The future, puberty, rochford & lots of links

The Future, Puberty, Rochford & Lots of Links 23rd October 2016 Dear All Contributing to the Children & Young People’s Plan matters. We make no apology for reminding you of this…

Shaping services for children and young people Flyers will be dropping through your doors over half-term. Please take the opportunity to contribute (it may affect our families for the next four years) We are holding two open, informal discussions in Kingston and Richmond about what would make the biggest difference to families of children and young people with special educational needs & disabilities (SEND). * The results will go into the new Kingston & Richmond Children and Young People Plan for 2017-2020.

It doesn’t matter which meeting you come to – the plan is for both boroughs. If you would like to comment, but can’t make it to either meeting, please contact us (call, text or e-mail).

To help us with our numbers please let us know if you will be attending the discussions.

Monday 14th November 12noon to 2pm (light lunch at 12.30pm) The Strada, 1 Griffin Centre, Market Place, Kingston, KT1 1JT Tuesday 22nd November 7pm to 9pm (cakes and hot drinks) The Terrace Room, York House, Twickenham, TW2 3AA This plan will be used to direct commissioners and providers in terms of what they should be doing for our children, and how best they could achieve this.

These consultations are your opportunity to shape local services and support for children, young people and their families over the next four years. What we discuss at the meetings will provide depth and feeling to the information collected via the on-line surveys.

There are considerable financial constraints over the next few years – so it is important to have your say. * In addition, most of the disability specific support groups, in both boroughs, will be doing the same during November. If you are a member of Express CIC, NAS, Phyz, Richmond Dyslexia, 21andCo etc… look out for their requests.

Links to the online surveys are here…

Richmond: https://consultation.richmond.gov.uk/afc/cypp16 Kingston: www.kingston.gov.uk/cypp

Preparing for Adulthood This is one of our favourite websites. The funding for this programme came before the SEND Reforms (Education, Health & Care Plans etc) became law. The Preparing for Adulthood programme (PfA) is funded by the Department for Education as part of the delivery support for the SEN and disability reforms. http://www.preparingforadulthood.org.uk/ Their latest newsletter is here: http://us9.campaignarchive1.com/?u=93ca41ab24380caf57761bd37&id=14b6f83047&e=60f4a5767d

Puberty & Sexuality We are arranging two workshops with Mark Brown, at Special Help for Special Needs. Mark runs events on sexuality and puberty – and we find this is a common query for families.

We have booked the workshops for Thursday 8th December (10am-12noon and 7pm-9pm); and we are still organising the venues. It would help our planning to gauge the level of interest.

Please let us know if you would be interested and able to attend this workshop (with the party season approaching, there are a lot of young people with SEND who get into trouble...)

New Free (special) Schools You may recall that the Auriga Trust (multi-academy trust) has been approved by the DfE. The Auriga Trust combines both Clarendon and Strathmore special schools. The next stage was to submit the application for funding for the new special schools – this was submitted at the end of September.

The Auriga Trust now wait until (probably) February 2017 before they hear whether, or not, their application to provide new special schools for Kingston & Richmond (under the Aurgia Trust) is approved.

Be sure… we will pass on any confirmations as soon as we have them.

The Rochford Review - lots “In July 2015 the Minister for Schools established an independent review of statutory assessment arrangements for pupils working below the standard of national curriculum tests at key stages 1 and 2. The review group was chaired by Diane Rochford and is known as The Rochford Review. The final report’s recommendations to Government include:  the removal of the statutory requirement to use P scales to assess pupils with SEND who are working below the standard  that the interim pre-key stage standards for pupils working below the standard of national curriculum tests are made permanent and extended to include all pupils engaged in subject-specific learning  that schools assess pupils’ development in all four areas of need outlined in the SEND Code of Practice, but statutory assessment for pupils who are not engaged in subject-specific learning should be limited to the area of cognition and learning” The announcement: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/primary-education

The full report: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rochford-review-final-report

From some commentators: The Rochford Review, published last week, has recommended to drop the statutory requirement to use performance scales (p scales) to assess pupils and called for the statutory introduction of "engagement scales" for pupils with severe learning difficulties.

The report states: “The view of the review group members is that P-scales carry such a range of problems and challenges that it is better to stop using them and start afresh with a new approach to statutory assessment.” https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/rochford-review-changes-sendassessment-could-lower-expectations “The final report of The Rochford Review of statutory assessment arrangements for pupils working below the standard of national curriculum tests was published earlier in the week.” http://www.specialneedsjungle.com/testing-children-send-rochford-review/ “The British Dyslexia Association welcome the news that plans to make pupils resit SATS tests has been axed. The BDA however will be asking for more detail on how the Minister's desire that children not reaching the expected level in literacy, will get the right help.” http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/news/item/name/bda-view-on-the-news-that-plans-tomake-pupils-resit-sats-have-been-axed

What’s new on the Local Offer Mencap have launched a brilliant, new, modern awareness raising campaign. Take care… the opening few seconds are shocking. (full video is just 1 minute) https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/711-hereiam And more from Mencap… https://www.mencap.org.uk/blog/here-i-am-sarah The Curly Haired Project (CHP) aim to improve understanding and communication between women and girls on the autistic spectrum (and their neurotypical loved ones) https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/organisations/8055-the-curly-hair-projectltd?term=curly+haired+project Kids SENDIASS are keen that you make the most of their Information Service. NB: Whilst this is described as a Social Care Information & Advice Service (IAS), it does not provide statutory services, and is a general information service commissioned by Achieving for Children to support families. SENDIASS also provides support with applying for Education, Health & Care Plans. https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/699-kids-sendiass-and-what-they-can-do-foryou

More Links…

A sensible blog from a young person… http://www.simplyemma.co.uk/how-to-survive-a-long-haul-flight-as-a-wheelchairuser/?utm_content=buffere0e0f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_camp aign=buffer

A nugget for Bonfire Night… http://www.cbtrust.org.uk/national-burn-awareness-day/?platform=hootsuite True Access brings a social hub for young adults aged 18-38 with mild to moderate learning disabilities, physical disabilities or other additional needs. http://www.trueaccess.co.uk/limitless-adult-hub/ The MASSIVE Mental Wellbeing Toolkit for schools and colleges has been launched… https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/measuring-and-monitoring-children-and-youngpeople-s-mental-wellbeing-a-toolkit-for-schools-11387435 We haven’t yet examined this site – and would welcome your comments. “We asked parents about their experience of the EHC process. They said what they liked and wanted from EHC process delivery.” http://ehcpjourneys.com/

Light festival (free) “Come and experience Orleans House Gallery after dark in a celebration of light! Enjoy a willow lantern display, a light trail through the woods and have a go at light festival art activities.

Thursday 3rd November 2016 - 5pm to 7pm Orleans House Gallery, Riverside, Twickenham, TW1 3DJ For more information please email artsinfo@richmond.gov.uk or Tel: 0208 831 6000 “ We rang the organisers and can tell you this event is held in The Stable courtyard - it’s all level (so we’re assured its wheelchair accessible). The lighting outside the courtyard is a bit limited due to building works. However, if your young person is likely to find the event all too much, they can escape into the gardens (but bring a torch!!). There is limited free parking outside The Stables, and the parking restrictions in the nearby roads are lifted at 4.30pm.

We feature accessible events as we find them (or events that look like fun – we call and ask) – and we find the Richmond Council website is easier to follow than Kingston’s. If you know of a mainstream event that is also accessible, please let us know.

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