Questions, Summer, Next Term & Pokemon Go (again) 29th July 2016 Dear All Summer is here, there are lots of surveys, plus please read through for news affecting next term…
To Parents & Carers In our last bulletin, sent to Parents and Carers only, we asked for your experiences of local services. Specifically: short breaks, aiming high funding and the disabled children’s team. We’re pleased to say that we received many immediate responses from both Kingston & Richmond – all of which are very helpful. If you haven’t replied yet – please do so. We need to hear from you - even if it is just a oneline email reply. Please let us know of your experiences, both good and bad, so that we can be sure that we are representing as wide a group of parents as possible as we continue our work to try and improve the experience of families in our two boroughs.
New ‘free’ Special Schools You may remember that we held a series of ‘conversations & consultations’ on two potential new ‘free’ special schools. These two schools would be an addition to the new MultiAcademy Trust (MAT) combining Strathmore and Clarendon schools. The MAT is called the Auriga Trust and will span both Kingston & Richmond boroughs. The Department for Education (DfE) has approved the Auriga Trust MAT and, separately, the two headteachers have described the profile of the two proposed new schools more closely. SFV will be facilitating a Family Advisory Board and you are all welcome to be a part of this bearing in mind that we will need to keep to the profile & designation as described by headteachers. Please reply to this e-mail if you would like more information.
After School (post-16) SEN Support Careers Advice “The 14-19 team at Achieving for Children are offering young people with SEN Support the opportunity of face-to-face careers guidance over the summer period to help them prepare for their transition into post 16 education or training. A qualified careers adviser will be able to offer confidential and impartial advice on course, career and employment opportunities, providing up-to-date and accurate information. We realise that young people may already have plans, such as an offer of a course for September, but the Careers Adviser would also be able to discuss longer term achievement of goals and help them with getting the most out of their next course/training placement. If they do not have a place in learning or employment for September, the careers adviser will be able to help them explore a range of options that might suit them.
Appointments will be offered at a central Twickenham or Surbiton venue; young people can choose which would offer easier access. The adviser can offer individual meetings which would be arranged in hourly slots, but if they would prefer to attend group sessions with friends these can also be offered.” If you have any queries and/or would like to book an appointment, please contact Gill Higgins on: T: 0208 547 5408 E: gill.higgins@achievingforchildren.org.uk
All Age Disabilities programme - Kingston Please see attached accessible flyer on this Kingston programme. Dates are in August, venues to be confirmed. Please contact the organisers for more details.
#summer Search #summer in the Local Offer to find out what is going on in the summer holidays https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/site_search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search_site%5Bterm%5D=%2 3Summer
What’s new on the Local Offer Please support Karen Lowry, Local Offer Content manager, by completing this survey. Our experience is that Karen is consistently responsive and listens (no pressure now!). This survey aims to improve the Local Offer: https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/613-local-offer-website-satisfaction-survey All young people will need to come to terms with their sexuality. Shout This Way offers support and guidance for all. https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/614-shout-this-way-youth-project-for-youngpeople-aged-13-19 Employment & support allowance – all your questions answered. Speaker: Colin Morris, Partner Support Manager, Dept. of Work & Pensions (DWP) https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/events/20891-state-benefits-for-people-with-learningdifficulties?date=2016-09-19 The Cabbage Patch Nuture Group at Chase Bridge Primary School have published their first Annual Self Evaluation of Performance and Progress. You can download the report from the Local Offer. Nurture groups support children within the Richmond Borough who are vulnerable and show signs of social and emotional difficulties which affect their ability to learn. https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/605-cabbage-patch-nurture-group-annualself-evaluation-of-performance-and-progress-june-2016
Sitting & Befriending Service – Kingston & Richmond Plea for response (just a few minutes, seconds etc)… “In 2014, Ruils* took over the Sitting & Befriending service for children and young people with additional needs across Richmond. Achieving for Children initially helped with funding, but as budgets were cut so was our money. Current raised funds for the service run out in March 2017 and we are committed to securing money beyond this date to keep it going. To have
any chance of being successful in our applications we must be able to show how beneficial sitters and befrienders are. This is where you come in!” The Ruils* survey has been broken up into bite size chunks. You can complete one part of any chapter of the survey, at any time, – or complete the whole thing. It’s up to you – and whatever you have time for. The Sitting & Befriending service is now offered across Kingston AND Richmond – but the funding will decide what level of service. Please give your views. (Ctrl+Click to follow each link) Week Ongoing Week one Week two Week three Week four Week five Week six Week seven Week eight
Subject Complete Survey Family and friends Socialising Sitter & Befriender qualities & impact What Sitters & Befrienders do and for how long Have your say Costs and training Further discussions Signing up to Ruils
For any queries over the summer holidays, please contact April Clifford on 020 8831 6073 * Ruils = Richmond Users for Independent Living.
http://www.ruils.co.uk/
TAG Youth Club This club is fighting to survive… take a look at their website, see if it works for your young person. “TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People is an independent organisation which relies on grants and donations to continue its work in supporting young people with disabilities, who either live, learn or earn in the Royal Borough of Kingston or the London Borough of Richmond. Our thanks go to Me Too & Co and the Royal Borough of Kingston for their continued financial assistance. The club also receives support from Achieving for Children and has a service level agreement with the youth service relating to facilities and staffing arrangements. Venue: TAG Youth Club, Ham Youth Centre, Ham Close, Ham, Richmond, TW10 7PL E-mail: tagyouthclub@hotmail.co.uk TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People has recently relocated to Ham Youth Centre and are keen to open our local offer to young people who live in the London Borough of Richmond and surrounding areas. If you have any questions feel free to email, text or phone. My number is 07950411743. The club is open every Friday including school holidays and bank holidays between 7.30 & 9.30. The club runs a tuck shop and has a sensory room. Giles Hobart, Club Manager
Surveys EHCP experiences for the DfE “From Monday 25 July 2016, families in England who have had an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan finalised in 2015 will be invited by the Department of Education (DfE) to complete an anonymous survey. The results will show which parts of the EHC process are working well or need more support. It will also help to understand how this picture varies across the country. The results will be published in the New Year. Read more about the survey and see FAQs on the IFF Research website or for more information email: SEND.RESEARCH@education.gsi.gov.ukSEND.RESEARCH@education.gsi.gov.uk The closing date is October 2016”.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) “The Government is conducting a review, and has called for evidence into the assessment of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the submission of further evidence. The closing date for submission of evidence is 16th September 2016. The link to the survey is: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/personalindependence-payment-pip-assessment-second-independent-review-call-for-evidence The closing date is September 16th 2016.
More on Pokemon Go “Pokémon Go is an augmented reality game app in which you walk around capturing virtual Pokémon in the real world” From what we can see, Pokemon Go is the game for summer - at least it’s outdoors! We hear that Richmond Park (which has accessible trails) is a really good place to go! More news and advice on this summer’s hot game: Tips and Advice for keeping children safe on Pokemon Go https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/pokemongo-parents-guide/ Pokemon Go receives praise from autistic people http://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/media-centre/news/2016-07-22-pokemon-go.aspx Player claims to have caught all UK characters - BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-36912572
The Fundamentals of Caring Have you seen this? “A man suffering an incredible amount of loss enrolls in a class about care-giving that changes his perspective on life.” Perhaps something for the wider family? Available on Netflix: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2452386/
Back to School …isn’t it awful how early this starts!? This link is help for those with autism. Does anyone have any advice for young people with additional needs going back to school? Please let us know and we will publish, circulate and get them on to the Local Offer. “The National Autistic Society are delighted to have teamed up with Marks & Spencer to support the development of their brand new ‘Easy Dressing’ school uniform collection.” http://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/media-centre/news/2016-07-21-marks-andspencer.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