Reminders, good news and links galore

Reminders, Good News and Links galore 1st April 2017 Dear All Wishing you all the best for the Easter holidays…

Reminder: Decision on placements for young people in year 11 and year 13 and above needed by AfC urgently All young people in year 11 and years 13 and above should by now have received a letter (and possibly a reminder) from the SEN Team at Achieving for Children (AfC)asking for their nomination of placement from September of this year.

So far very few people have responded to say what their plans or wishes are for next academic year. It is very important that the SEN team receive a response because: 1) they can help to ensure that appropriate college places and apprenticeships are available if they know what the demand is 2) EHC Plans need to be continued if the young person continues in some form of education (unless going to university - where a different support model is provided) AfC request that any family with a young person in year 11 or year 13 or above who have not yet communicated their preference for September 2017 please do so by the end of the Easter holiday (Monday 17th April) - even if intending to stay on at the current placement.

Please contact: For Kingston families: sen-rbk@achievingforchildren.org.uk For Richmond families: sen-lbr@achievingforchildren.org.uk

Clarendon Pupil Expansion Proposal (Richmond) As may be are aware Clarendon school is being redeveloped on two sites as their current buildings are no longer fit for purpose. Due to this expansion, we are proposing to increase pupil places from 108 to 148 by 2018.

Could you please click on the link below to read the proposal and complete the short survey at the end? Thank You! http://clarendon.richmond.sch.uk/clarendon-expansion-proposal/

We need to hear from you…

1. What does ‘overnight respite’ mean to you – and for you?

Does your child have complex health needs, severe or complex learning difficulties, a life limiting diagnosis or other complex additional needs?

Does your child receive ‘overnight respite’ (that’s an overnight break for you and them!). If not, would you like them to?

SEND Family Voices and MeToo&Co held a joint meeting to discuss the five questions below.

We’ll be consolidating the notes and e-mail thus far over Easter. If you haven’t replied already, and would like to, please take the time to send an e-mail now…

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

What does overnight respite mean to, and for, you?

What works?

What doesn’t work?

What respite is available locally and what are the criteria to access it?

Is there anything else you would like us to know or to ask?

2. Short Breaks Survey – Enter draw to win a £50 voucher Short breaks are a hugely important service for families with disabled children, and one which all local authorities are legally obliged to provide.

Please take a few moments to fill out SEND Family Voices online survey (it takes about 10 minutes); all responses will be completely anonymised. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NQZZC3R And the original, longer article on the Local Offer: https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/885-enter-a-draw-to-win-50-voucher-byparticipating-in-send-family-voices-short-breaks-consultation

Croft Cottage Respite – Good News From Barry at e-mail croftcottagerespite@icloud.com on Richmond’s overnight respite facility: “We take great pleasure in letting you know that we have succeeded in our campaign and Croft Cottage will be staying open for at least another 18 months!

Achieving for Children and EnhanceAble have been able to negotiate mutually acceptable terms for a contract that will enable Croft Cottage to remain open at its current capacity.

Following a further meeting with parents on Friday 31st March, Councillor Paul Hodgins (Strategic Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Schools in Richmond) and Rob Henderson (Joint Chief Executive & Director of Children’s Services at Achieving For Children) wished to make this joint statement: “The Council have listened to the concerns of parents about the impact on their children if Croft Cottage were to close without the planned new provision being in place, and without giving them more time to help their children transition to the new arrangements. We have taken those concerns onboard, and have therefore committed that Croft Cottage will remain open until new short break care facilities are opened at Moor Lane in Autumn 2018.

The new facilities will be purpose-built in consultation with parents and will be available throughout the week, providing more flexibility to parents and children.

We will also take this additional time to engage further with our local parents about respite provision, exploring potential options that despite the Council's increasing financial constraints, could be made possible through parents, the Council, and voluntary groups working more closely together. We will work together on this as a priority next step” We too would like to thank all parties involved for their willingness to work together towards this positive outcome - and all you wonderful people who signed the petition and supported us along the way.”

Reminder - Aiming High Funding is back!

You can read the highlights and find the application form on the Local Offer. Due to the proximity of Easter – applications may be received one week in advance (instead of the usual 3 weeks): https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/975-aiming-high-funding-is-back Should you have any queries on Aiming High, please contact Nasima and/or Caroline in the first instance: Nasima Sultana - Short Breaks Administrator T: 020 8547 5562 E: nasima.sultana@achievingforchildren.org.uk Caroline Jager - Short Breaks and Aiming High Manager T: 020 8547 6069 E: caroline.jager@achievingforchildren.org.uk

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) This is for all you data buffs out there…

“You may be aware that as part of commissioning, the council and CCGs jointly undertake assessment of their local population. This is called a joint strategic needs assessment. The document is produced in order to ensure that any strategy or commissioning is based on local evidence.”

For Kingston, this is now live on the dedicated website. http://data.kingston.gov.uk/GC_Learning_Disabilities/ Each council produces their own JSNA. In Richmond, you can find the JSNA here: http://www.richmond.gov.uk/jsna

What’s new on the Local Offer?

The Rochford Review This consultation from the Department for Education seeks views on the recommendations for assessing pupils working below the standard of the national curriculum tests. https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/999-department-for-education-consultationprimary-school-pupil-assessment-rochford-review-recommendations

MeToo&Co Find out more about and see their lovely new website…

“Me too & Co provides a supportive and active community for children with disabilities and additional needs. We care for the whole family, providing opportunities to join in, develop and feel empowered. We are based in Richmond-upon-Thames, but have an open-door policy. Anyone, from anywhere, is welcome!” https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/998-find-out-about-local-organisation-metoo-co

Go Kids Go Wheelchair skills training workshop for young wheelchair users – lots of people sent this in.

Here’s a comment from a parent who e-mailed us…

“I took my daughter last year and she had an amazing day, as did her brother (age 3) who can walk and experienced a day in a wheelchair with his sister doing all sorts of fun and games.” https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/events/23698-hounslow-wheelchair-skillsworkshop?term=wheelchair

Monthly parent drop in sessions “Come along and meet the Interim Head of Service and discuss anything you wish to around specific needs or around things you think The Integrated Service for Children with Disabilities should know or should be doing.” https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/events/22504-meet-the-interim-head-of-service-at-theintegrated-service-for-children-with-disabilities?date=2017-05-15

@SENDFamilyVoice Highlights from this week’s Tweets – and welcome to the 150 new followers this week! https://twitter.com/SENDFamilyVoice *Surrey's SEND response to Ofsted: https://search3.openobjects.com/mediamanager/surrey/fsd/files/surrey_send_written_state ment_of_action.pdf *New National Children's Bureau report out - Children Missing Education https://www.ncb.org.uk/news-opinion/news-highlights/government-failing-account-childrenmissing-education *New DFE report out on Parent experiences of EHCP process - pages 51 and 63 suggest Richmond is bottom. No responses from Kingston https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/604384/Ed ucation__health_and_care_plans_parents_and_young_people_survey.pdf?utm_source= *New Yorda playgroup starting for the under 5s in Chessington https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1BGq7hc3FaX9T5NbLwNRH4jt2qB67bVKvk2ehXkihwA/viewform?uiv=1&edit_requested=true *Kingston SEND families - got a question for the Leader of the Council? https://www.kingston.gov.uk/news/article/574/quiz_the_council_s_leader_and_senior_counci llors_on_issues_that_matter_to_you *Fancy a free ice cream cone? Visit Ben & Jerry's counter at Kingston and/or Richmond Odeon next Tuesday http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/ben-jerrys-free-cone-day-12815519 *New govt company to set up free schools https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-company-to-create-morefree-schools *Children with SEND risk rejection because of mainstream funding gap https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/children-send-risk-rejection-mainstream-schoolsfunding-gap/ *BBC documentary on autism to be shown next Tuesday http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08l684l *The need for awareness of dyscalculia is huge

http://dyscalculiaheadlines.com/the-need-for-awareness-of-dyscalculia-ishuge/?utm_source=ReviveOldPost&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ReviveOldPost *Seven research-based ways to support ASD sleep issues: http://embracingthespectrum.com/7-methods-reducing-sleep-issues-autism/ *Huge new DFE report out on dispute resolution https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/603487/CE DAR_review.pdf *Resource pack on puberty and sexuality for children and YP with SEND http://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/Puberty-and-Sexuality-Pack-Session1-4.pdf *New ASD yoga club starting at Express CIC - visit their website: http://www.expresscic.org.uk/ *Advice for new parents of children with Down's Syndrome https://www.supernanny.co.uk/Advice/-/Health-and-Development/-/Special-Needs/yourbaby-has-downs-syndrome-advice-for-new-parents.aspx?platform=hootsuite *Ten-week social skills group starting in central London for mild to moderate SEND https://m.facebook.com/ABAAccess4All/posts/1265175723560238 *Really useful chart/map of how & when speech sounds develop in children http://www.ican.org.uk/~/media/Ican2/What%20We%20Do/Enquiry%20Service/Speech%20S ounds%20factsheet.ashx?utm_content=buffer396c5&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitt er.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Be healthy, be happy, don't miss out “Don't miss out when it comes to your health. If you have a learning disability, tell your GP and get access to extra support. Find out more at www.mencap.org.uk/dontmissout“ 1.24 minutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gANZupyBHM&feature=youtu.be 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, Caroline North (for Kingston) and Romany (for Richmond) Phone: 07469 746 145 www.sendfamilyvoices.org