United Nations, Open Meetings and Merlin 15th May 2015
Dear All More news... United Nations “See it, Say it, Change it” In 1991 the UK government made a promise to the United Nations (UN) that it would make sure children have their rights by agreeing to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The CRC gives children over 40 major rights including the right to have a say in decisions; the right to be safe and free from violence; the right to stay in touch with the people who are important and the right to play and take part in activities. CRAE’s (The Children’s Rights Alliance) “See It, Say It, Change It” project will help children and young people tell the UN their side of the story, and campaign for things to change. This year the UN wants to hear about what life is really like for different groups of children and young people living in England and whether their rights are being met. One (disabled) young person in Richmond Borough is involved in the CRAE steering group and has been tasked with helping the group with its research and has chosen to focus particularly on the views of disabled children and young people. We are sending the link to this survey out on her behalf and on behalf of CRAE. Please could you ask your child or young person to complete the form if they would like their views on their rights to be heard- it is fine to help them with it if they need it - but it is for children and young people to complete not their parents. The deadline for the survey is Friday 22 May. The link to the survey is here https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Seeitsayit CRAE will take all the information they receive from this survey and write a report, which they will give to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in July 2015. What they tell the UN will put pressure on the Government to make things better for children and young people in England. You can read more about CRAE's “See It, Say It, Change it” project and children’s rights here The Young Champions are making films The Richmond and Kingston Young Champions (coordinated by Tom Quilter (tom.quilter@achievingforchildren.org.uk) are conducting an extended consultation among young people and children in 6 schools to get their thoughts on the Local Offer and how it could be improved. They are aiming to get input from around 350 children and young people through this process. The Young Champions are also aiming to make a series of videos over the half term holiday that will be available through the Young People’s Zone on the Local Offer website to help explain aspects of the SEND reforms. The topics they are planning to cover are:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
An introduction to the SEND reforms and why they have come about An introduction to the SEND champions and partnership working The Education, Health and Care Plans Post sixteen changes The Local Offer Personal budgets …and possibly, How to write outcomes
For now, you can read more about the Young Champions here: http://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/young-people-s-zone SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities, Information & Advice Support Services) A message from Richmond Aid… “Dear Parents / Carers, The access Children and Families advice and information service was included in the recent Achieving for Children SENDIASS tender. Richmond AID did bid for this with a partner organisation but sadly were not successful. The service provided by Richmond AID included Lena Vantol’s Advice and Information Co-ordinators role and Yvonne Baxtrem’s Benefits Advice to Children and families role. We will finish delivery on 31st May 2015. The clarification period ended on 11th May and the transfer date to the new organisation ‘KIDS’ is on 1st June 2015. KIDS is a national organisation who provide services such as Keyworking, SEND IASSs (formally Parent Partnership Services) and SEN Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Services. We anticipate there will be minimal disruption to services. The new Richmond and Kingston SENDIASS service will include advice and information, benefits advice (for children), and the former Parent Partnership service. Richmond AID would like to thank all parents, carers and young people that have accessed our service over the years. We will continue to provide the Independent Support Partnership advising parents, carers and young people on the transfer from statements to Education, Health and Care plans. We will also be continuing our Benefits Advice Service to adults which parents and carers can access. We will let you know contact details for the new SEND IASS service as soon as we have them. Kind regards Lucy Byrne, Chief Executive, 020 8831 6077
l.byrne@richmondaid.org.uk ”
The Last of the Open Meetings Anna Chiva, Head of SEN, has attended every single meeting; so if you haven’t come along yet and have questions to ask, please come. Details are of the last meetings are:
Friday 15th May
12.30pm to 2pm
Thursday 21st May
10.30am to 12noon
Moor Lane Centre Meeting Room 1 Chessington, KT9 2AA
Downs Syndrome Assoc, Langdon Down Ctr 2a Langdon Park Teddington, TW11 9PS
Romany & Prisca Anna Chiva & Eamonn Gilbert Janelle Ihaia (IS - E) Romany & Penny Anna Chiva Jackie Grimes (IS - E)
Transport Following on from our paragraph on Travel Training last week, and in response to queries raised at the Open Meetings, we include the link for the Transport Policies for Kingston and Richmond. The policies are quite different (it’s worth doing a ‘compare and contrast’) and both policies are due for a review. http://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/education/sen-transport Aiming High & Short Breaks We’ve had a number of queries about the changes in Short Breaks and Aiming High – in particular eligibility criteria. We’re pleased to say that Caroline Jager, who manages these services, is keen to meet families and answer questions directly – and dates for these meetings will be published soon. In the meantime, please ask for leaflets on the ‘Enhanced Ratio’ and ‘Inclusion Grant’ which contain contact details for further queries. Merlin From now until March 2016 Achieving for Children are offering an Annual Family Merlin Pass each month through a lottery based system. If your child has additional needs, is between 3 & 18 years of age and receives DLA, you can apply to put your child’s name into the lottery draw for each month. Please see ask for details and application form. As ever, if you have any queries at all, please ask and I'll do my best to find an answer. With best wishes, Romany RSFV phone: 07469 746 145