PCNA’s (hooray!), Reminders & the London Marathon 13th April 2016 Dear All It’s amazing what people can do when they set their mind to it. Full article at the end… (it’s about a fabulous young person from Kingston (with cerebal palsy) who is participating in the London Marathon.)
The right to ordinary lives – PCNAs… What is a PCNA? PCNA stands for Parents Carers Needs Assessment and looks at what parents & carers need to enable them to carry on caring effectively. We know that our task as parents of children & young people with additional needs brings additional stresses outside ‘normal’ parenting (most parents are not as familiar with hospitals as we might be). The PCNA is your chance to consider your role as a carer and what help you may need to support you, to maintain your own health, as well as balancing your caring role with other aspects of your life, such as work and family. Your PCNA will help to clarify your needs and to identify sources of support which could help you (eg short breaks & respite, practical support or planning for emergencies).
How to complete & return a PCNA The PCNA can be completed by parents and carers themselves (self-assessment) or with support from another organisation. For instance, this could be the Single Point of Access, Richmond Carer’s Centre or Kingston Carers Network; contact details are in the form – pages 2 and 14 respectively.
What happens next? The form must be returned to the Single Point of Access (SPA), either paper copy or electronically via e-mail. The SPA will contact you once you have returned the form; full timeline is on page 15 and the process will be completed within 20 working days.
How to get a copy of the PCNA form Here is the link to the Word document on the Local Offer: https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/assessment-and-education-health-and-careplanning/parent-carer-needs-assessment Printed copies are in production now. However, SFV are very happy to print and post a copy to any parent that asks – just reply to this e-mail with details. We’re delighted to have worked closely with Clive Seall, Strategic Head of Family Support, Achieving for Children to have developed and produced the PCNA. If you have any questions at all (and the form may not yet be perfect!), please ask.
SEN Transport – erratum Last week, we wrote... "the SEN Transport team will soon be writing out to parents, as part of the summer review to confirm arrangements for each child in September; at that point every
family will receive a copy of the parent guidance. This is usual for Kingston, but is a first for Richmond." The SEN Transport team have advised that we need to be clearer as to what parents should expect in writing (our fault, we didn't double-check detail!)
"As the current list of Richmond Transport operators expires at the end of August 2016, and a re-tendering exercise is under way, all Richmond parents will be written to by the SEN Transport team, so that you know what to expect in terms of transport arrangements from September 2016. Included in this correspondence will be a copy of the new Parent Guidance booklet. On the Kingston side, the SEN Transport team will write to all parents of newly eligible children, applying for transport for the first time, and they will write to all parents of eligible transferring children, applying for transport to a new school placement; included will be a copy of the new Parent Guidance booklet. Parents will also receive communication from the SEN Transport team if they have to change the transport operator for any other reason. Where children are remaining with the same transport operator, on the same route, the transport operator is directly responsible for making contact with parents to advise them if there are any updates to crew members or pick-up or drop-off times. Following the re-tendering exercise in Richmond this year, all summer communication will be in line with this year's Kingston communication." Please contact: Kingston Laura/Molly Richmond Charlie/William
020 8547 6671 or 020 8547 4708 020 8547 5540 or 020 8547 6147
For families of children with physical disabilities We’re delighted that this new support group is already attracting interest. Both Penny & Sylvie are part of SEND Family Voices, and MeToo&Co are hosting. The first ever meeting is: Friday 22nd April - 10:00 to 12:00 The CrossWay Centre, East Twickenham, Richmond Road TW1 2PD Please contact Penny on webphb@btinternet.com to let us know whether you’d like to come so we have some idea of numbers. If you want to know more or have any questions or suggestions, then do let us know via the email address also. We will provide refreshments. MeToo&Co also offer a crèche service for under 5s for anyone wishing to come to the meeting. Places are limited so please contact MeToo&Co to book. E: info@metooandco.org.uk T: 07946 646033.
The future of SEN Provision - conference This conference is free and open to all parents, carers and schools in Richmond and Kingston. Tuesday 26th April – 1.30pm to 4.30pm Lensbury Conference Centre, Teddington
This conference will address the following: Plans for SEN provision in Richmond and Kingston over the next 3 years (including new provision in mainstream and specialist schools) A new resource (co-produced by parents) to guide parents and professionals through the processes involved in getting support for a child with SEN (Early Years, SEN Support, EHCPs). Copies will be available to take away Some examples of how Achieving for Children work in partnership with parents and schools - get involved! A brief outline of the new SEND Ofsted / CQC inspections due to start this year. What the inspectors will look for. How parents, young people, professionals and schools contribute? What will change as a result? A flyer is attached, please follow this link to book a place: https://www.afccpdonline.co.uk/education/courses/bookings/c_detail.asp?cid=3339 Places are limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis. For more information, please contact Simon James, Associate Director, Special Educational Needs and Disability E: simon.james@achievingforchildren.org.uk
What’s new on the Local Offer Well, there’s there the PCNA of course (see first item), and… A new leaflet on Wiki’s and how to get one: https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/494-new-leaflet-about-wikis How to take part in a monthly lottery for a Merlin pass: https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/496-aiming-high-annual-family-merlin-passmonthly-lottery There are updates and improvements being made to the Search facilities on the Local Offer. As you’d expect, there may be some slight disruption of service: https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/500-changes-to-the-services-directory-andsearch-criteria-on-the-local-offer
The London Marathon Amazing. Fabulous. Determined. …and many more adjectives! “My name is Zoe North, I was born three months premature, weighing just 2 lb 2 oz. When I was born, I was the length of my father's wrist watch. As a result of my early birth I have a life-long condition called cerebral palsy. At the time of my diagnosis it was thought I would never walk, never talk or be independent. Now 18 years on having faced my challenges to get to where I am today. I have decided to set myself a goal participate in the London marathon 2016 on behalf of Sparks*. Participating in the marathon has always been a dream for me. One I never thought I would be able to full-fill. That was until I met James Davies and Alex Wilson, from Deutsche Bank, who are both experienced marathon runners.
Both James and Alex have kindly volunteered to support me to try and reach my goal for 2016 and have agreed to participate in the Virgin Money London Marathon 2016 alongside me.” You can visit Zoe’s Justgiving page and read her blogs here: https://www.justgiving.com/zoesmarathon2016
Sparks “Charity Registration No. 1003825 (England & Wales), SCO39482 (Scotland) Sparks raises money to fund pioneering children’s medical research. We support clinicians and scientists in order to find cures and treatments to help the 1 in 30 children born in the UK with a condition which may affect them for life.” 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