We’re still here, the Local Offer & more News 6th August 2016 Dear All Lots of news to absorb, plus go to the end for a giggle… (hee hee)
We’re here all summer… Just to let you know that you can contact SEND Family Voices all summer; SEND Family Voices are a parent led, volunteer collective. Our phone is still on and our e-mail is checked. Please do call or e-mail with any queries – and we’ll always try to find an answer (and usually do).
New - Joint Social Care team manager Welcome to Sophie Evans - the new Social Care Team Manager leading the social work teams at Moor Lane, Chessington and the Croft Centre, Kew within Achieving for Children for both Kingston and Richmond boroughs. If you have any questions for Sophie, please contact: E-mail: sophie.evans@achievingforchildren.org.uk Tel: 020 8547 6595 or 020 8831 6023
Autism – the need for services & support Many of you will know of Express CIC and their stated mission: 'creating a hub in the heart of the community, supporting young people with autism and their families, a place for everyone' SFV refer a lot of families to Express CIC; they offer a more autism focussed support groups and advice than anyone else locally. To help them achieve this goal, please take part in their survey (it took only four minutes when we did it). “Please be assured your details will not be passed on to any other organisation. Thank you.” https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ExpressEvidenceNeed
Richmond NAS NAS = National Autistic Society Each borough has its own branch. Here is the link for Richmond; of particular interest is their work on the Richmond Autism Strategy: http://www.richmondnas.org/our-branch-news.html
Government news… High Needs Funding - reforms “In a statement to Parliament on 21st July, the new Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening, announced the Government will be delaying plans to introduce major changes to the way schools and local authorities are funded. The changes will now be introduced in 2018/19, rather than 2017/18 as originally planned. The written statement indicates that the Government remains committed to redistributing funds from higher-funded authorities to lower-funded areas.”
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/schools-funding
Apprenticeships: improving access for people with learning disabilities “Written by Paul Maynard on behalf of BIS, DfE and DWPDate 21 Jul 2016. This report gives the recommendations of the Government-appointed task force on apprenticeships for people with learning disabilities.” http://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/help-resources/resources/apprenticeshipsimproving-access-people-learning-disabilities?mc_cid=59433d6bad&mc_eid=9610610f0b
School Census “Information from the school census on pupils with special educational needs (SEN), and SEN provision in schools. This statistical first release (SFR) provides analyses on the characteristics of pupils by their: level of SEN provision - education, health and care (EHC) plan or SEN Support type of SEN” https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england-january2016?mc_cid=59433d6bad&mc_eid=9610610f0b
Kidsrated! Activities rated by children and young people. Link below for their SEND pages: http://kidrated.com/specialneeds/?utm_content=buffere0631&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_cam paign=buffer
#summer Search #summer in the Local Offer to find out what is going on in the summer holidays https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/site_search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search_site%5Bterm%5D=%2 3Summer
What’s new on the Local Offer Please reply to this survey to continue to improve OUR Local Offer: https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/613-local-offer-website-satisfaction-survey Richmond Council are consulting on the proposed model for the future of Learning Disability respite support in Richmond-upon-Thames. Take part… https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/607-richmond-respite-care-consultation Preparing for Adulthood advice on… “positive life outcomes for all young people with opportunities to succeed in education and work, to live independently and healthily, to have relationships and friendships and be included and involved in their communities.” https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/629-workforce-development-a-guide-for-useby-employers-and-professionals Department of Education (DfE) are inviting all those with experience of EHC Plans to complete an anonymous survey. https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/617-ehc-experience-survey Makaton Training for parents and professionals https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/625-makaton-training-for-parents-andprofessionals
Latest letter from the Head of the Integrated Services for Children with Disabilities (ISCD) https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/615-letter-from-head-of-integrated-servicefor-children-with-disabilities From the South West London and St Georges NHS Trust - advice to families https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/616-warning-about-the-gap-diet-autism-adhd How to use the Local Offer; this page is in development, all feedback welcome! https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/find-out-more-about-the-local-offer/how-touse-the-local-offer-website
TAG Youth Club “TAG Youth Club for Disabled Young People is an independent organisation which relies on grants and donations to continue its work in supporting young people with disabilities, who either live, learn or earn in the Royal Borough of Kingston or the London Borough of Richmond.
TAG Future Our Management Committee met last Wednesday to discuss and decide our future direction as an organisation. We had 3 options to choose from: 1. AfC take over the management of the club. 2. We become a registered charity. 3. The Club closes. A considerable amount of time was taken so we could look at the pro's and con's of each option. The Members voted unanimously in favour of option 2 as the Management felt the club could better serve young people being independent however how this would be delivered has to be looked into further. Please let us know if you are able to support the club with professional help or financial support including fundraising.” Venue: TAG Youth Club, Ham Youth Centre, Ham Close, Ham, Richmond, TW10 7PL E-mail: tagyouthclub@hotmail.co.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TAG-Youth-Club-1488760748092537/
Things people with Downs Syndrome are tired of hearing… hee hee… just over four minutes long… https://www.facebook.com/bbcthree/videos/10153949919445787/ 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