Therapies, Further Education & Good News 17th November 2017 Dear All Please do come along to one of the Therapies consultations if you can – these will be open and honest meetings. We’ve written about local events and news, more on the very busy national news and announcements over the weekend. Including feedback on the MP’s SEND Forum on Friday 1st December.
Let’s Talk Therapies SaLT, OT and Physiotherapy Therapies is a hot topic – there is never seems to be enough, and we know there is limited funding. Over three meetings, we will be joined by a mix of the Speech & Language Therapists for Your Healthcare, Kingston. Also, Claire Schneider (Clinical Service manager for Paediatric Therapies, Richmond) and Heather Anderson (Health & Therapies manager, Kingston). The plan is to talk about what families need and want – and what therapists would like to provide – and to explore (and hopefully agree) common priorities. We know it’s a busy time of year… please do come along if you can. Please book via: events@sendfamilyvoices@outlook.com
Parent/Carers only: Monday 4th December - 10am to 12noon at DoubleTree Hilton,1 Skerne Road, Kingston, KT2 5FJ Monday 4th December - 7pm to 9pm at DoubleTree Hilton,1 Skerne Road, Kingston, KT2 5FJ
Young People only (with Christmas goodie bag): Thursday 14th December - 7pm to 9pm at DoubleTree Hilton,1 Skerne Road, Kingston, KT2 5FJ
DCT…. Wot’s that then? DCT = Disabled Children’s Team One of the most common queries we get is about the specialist social workers and family support workers from the DCT. Why? Because it’s confusing and hard to understand from outside the system. And… do you know how to place your child on the DCT register? What does that mean? Our first meeting was small, but nonetheless very useful for all that came. We will cover How do you work? What is the eligibility? What are the options?
Thursday 7th December - 10am to 12.30pm at York House, Richmond Rd, Twickenham, TW1 3AA The meeting will be informal. You don’t have to book, but it helps us if you do. E: events@sendfamilyvoices.org
SEND Forum with local MPs - 1st December Ruils and SEND Family Voices are jointly facilitating this opportunity for parents, carers and young people to address their concerns directly to local MPs Vince Cable and Ed Davey (unfortunately Zac Goldsmith is unable to attend) Over 100 are already booked to attend this Friday, there are a very few places left. Please book via: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/send-forum-tickets-38335644946
Further Education (FE) 16+ Parent’s evening – 12th December - hold the date! This event is the first to be held to promote our local FE colleges to parents and we hope it will prove successful. We would like to thank Eamonn and Amanda at Achieving for Children for their help in organising this event with the colleges. Thursday 12th December – 7pm to 8.30pm Langdon Down Centre, Teddington, TW11 9PS This weekend’s newsletter will give you more detail. In the meantime, for any immediate questions, please contact Prisca on: Prisca@sendfamilyvoices.org
Section A of the Education, Health & Care Plan “The SEND Team has been receiving feedback that the Section A EHCP template is proving difficult to use due to some formatting issues. We have looked at this and hopefully corrected the problem. The improved version is available on the Local Offer: https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/assessment-andeducation-health-and-care-planning/golden-binder-needs-assessment-education-healthand-care-plans-ehcp-processes-guidance-forms-and-templates EHC A - EHCP Template Section A - version for printing (pdf) EHC A - EHCP Template Section A - electronic version (Word) We apologise for any frustration caused by the previous version. “
Santa and the MeToo&Co AGM 2017 “We are delighted to invite you to our 2017 AGM and sincerely hope you can join us. We will be providing entertainment for the whole family before the AGM and a crèche for the children during the AGM. This needs to be booked in advance, so please confirm your place on our website now.” Friday 8th December – 10am to 12.30pm MeToo&Co, the Crossway Centre, Twickenham, TW1 2PD E: info@metooandco.org.uk W: https://www.metooandco.org.uk/activity/87/agm-2017/838#event-838
Christmas Coffee from Express CIC “Please do come along for an informal coffee and mince pie - well it is Christmas đ&#x;˜Š Catch up with our progress to date, find out about our groups and services for young people on the autism spectrum and their families. Meet and chat to other parents and carers.â€? 14th December – 11am to 12.30pm The Rose Theatre, Kingston KT1 1HL Please book tickets https://express141217.eventbrite.co.uk/
Christmas Coffee from NAS Richmond “It's nearly Christmas time, so do drop in and join us for a cuppa, plus a mince pie (or two). This is also your opportunity to meet new people, share experiences and information and to be with others who understand what it is really like to live with someone who has an autism spectrum condition.â€? Friday 15th December - 10.30am to 12.00 noon ‌at the Crossway Centre, Twickenham TW1 2PD For a creche place, please contact Fiona: T: 07946 646 033 E: info@metooandco.org.uk
Research request – from local parent “I am a researcher at King's college, London. We are looking to recruit mums in London (or surrounding areas) aged 18-50, with a history of depression (particularly) or post-natal depression but are currently well OR mums who have never suffered from depression. You would be asked to come to King’s College London for assessments and a free MRI brain scan. We are also offering ÂŁ50 to each participant and a fun picture of their brain as a thank you for their time and will reimburse travel expenses. N.B. This study has been ethically approved by NRES Committee London- Chelsea (REC Reference Number, 14/LO/0650) If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Thanks a lot, any help would be appreciated! warmest regards, Lauraâ€? brcred@kcl.ac.uk
Christmas & the Local Offer The Local Offer is THE online repository for information, events and queries for all SEND related matters. • For Families – please keep checking the Local Offer pages or ask via the Contact Us page for information. • For Providers – please contact the Local Offer to make sure your events are listed! E: sendlocaloffer@achievingforchildren.org.uk W: www.afcinfo.org.uk/local_offer
Some current listings‌ Kingston Mencap Christmas Fayre - 2nd December
https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/local_offer/events/26334-kingston-mencap-christmasfayre?date=2017-12-02 Superhero Series Winter Wonderwheels – 3rd December https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/local_offer/events/25412-superhero-series-winterwonderwheels?date=2017-12-03 Chirpy Cheeps Christmas Concert – 8th December https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/local_offer/events/26290-chirpy-cheeps-christmasconcert?date=2017-12-08 Alice in Winterland – 7th December https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/local_offer/events/25917-alice-in-winterland?date=2017-12-07 Kingston Children’s Literary Festival – dates through to December 16th https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/local_offer/events/26213-kingston-children-s-literaryfestival?date=2017-11-25 Natural History Museum – Accessible Ice Skating – dates through to January 6th https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/events/26224-natural-history-museum-accessible-iceskating?date=2017-12-06
Information, Advice & Support Independent Supporters can work with you and your child to ensure that your voices are heard. They offer a free, friendly, flexible service for families and young people. They offer support when you have applied for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for your child or your child has a Statement that is transferring to an EHCP The page gives more information on who to call https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/assessment-andeducation-health-and-care-planning/independent-supporters
KIDS SEND Information, Advice and Support Service …offer the services above and help with benefits. “We’d like to invite parents and young people to pop in to our friendly ‘getting to know you’ day. Have an informal chat over a tea or coffee. Find out who we are, what we do, and how we might support you with any concerns you may have about special educational needs, or benefits. We’d love to meet you, do please feel welcome to come see us!” Getting to know you… Wednesday 13th December – 11am to 3pm The Moor Lane Centre, Chessington KT9 2AA
Home Care in Kingston It’s possible many of our young people may receive this kind of care in the future. Read on… “We invite you (and carer as required) to take part in a discussion about plans to change the way Home Care is provided in Kingston. The Royal Borough of Kingston Council has been working with other health and social care providers across Kingston to improve the way support is provided. We want to provide a service that addresses some of the key things that home care service users in Kingston have said is important to them, such as dignity, consistency, choice and control, and support to access other services in the community.
Please complete this very short online survey by Wednesday 27 December. “ https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/N75MTM5
Good News We’ll write some more about this at the weekend… We went to the National Conference for parent/carer forums earlier this week. There were several announcements from the Department of Education. This one got the most applause! Plans for the next two years are… “There is to be a change to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). QTS will not be given until after 2 years of practice – and that will include evidence that the teacher can cope and work well with pupils with SEND.” 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