SEN Transport, Future Hub, Open meetings & Ofsted 21st October 2015 Dear All Lots going on; consultations and surveys aplenty - it really is worth taking part.
SEN Transport Consultations We’ve mentioned this before – and now we can publish the dates… SEN Transport continues under the current policies until September 2016; therefore there is no immediate change to the policy. What is important is that parents, carers and young people have some say and ownership of the new policy. Letters to all families currently using SEN Transport are being sent out over half-term – this is advance notice. The new policy will take into account the emphasis that the SEND Reforms places on Preparing for Adulthood. So, for those that can and want to, it’s important to be supported in developing independence; whether that be making a bus journey alone or taking driving lessons or learning a bicycle route. How can you join the discussion? As Achieving for Children (AfC) develop the new policy (or policies), they want to understand what family’s expectations and concerns are. AfC are working with us and have arranged a set of four consultation events across both boroughs: Friday 6th Nov
10.30am to 12.30
Monday 9th Nov
7pm to 9pm
Tues 17th Nov
10.30 to 12.30
Mon 23rd Nov
7pm to 9pm
The Salon York House, Twickenham, TW1 3AA The Salon, York House, Twickenham, TW1 3AA Guildhall 2 High Street, Kingston, KT1 1EY Guildhall 2 High Street, Kingston, KT1 1EY
What is Future Hub? Future Hub is a website, delivered by Achieving for Children's 14-19 team aiming to help 16 to 19 year olds progress through traineeships, apprenticeships, and employment. Working with a network of local providers and secondary schools, they offer an inclusive service to all young people in Kingston and Richmond; from career advice to CV services, training, and employer support. You can find the OppsPack for the Future Hub on the Local Offer website… it’s a kind of directory of inclusive post-16 provision and other opportunities. (We’ve only just heard of it and can’t seem to get enough copies!) http://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/preparing-for-adulthood/future-hub Karen Lowry (Local Offer Content manager) has recently spruced up the Preparing for Adulthood pages on the Local Offer – so these are worth taking a look at.
CAMHS Youth Panel The first Kingston and Richmond CAMHS* Youth Panel is to be held on Tuesday 27th October (during half-term) at Tolworth Hospital from 2pm. As this is the first meeting, the organisers are keen that it is a relaxed event, about getting to know one another, deciding where and when the group would like to meet and thinking about the kinds of subjects and projects the group would like to work on. Laura Tyrell, CAMHS Participation Officer will be running the forum alongside Akin Ojumu, who is a psychotherapist at Kingston CAMHS. If you have any questions about Kingston and Richmond CAMHS Youth Panel, please refer to the link below: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kingston-and-richmond-camhs-youth-panel-tickets19098205246 Please note that all children and young people are invited to attend. If someone needs additional support, please contact Laura Laura.Tyrrell2@swlstg-tr.nhs.uk * CAMHS = Children’s & Adolescent Mental Health Services
Tell us your views… We have arranged another set of Open Meetings to cover the topics below… Do you have questions relating to Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND)? What does ‘accessibility’ mean to your family? Please let us know and contribute to the local Accessibility Strategy for school age children. What about the Local Offer and Wiki’s? Do you understand what these are and what they can do for you? Do you have questions or comments about the Education, Health & Care Plans (EHC Plans)? Would you like to contribute to the development of Short Breaks for children & young people with disabilities? Do you need advice on how to access short breaks? Would you like to understand more about options for young people over 16 years of age? And to feedback your thoughts to Achieving for Children? Or would you just like to talk to other parents in a relaxed atmosphere? Our plan is an informal, but structured meeting, to help answer the questions above and hear your views. Letters should be with you over half-term, in the meantime the schedule follows. All Meetings are Open which means we can discuss any subject parents wish. The themes are there to ensure we have up-to-date knowledge with us. There will be an expert on Education, Health & Care Plans at every meeting. Date Thursday 5th Nov
Tuesday 10th Nov
Time
Venue
10.30am to 12.30
Accessibility Strategy Bedelsford School, Grange Road, Kingston, KT1 2QZ
10.30am to 12.30
Post-16 provision & Local Offer / Wiki’s Norman Jackson Centre 50 Windmill Rd, Hampton Hill, TW12 1QU
Wed 11th Nov
Thurs 12th Nov
Tues 17th Nov
Wed 18th Nov
Thursday 19th Nov
Friday 20th Nov
Tues 24th Nov
Thurs 26th Nov Sat. 28th Nov
Sun. 29th Nov
Wed. 2nd Dec
10.30 to 12.30
Short Breaks & the Local Offer / Wiki’s Express CIC offices 452 Ewell Road, Surbiton, KT6 7EL
7pm to 9pm
Post 16 provision & the Local Offer / Wiki’s Richard Challoner School Manor Drive North, New Malden, KT3 5PE
7pm to 9pm
Short Breaks & the Local Offer / Wiki’s Orleans Park School, The Drama Studio Richmond Road, Twickenham, TW1 3BB
10-30am to 12.30
Post 16 provision & Short Breaks Castlenau Community Ctr 7 Stillingfleet Road, Barnes, SW13 9AQ
7pm to 9pm
Short Breaks & the Local Offer / Wiki’s Bedelsford School Grange Road, Kingston, KT1 2QZ
12.30pm to 2pm
Post 16 Provision & the Local Offer / Wiki’s The Moor Lane Centre Moor Lane, Chessington, KY9 2AA
6pm to 8pm
Accessibility Strategy – Young People only Downs Syndrome Assoc,, Langdon Down Ctr 2a Langdon Park, Teddington, TW11 9PS
7pm to 9pm
Post 16 provision & the Local Offer / Wiki’s The Rose Theatre 24-26 High Street, Kingston, KT1 1HL
10.30am to 12.30
Informal meet & chat (with crèche) 13 Geneva Rd, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2TW
3pm to 5pm
Informal meet & chat (with crèche) Greenwood Centre School Rd, Hampton Hill, TW12 1QL
6pm to 8pm
Accessibility Strategy – Parents Room 7, York House Twickenham, TW1 3AA
SEND Local Area Inspections Yet another survey – and this one is really important! For the first time, SEND and the Local Area are to be inspected. This survey from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) invites parents, carers and young people to comment on what they would like the inspection to acheive. (all in the spirit of co-production) The consultation is attached – and a link below. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-area-send-consultation Please don’t be put off! Whilst the attachment is 21 pages – the consultation itself is 7 widely spaced pages (from 14-21). Our views matter!
The consultation will run for 3 months and will close on 4th January 2016.
Kids SENDIASS - out of hours Kids run the local SENDIASS: Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Information, Advice & Support Services (another catchy name from Central Government?) and have just published their flyer. It is attached and confirms their operating times. Opening times: Monday to Friday 10am - 5pm (51 weeks of the year) Evening Helpline: Monday to Wednesday until 10pm (Monday and Tuesday only during school holidays) You can contact an advisor on 020 8831 6179 or by emailing RichmondKingston@Kids.org.uk
Half term activies from Lena Please find attached Lena’s bulletin with activities from both AfC and the voluntary sector (if you can’t see what you’re looking for, call Lena). Lena’s bulletin also has news one how you can apply for £500 to support your child or young person during a family holiday. We only occasionally forward Lena’s bulletins. Please subscribe direct lena.vantol@kids.org.uk to receive these regularly. As ever, if you have any queries at all, please ask and we'll 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