morbidities * Language impairment * Paper tribunal * School transition
Growing Up 2nd March – SFX Centre Open Coffee morning “We would like to take this opportunity to show you our new ‘SFX Centre’ which opened in September 2016 and welcomes students aged 16-18 who have an EHCP and have Moderate Learning Needs. The Coffee morning will give you a chance to view the whole school, the centre itself as well as observe the current students in a lesson.” The agenda for the morning will be informal. Details are: Friday 2nd March - 10am to 12am Richard Challoner School, Manor Drive North, New Malden, KT3 5PE
To ensure we have an estimation of how many people are expected to come, please can you send an email before the 1st March to missmorley@challoner.kingston.sch.uk
7th March - Way To Work “As part of National Careers Week and National Apprenticeship week, this event is aimed at promoting a wide range of careers, apprenticeships, courses and other opportunities to 15 to 19 year olds in the London Boroughs of Kingston and Richmond.” Wednesday 7th March – quiet time from 11am to 12noon https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/preparing-foradulthood/preparing-for-employment/world-of-work-roadshow
8th March - Work, Life and Leisure Opportunities for Adults with Learning Difficulties or Disabilities RHACC is the new name of the recently merged Richmond Adult Community College and Hillcroft College. One objective of the merged colleges is to try to fill a gap locally for young adults with MLD (moderate learning difficulties) by expanding their offer. This will include some residential courses (not full time, but 3 days/week with 2 nights sleeping in) and some on site supported apprenticeships. This is brand new and there is nothing like this on offer at any other college locally RHACC have actively sought to engage with SFV steering group members and other local parents by forming a Parent Curriculum Advisory group to whom they are pitching their ideas in order to ensure that their offer is in line with local demand. Also, as an adult college it will offer courses for adults with MLD from age 18-25. This cohort is likely to retain their EHCPs for all or some of this period of their lives, so this new offer will enable them to stay in their local community whilst continuing their education. Work, Life and Leisure Opportunities for Adults with Learning Difficulties or Disabilities “Join us at this exciting launch event to unveil our new programme for Adults with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities at the Hillcroft Campus in Surbiton - in partnership with Kingston Voluntary Action. Thursday 8th March - 12 noon to 3pm Hillcroft Campus, Southbank, Surbiton KT6 6DF The new provision includes courses for employability, health and wellbeing, and independent living. We are also launching our new residential courses ideal for learners who would benefit from more immersive learning. Join us for an overview of the courses and meet our learners as they showcase their skills and talents in a range of tasters and demonstrations.” Booking via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hillcroft-adult-provision-for-learningdisabilities-awareness-event-tickets-43125288900?utm_campaign=2cfe768016EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_02_13&utm_medium=email&utm_source=LLDD+Mailing&utm_term= 0_895cdea37a-2cfe768016-45409797
New resource - Preparing for Adulthood from the Earliest Years: Review Guide The Preparing for Adulthood from the Earliest Years (known as the PfA Review) is a package of tools, developed by the Whole School SEND Consortium. It has been designed as a guide to support schools in the review of their SEND provision and to help them with preparing their pupils with SEN and disabilities, on to the next stage of their learning and development and into adulthood.
This has been recently published and is available to read on the link below. It will also be available for reference on the Local Offer website. http://www.pfareview.com/
Young People’s Mental Health… government consultation Simply put, having a Special Educational Need and/or Disability (SEND) often affects our children’s sense of wellbeing and can lead to mental health difficulties. This is a really opportunity to make your views heard to the government… “This green paper sets out the ambition that children and young people who need help for their mental health are able to get it when they need it. This consultation closes at midday on 2 March 2018” https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/transforming-children-and-young-peoplesmental-health-provision-a-green-paper
Young People – Free Health Checks Did you know… children and young people from the age 14 upwards with a learning disability, are eligible to have an annual health check from their GP. Unfortunately, it is down to individual GPs to subscribe to and instigate this with their own patients.
What can you do? Should you wish to ask for one of these for your child, please see the links below and follow this up with your own GP. “People with learning disabilities often have poorer physical and mental health than other people. This doesn’t need to be the case.” https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Childrenwithalearningdisability/Pages/AnnualHealthChecks.asp x Step by Step toolkit for annual health checks for people with learning disabilities. http://www.rcgp.org.uk/clinical-and-research/toolkits/health-check-toolkit.aspx
Short Breaks… a national petition Details of a national petition from the Disabled Children’s Partnership calling for a Government review…
@SteveBroach “Short breaks are a lifeline for families with disabled children. The current cuts are rolling back all the progress made under Aiming High for Disabled Children. Please sign this petition (closing soon) to help save these vital services”
Disabled Children’s Partnership “Short breaks are among the most fundamental services for supporting the health and wellbeing for families with disabled children. They give families a break from caring for a disabled child, while also offering a chance for children to do activities they enjoy; they hold families together and can prevent them from reaching crisis. Despite this, many of these services are under threat. Add your name to our petition calling on the Government to review the funding and availability of short breaks services. “ https://e-activist.com/page/14147/petition/1?locale=en-GB
@SENDFamilyVoice The DfE replies: accountability in SEND
https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/the-dfe-replies-accountability-insend/amp/?__twitter_impression=true Huge parent Judicial Review win to prevent closure of respite centre in Hertfordshire against Herts CCG: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts43142053?__twitter_impression=true Hackney Council u-turns on its SEND funding cuts after consultation/parent pressure - the fight isn't over though http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/politics/hackney-council-scraps-specialeducational-needs-funding-cuts-blames-government-for-hidden-crisis-15405736?utm_source= Great piece on travelling solo as a wheelchair user http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/comment/challenges-and-triumphs-of-travel-with-adisability/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
Sabbatical Statement From time to time our steering group members take a step back to deal with family issues or just because volunteering for SEND Family Voices (SFV) becomes too much to manage on top of everything else. This time it is the turn of our Richmond chair, Romany Wood-Robinson, who will be taking a break for a period of 3 months, from 1 March until 1 June. This will not affect the work that the charity does - SFV Steering Group Members will continue to offer peer support, attend meetings and to ensure that parent / carer voices are heard by local decision makers. Caroline North will continue to be Kingston chair and the role of Richmond chair will be filled by Trustees while Romany is on sabbatical. If you already have another key contact within the SFV steering group, then please continue to use that or alternatively use our generic email address sendfamilyvoices@outlook.com which is always monitored by a member of the group. Romany’s email Romany@sendfamilyvoices.org will not be operational during her sabbatical.
Relaxed performances Pinocchio – 17th March This relaxed performance is for anyone who would benefit from a more relaxed performance environment, including those with an autism spectrum condition, or learning disability. All tickets: £16. Please call the box office on 020 7452 3961 and quote promo code: RELAXED https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/pinocchio-whats-on-listing/?&promo=RELAXED
Harry Potter - August Information about the first-ever Autism-adapted performance of 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' taking place in London this summer, in partnership with the National Autistic Society. http://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/media-centre/news/2018-02-19-harry-potter.aspx 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, Romany (for Richmond) and Caroline North (for Kingston) Phone: 07469 746 145 www.sendfamilyvoices.org