New Schools, Family Support, Holidays & more… 12th June 2016 Dear All Please take the time to come to one of the parent meetings below if you can, or let us know your questions and we’ll take them forward…
New Special Free Schools – last meeting Strathmore and Clarendon Schools have started the process of forming a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT), called the Auriga Academy Trust. The Auriga Academy Trust is proposing the opening of two new free schools for Kingston and Richmond. Whilst there are many themes emerging from these debates, there are two that stand out more than any other: 1. Quality of provision 2. Staff retention (therefore consistency of care) The last of these meetings is tomorrow. Please come if you can… Monday 13th June
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Terrace Room, York House, Twickenham, TW1 3AA
Free School - ABA "I am writing on behalf of a group of local parents looking into the possibility of opening a small ABA school in Richmond. The model would be intensive one to one tuition with inclusion opportunities in a local school. The first step for us is to determine if there is enough demand for such a provision in the borough. In order to express your interest please contact Ella Culligan at: ionela.culligan@btopenworld.com Best regards, Ella Culligan"
Meeting other parents A reminder of our meetings, open to all families in both boroughs. Below is a bit more information about who will be facilitating these meetings. Penny leads on EHCPs, and is lead author of the Golden Binder and is a founder of Phyz (see below). Clive works for Achieving for Children and is responsible for the SPA (Single Point of Access and Family Support) and has worked with us on the Parent Carer Needs Assessments (PCNAs). Plus there will always be at least one other SFV member how has a specialism… Thursday 16th June
7pm to 9pm
Room 7, York House
Penny & Nicola
Phyz
Twickenham, TW1 3AA
Monday 20th June
Wed. 22nd June Friday 24th June
Wed. 29th June
10.30am to 12.30pm
7pm to 9pm
10am to 12noon
10-30am to 12.30
The Moor Lane Centre Moor Lane, Chessington, KY9 2AA Express CIC offices 452 Ewell Road, Surbiton, KT6 7EL MeToo&Co*, Crossways, St. Stephen’s, Twickenham, TW1 2PD
Barnes Sports Club, 261 Lonsdale Road, SW13 9QL
& Clive
Hearing Impairments PCNAs
Penny & Sam & Clive
Phyz Autism PCNAs
Penny & Caroline & Clive
Phyz Autism PCNAs
Penny & Rachel & Clive Penny & Lisa & Clive
Phyz Downs Syndrome PCNAs Phyz Multiple Learning Diff. PCNAs
* 24th June - crèche available at meeting hosted by MeToo&Co. Please contact Tel: 07946 646033 or e-mail: info@metooandco.org.uk to book place.
AGM & ice creams We are looking forward to holding our first AGM on 24th June during Learning Disabilities Awareness (LDA) Week. More details next week, and the programme for LDA is here: http://richmondmencap.org.uk/ldaweek/ Our AGM will run from 4.30pm to 6.30pm – and we will also be providing Free Ice Cream Van during the afternoon…
4.30pm
SEND Family Voices report
4.45pm
presentation/workshop on Friendships… Richard Rieser is the managing director of World of Inclusion Ltd, and is an expert disabled international equality trainer, consultant, film maker, writer and teacher. http://worldofinclusion.com/resources/ Linda Jordan from the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi). NDTi is a not-forprofit organisation which works to promote inclusive lives for people who are most at risk of exclusion and who may need support to lead a full life. NDTi exists to make change happen - change that leads to people having better lives. http://www.ndti.org.uk/
5.45pm
one to one surgeries with Richard and Linda, and members of SFV
Places are limited. Please reply to this e-mail to let us know if you are planning to attend.
Phyz
The new parent led physical disability support group has its next meeting on:
Friday 17th June
10am to 12noon
MeToo&Co* Crossways, St. Stephen’s, Twickenham, TW1 2PD
For more information, please contact Penny, Sylvie or Stacey on info@phyz.org.uk
Holidays… A couple of holiday destinations for families of a child with autism… http://www.thethomascentre.co.uk/About_Us http://www.happykidsholidays.com/ Ever wanted to have the Science Museum to yourself and/or to have a sleepover there? On 6th August from 7.30pm to 7th August at 10am, the Science Museum are hosting an eventspacked evening & sleepover for SEN kids aged 7 to 14 and their families. For just £25! Book from 4th July by phoning the Museum's Learning Support Team on 0207 942 4777. Any questions, email science.night@sciencemuseum.ac.uk Discreet lanyards at Gatwick Airport https://www.mentalhealthtoday.co.uk/gatwick-airport-launches-lanyard-to-help-peoplewith-hidden-disabilities.aspx Sports… https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/events/20260-summer-festival-2016-free-sports-festival-forall-disabled-people?date=2016-07-22 Please do send your Top Tips through to Karen Lowry at the Local Offer (and we will share them too): sendlocaloffer@achievingforchildren.org.uk
Short Breaks – 8th July application deadline Deadline for applying for summer holiday short breaks funding is 8th July… https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/394-aiming-high-short-break-funding-summerfunding-deadline
New Case Law From IPSEA (Independent Parental Special Education Advice)… “A recent case has provided much-needed clarity on how Tribunals should deal with appeals involving young people. This also includes cases where the young person lacks the mental capacity to conduct an appeal themselves. The decision is a very positive one for young people. It confirms the wide category of those who might need an EHC plan. Please click this link to see a full article on our website.” https://www.ipsea.org.uk/news/2016/upper-tribunal-decision-buckingham-cc-vsj?dm_i=PWP,4AA0J,50OBO5,FO4B0,1
Parents as Partners – for families of children on the autistic spectrum Free programme, starting September…
Please contact the organisers direct; contact details at the end. “In case you are not familiar with recently renamed Tavistock Relationships (from The Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships), relationships are our area of expertise and we also run Parents as Partners, a free service running therapeutic groups for couples. It is an evidence based programme that we have run for the last 3 years, originally trialled successfully in the States, that focusses on supporting couple relationships and thinking about parenting to help reduce conflict and improve child outcomes. We are now recruiting a couples’ group for parents with children on the autism spectrum, We plan to run the group in central London in early September just for parents of children with autism, whereas before they have been present in more mixed couples groups. We thought that they face particular pressures on their relationship and may benefit from being with parents who would understand their unique stresses – and joys. Diagnosis, starting school, seeking the right support and care, transition to secondary school and the onset of puberty are testing times for all parents but perhaps with an added layer of stress for parents of children diagnosed with ASD. We were thinking limiting this group to those couples who are in the process of diagnosis (although it could be early on) and those with children who have been diagnosed. We run many groups, however, and feel confident that anyone should contact us who thinks they might be interested as there may well be a group that fits for them. The groups run for 16 weeks and are free to users and there is the possibility of helping with childcare costs or provision. They are funded by the Department of Work and Pensions but the groups themselves are co-facilitated by trained TCCR staff who have experience of working with couples in groups.”
For more information: Attached is a postcard advertising the group. There is no e-mail address given, but the telephones appear to be manned until after 9pm most evenings. T: 0207 380 6099 W: http://www.tavistockrelationships.org.uk/relationship-help/parents-as-partnersprogramme F: https://www.facebook.com/tavistockrelationships/).
Ramadan Support for professionals, to support families… “Ramadan falls within the examination season in 2016 and will do so for the next few years. In 2016, the middle of Ramadan will also coincide with the summer solstice. The combination of long days and examinations will put extra pressure on young Muslims, however they decide to observe Ramadan. No child under the age of puberty is obliged or expected to fast. Younger children may do a partial fast but this should be in consultation with and under the supervision of parents, carers and schools.” http://schoolsweek.co.uk/advice-for-schools-on-helping-fasting-muslim-pupils-throughramadan/
Sensory Overload Imagine feeling so overloaded that you just couldn’t cope? That’s the question this short video (2.06 minutes) aims to illustrate http://themighty.com/2016/06/virtual-reality-video-depicts-autism-sensory-overloadexperience/ 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