SEND Futures, New councillors, News, Help & lots of Things To Do

SEND Futures, New Councillors, News, Help & Lots of Things to Do 25th May 2018 Dear All Crikey! Lots going on as usual. We’ve included a few things to do during half-term. Please check the Local Offer events pages for more https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/local_offer Turns out our clickable table of contents works on some e-mail servers, but not others‌. either way, we hope the numbered heading make it easy to find what you’re interested in!

Table of Contents 1. Clarification: Making a Request for a Needs Assessment (for an EHCP) during the second part of the summer term 2. Reminder: 5th June Drop-In session 3. Consultations: New SEN School Places – Meeting Notes available 4. New Council Cabinet and Portfolio members 5. Sources of help – Case Law, Legal Handbook, the Local Offer and more 6. SEND Futures - #1 and #2 7. Richmond NeuroDevelopmental (ND) pilot 8. Starting Secondary School with SEND 9. ADHD: #1 and #2 10. Mencap News – Kingston & Richmond 11. Things to do đ&#x;˜Š

1. Clarification: Making a Request for a Needs Assessment (for an EHCP) during the second part of the summer term There has been some confusion about whether or not it is possible to submit a request for a needs assessment during the second part of the summer term.

The law is clear that a school or a parent can submit a request at any time during the year to the Local Authority (in our case Achieving for Children).

The confusion has arisen because the long summer holiday can cause practical issues due to the length of the process (up to 20 weeks from the request being received). During this time reports are normally requested from School and Educational Psychology staff, who may not be around during the summer holidays.

A multi-agency meeting is also normally held sometime between week 10 and week 16, which the SENCo (and sometimes the Educational Psychologist) would be expected to attend. Therefore, the advice is for SENCo’s to decide - in liaison with parents - when would

be the best time to submit the request…. and that IF parents are unhappy with the SENCo‘s recommendation they are free to submit the request themselves.

It is worth mentioning that there have been cases in the past where the SENCo has been prepared to attend a meeting during the summer holidays, but this would be very much up to the SENCo.

2. Reminder: 5th June Drop-In session What do you think about the SEN Reforms and current SEND provision?

The House of Commons Education Select Committee is seeking evidence from parents by 14th June on progress with the SEND reforms and SEND provision – this is the National SEND Inquiry. We put our heads together with some other local voluntary organisations to provide support to parents who would like to make a submission to the inquiry. This is an important chance to make your voice heard at national level and we would urge as many parents as possible to participate.

There are 3 ways that you can make a submission: 1. You can independently write your own submission and upload it to the inquiry via the website. We have provided a template and some guidelines which might help you with this (see the end of this article).

2. You can come along to our remaining drop-in session, where we can help you either to write your submission or to upload it (or to explain a bit more what this is all about).

We are running drop ins: Tuesday 5th June 13:30 – 15:00 MeToo&Co, Crossways Centre, 306 Richmond Rd, Twickenham TW1 2PD 3. You can email us at SENDFamilyVoices@outlook.com with what you want to say and we will include it in the submission that SEND Family Voices will make on behalf of parents in the Richmond and Kingston area.

On our website you will find a template that you can use to make your submission – along with the links for submission. You will also find some guidelines and some prompt questions that you might find useful. http://www.sendfamilyvoices.org/send-reforms

3. Consultations: New SEN School Places – Meeting Notes available As promised in our last newsletter, the notes from the feedback meeting on this consultation are now available on our website (as well as al the other information. http://www.sendfamilyvoices.org/reports AfC’s full response to the parent feedback they received you can see here: https://5f2fe3253cd1dfa0d089bf8b2cdb6a1dc2999fecbc372702016c.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/uploads/ckeditor/attachments/3 452/AfC_response_to_SEND_places_consultation_responses.pdf Thank you everyone who contributed to this consultation.

4. New Council Cabinet and Portfolio members On 3rd May new councillors were elected and last week the new Cabinet Members and Portfolio holders were formally announced. Here’s who to talk to about services that affect our children and young people in:

Kingston Cllr Margaret Thompson who represents Chessington North and Hook ward is the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care.

E: margaret.thompson@kingston.gov.uk Cllr Diane White who represents St Mark’s ward is the Portfolio Holder for Children's Services (including education).

E: diane.white@kingston.gov.uk The full list of Kingston Portfolio Holders can be found here: https://www.kingston.gov.uk/news/article/733/kingston_council_s_portfolio_holders_announc ed

Richmond Cllr Piers Allen, who represents West Twickenham Ward, will be appointed as Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services and Health.

E: Cllr.PAllen@richmond.gov.uk The new Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Schools will be Cllr Penny Frost, who represents Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside ward.

E: Cllr.PFrost@richmond.gov.uk The full list of Richmond Cabinet Members can be found here: https://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx

5. Sources of help – Case Law, Legal Handbook, the Local Offer and more Case Law Directory The law in this country is tested (and proven or otherwise) in the courts; this is Case Law. “CDC’S case law digest service provides essential updates on the latest judicial decisions affecting disabled children and young people and those with SEN. The legal system can be an essential tool for disabled people and their families to challenge discrimination and ensure they receive the services to which they are entitled.

Please note: These updates are intended to provide general information. They cannot and do not provide advice in relation to individual cases. https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/our-work/social-care/policy/case-law-directory

Disabled children: a legal handbook… …”is an authoritative yet accessible guide to the legal rights of disabled children and their families in England and Wales. The handbook navigates the many, often overlapping, sources of law, explaining the difference between what public bodies must do to support disabled children and that which they may do. The handbook is published by Legal Action Group and CDC is delighted to make it free to download…” Follow this link: https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/help-resources/resources/disabled-children-legalhandbook-2nd-edition

Seminars for parent/carers “Action for Kids, together with the Advocacy and Support Partnership and leading law firm Irwin Mitchell, are delighted to present a series of flagship seminars for parents, carers and

professionals on issues related to special educational needs and disabilities. Their next Seminar will cover linking care plans with EHCPs, Supported Employment and carers rights.

Hear top lawyers and other experts speak on all these topics” 20th June – 10am to 2.30pm St Alban's Centre, Baldwin's Gardens London EC1N 7AB Cost for parent/carers is £15 and includes lunch. Bookings can be made here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/b-transition-to-adult-life-1-the-care-act-rights-to-social-caresupport-tickets-41852260237?mc_eid=92495ee101&mc_cid=325abfdb32 You can also find details of future seminars on the same site.

From the Local Offer This page contains resources and links to websites or organisations that have been suggested as useful by professionals or parents for use to support education. https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/education/usefuleducational-resources You said, we did - May 2018. This page includes parent/carer queries with the Local Offer replies (the law requires that the Local Offer to make queries and replies public - within the bounds of courtesy and decency) https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/find-out-more-aboutthe-local-offer/you-said-we-did-may-2018

A guide to making conversations with schools count for all families From Whole School SEND, in partnership with Ask, Listen, Do This leaflet, funded by the Department for Education and developed by families, is intended to help build a mutually respectful partnership between families and the school, college or other education settings. On occasion, relationships between families and schools are not as successful as they need to be. By building trust this can change and a new way of working together can be developed. http://www.sendgateway.org.uk/resources.nhs-england-ask-listen-do_1.html

6. SEND Futures - #1 and #2 #1 Richmond and Kingston SEND Futures Conference Achieving for Children are holding a conference for schools, parents and carers of children and young people with SEND in Kingston and Richmond and others involved in SEND - such as social care and health professionals, as well as the voluntary sector.

The conference will: • celebrate inclusion and diversity in our communities • consider progress made on implementing the SEND reforms • reflect on and learn from examples of best practice within our local area • continue the process of shaping and implementing changes required to improve experiences and outcomes for all children and young people with SEND in Kingston and Richmond Andre Imich, the Department for Education's SEN and Disability Adviser, will be the keynote speaker. Andre will be one of several influential speakers at the conference, and he will also facilitate an interactive session involving conference guests.

Tuesday 3rd July - all day (exact timings still to be confirmed) at the Stoop, Langhorn Drive, Twickenham, TW2 7SX There is no charge for the conference and lunch will be provided. We will let you know how you can book tickets in our newsletter next month.

#2 Calling all parents and carers with positive experiences of inclusion A theme of the conference will be promoting and celebrating good practice in inclusion and in joining up of services to support the child. As parents and carers’ we recognise the impact that excellent support and meaningful inclusion has on our children’s wellbeing and progress.

We would like to invite any parent who has a positive story to tell to contribute to the conference as a parent representative. You could either present your story live on the day, or have someone else present it for you, or we could arrange for a short video to be made. The presentation only needs to be 5 minutes or so in length.

We know that there are many good stories out there and we would really like these to be heard by our community as examples of what is possible.

If you would be interested in taking part, please could you contact us at E: SENDFamilyVoices@outlook.com

7. ASD/ADHD - Richmond NeuroDevelopmental (ND) pilot This is Richmond only - but it is ground-breaking – and therefore under scrutiny! This pilot is new – across London – and is the result of 1) co-production with parents/carers on their experience of the diagnostic process and 2) the need to save money. So… in theory, this proves the case that better, cheaper services can be delivered WHEN you involve the service users (ie families). The process will still not be perfect for these families, but it may be better than those that went before them experienced.

“Last year, Clinical Commissioning Groups in south west London got agreement to invest £500,000 in South West London & St George’s Mental Health Trust, to reduce the waiting times for autism assessments for children.

In Richmond we have been working with local families, our partners in children’s services and the voluntary sector to both understand how we can support and better meet the needs of local families and carers, to make best use of this increased funding.

We have now designed a new local route into specialist services to ensure that waiting times are reduced for those aged 6-18 with suspected autism (without complex co-morbid problems, such as additional physical and / or mental health problems.) This has been informed by feedback from a number of co-production events with our local parent groups, young people and professionals. By making these changes, our specialist services will be more locally accessible, and child and family centred.

Assessment is now available locally through a specialist clinic run by the Emotional Health Service in the borough of Richmond. Children and young people will be able to have their assessments locally rather than having to travel to hospital – which is what is important for parents/carers and children and young people. The specialist team providing the new local service is made up of mental health specialist nurses, speech and language therapists, a consultant clinical psychologist, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist and consultant paediatrician.

This new local service is being tested as a pilot and will run until April 2019. If this new pathway results in improved and timely access for patients to the necessary support, we will look to commission this local service in the longer term for local children and young people.”

Kingston and Richmond Clinical Commissioning Groups NHS South West London Alliance (Kingston, Richmond, Merton, Wandsworth & Sutton CCGs)

A 2nd floor, Thames House, 180 High Street, Teddington TW11 8HU

8. Starting Secondary School with SEND Secondary Transfer Events for parents and children with EHCPs in Richmond and Kingston Achieving for Children are organising two information events for Year 5 children with EHCPs and their parents on secondary transfer. There will be representatives from all the local secondary mainstream schools, the Specialist Resource Provisions (SRPs) and maintained special schools as well as information from Achieving for Children – all on the process for secondary transfer.

It will be an opportunity to talk informally to representatives of the schools. The SENCo’s will attend as well as at least one other member of staff - and we (SFV) have requested that if possible the schools also organise a parent or possibly a young person at the school who can give a personal perspective.

The events will aim to give parents and children more time to decide on an appropriate secondary placement in advance of the general open evenings and formal admissions process (these happen in the Autumn term of year 6).

This is the first time…

This is the first time that these events have been run and we would urge as many parents of children in year 5 as possible to attend. You should receive an invitation from Achieving for Children soon and more information should be available via your primary school. The events are: For Kingston children in Year 5 Monday 9th July 18:00 – 19:30 at Coombe Girls School. Clarence Ave, New Malden KT3 3TU For Richmond children in Year 5 Wednesday 11th July 18:00 – 19:30 at Orleans Park School, Richmond Rd, Twickenham TW1 3BB

9. ADHD: #1 and #2 #1 What everyone gets wrong about ADHD — and how it can be used as a superpower “Picture someone with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). You're probably imagining a person who is easily distracted, can barely sit still, and impulsively jumps from topic to topic at a hundred miles an hour.

For some people this is endearing, but for others, someone with ADHD sounds like their worst nightmare. But our preconceptions aren't always entirely correct. ADHD is simply another form of neurodiversity — which is the name for all the different ways our brains are wired.” http://uk.businessinsider.com/what-everyone-gets-wrong-about-having-adhd-20185?r=US&IR=T

#2 ADHD Richmond Club for 6yr olds - 16 yr olds “Your own Club, open to girls and boys with ADHD or high functioning ASD, across Richmond & Kingston. You can tell us what you want to make this great! We already have a computer room, café, pool table, gym, table-tennis & football, games, music & lights. Get advice & information from trained leaders” NB: Parents of under 11’s must stay & meet ADHD & ASD advisers. Parents of over 11’s may drop off or stay.

Mondays from 4 June - 3.45 to 5.15pm

Whitton Youth Zone, Britannia Lane, Whitton TW2 7JX Booking is essential.

E: communications@adhdrichmond.org

10. Mencap News – Kingston & Richmond Kingston All families in Kingston and Richmond are welcome to come along to the family workshops from Mencap Kingston. Today, they held a ‘Thinking Ahead’ workshop for families concerned about their young people’s future. You may have missed this workshop, but the guides are here: www.togethermatters.org.uk “ If you would like to be kept up-to-date on Mencap Kingston’s activities, or related local events, please contact Michelle on: T: 07745 814 050 E: michelle@kingstonmencap.org.uk

Richmond “Over the last few years Mencap Richmond has taken the lead on organising a big event in Richmond borough for Learning Disability Week. This year looks very different for us, so I am writing to let you know what we are planning‌â€?

In February National Mencap launched the Treat Me Well Campaign improving health care in hospitals for people with Learning Disabilities. We launched it locally on the same day and since then have been creating links with all the key partners and services in health. The campaign is for three years and we will be running with it over that time. https://www.mencap.org.uk/get-involved/learning-disability-week-2018 For more information, please contact Laura on: T: 020 8744 1923 E: laura@richmondmencap.org.uk

11.

Things to do đ&#x;˜Š

Let Me In There are a number of activities and events‌ take a look‌ “The Rose is committed to presenting work by, for and about young people with a range of physical, learning and sensory needs. Now in its 6th year, the Rose's inclusive festival Let Me In celebrates this work. The link below has more information.â€? https://www.rosetheatrekingston.org/whats-on/let-me-in

MeToo&Co’s Nature and Nurture Day “During half term, MeToo&Co are pleased to offer families a special family event: The event will take place at the Salopian Gardens in Isleworth. This is a lovely walled garden owned by the National Trust but leased to Cultivate London for community use. It has raised beds of vegetables and a wheelchair accessible polytunnel. The toilet facilities are fairly basic (think festival-style) and unfortunately not wheelchair accessible. There is no electricity, so this is a great opportunity to get the children off their technology over half term! “ Thursday 31st May - 11am to 4pm Salopian Gardens, Isleworth Booking is essential: https://metooandco.us9.listmanage.com/track/click?u=b9959c1a0a0f2cd81d66ad092&id=84c31b209a&e=c6206925cd

F*A*B You may well have seen this doing the rounds in social media – but just in case its passed you by…

“Microsoft to launch disability-friendly Xbox controller. The Xbox adaptive controller features two large buttons for hands, elbows or feet, as well as 19 ports to accommodate extra devices including mouth-operated ‘sip and puff’ quadsticks” https://www.theguardian.com/games/2018/may/17/microsoft-xbox-disability-friendlyadaptive-controller 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) T: 07469 746 145 E: sendfamilyvoices@outlook.com W: www.sendfamilyvoices.org