Your views make a difference, Chocolate & Cats 2nd April 2016 Dear All There is a general theme about your views, taking part and being heard… (chocolate and cats is the jolly bit at the end)
Feeding back on the Local Offer… Kingston & Richmond’s Local Offer website was the subject of a recent London-wide peer review; attendees were asked to come up with a good example and all cited www.afclocaloffer.org.uk Well done to all the parents who contributed to the on-line development group via SEND Family Voices last year. A big pat on the back for co-production! So… let’s keep our Local Offer website alive… Please use the feedback page to comment on any aspect of the Local Offer. That can be any services that are, or are not, included. Or perhaps a particular provision isn’t very well explained? With the exception of specific service complaints & vexatious comments; the Local Offer must publish and respond to insufficiencies within the Local Offer (this may be insufficient services or information about them). Karen Lowry (Local Offer Content manger) is always pleased to receive feedback; Karen is interested, responsive and enjoys improving the content of this website. Please send your feedback on the Local Offer, and know that your questions will be published and answered (to the benefit of us al): https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/enquiries/new
Transformation of SEND funding – help please A couple of weeks ago, we included this: "Today [7th March] the Government has launched the first stage of its consultation on national funding formulae for high needs and schools, and on other high needs funding reforms.” The consultation proposes to change the spread of high needs funding – in theory to equalise it across different boroughs - using a complex formula.
This is a major transformation! All parents, carers and young people are invited to participate; deadline is 17th April 2016.
Having started to read this, we’d like to run an on-line forum for the next fortnight, via e-mail, to compose a collective parent/carer’s view across Kingston & Richmond.
There are fourteen questions to answer in the consultation, each has some context. The answers are Yes or No with the opportunity for additional comments. Having done a number of these – we know our views are taken into account so it is worth investing the time.
Please reply to this e-mail if you would like to be a part of this on-line forum. You can find both the consultation document, and the consultation itself here: https://consult.education.gov.uk/funding-policy-unit/schools-national-funding-formula
SEN Transport A quick update from the Transport team… they are going to produce the first draft of the parent guidance w/c 4th April. Once they have a workable draft they are happy with; they will share this with the SEN Transport steering group (two parents from Kingston, two from Richmond) for comment and amendment. Once everyone is happy, the guidance will be put onto the Local Offer. Also, please note the SEN Transport team will soon be writing out to parents, as part of the summer review to confirm arrangements for each child in September; at that point every family will receive a copy of the parent guidance. This is usual for Kingston, but is a first for Richmond.
Clarendon & Strathmore Multi Academy Trust Extended deadline – 22nd April The two specialist schools named above are proposing to join forces as a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT). Attached is the consultation brochure. This is also being sent to all schools in Richmond and Kingston, to all Clarendon and Strathmore parents and staff. In the current financial climate, this could be a real ‘good news story’ for families of children and young people with SEND, in that they are looking to provide outstanding education and support as locally as possible.
Newhouse Centre - Richmond The Richmond & Twickenham Times reported last week that this specialist school is under review. We asked some questions, and have this… We all know that we are living in times of financial constraint and there is plenty of discussion around the future of Newhouse. Families at the school are being consulted on how the school's future will affect their children. We (SEND Family Voices) are absolutely certain that the Headteacher and the Governors are determined that, before any final decisions are made, there will be comprehensive transition arrangements in place for both the pupils and their families. This means the that the Head of the Centre (Dave Francis) is involved in all those arrangements and that the welfare of the young people is the first priority.
New! for families of children with physical disabilities We’re delighted that this new support group is already attracting interest. Both Penny & Sylvie are part of SEND Family Voices, and MeToo&Co are hosting.
MeToo&Co also offer a crèche service for under 5s for anyone wishing to come to the meeting. Places are limited so please book in advance: E: info@metooandco.org.uk T: 07946 646033. The first ever meeting is: Friday 22nd April - 10:00 to 12:00 The CrossWay Centre, East Twickenham, Richmond Road TW1 2PD “We are 3 local parents of children with physical disabilities who feel that there is a need for a place where we can meet and chat and support each other. Children with physical disabilities and their families have a particular range of things to deal with and we felt that a way of connecting families and sharing experiences would be useful. Most importantly when we get together we can laugh about some of the mad situations that we find ourselves in and we can celebrate our wonderful kids. This group is new so it can become anything we want it to. We hope you’ll come along and be part of it. Penny, Stacey & Sylvie Please contact Penny on webphb@btinternet.com if you’d like to come and if you want to know more or have any questions or suggestions. We will provide refreshments.”
The future of SEN provision This conference is free and open to all parents, carers and schools in Richmond and Kingston. Tuesday 26th April – 1.30pm to 4.30pm Lensbury Conference Centre, Teddington This conference will address the following: Plans for SEN provision in Richmond and Kingston over the next 3 years (including new provision in mainstream and specialist schools) A new resource (co-produced by parents) to guide parents and professionals through the processes involved in getting support for a child with SEN (Early Years, SEN Support, EHCPs). This will be available to take away Some examples of how Achieving for Children works in partnership with parents and schools - get involved! A brief outline of the new SEND Ofsted / CQC inspections due to start this year. What the inspectors will look for. How parents, young people, professionals and schools contribute? What will change as a result? A flyer is attached, please follow this link to book a place: https://www.afccpdonline.co.uk/education/courses/bookings/c_detail.asp?cid=3339 Places are limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis. For more information, please contact Simon James, Associate Director, Special Educational Needs and Disability E: simon.james@achievingforchildren.org.uk
News… 1. “A showcase event is taking place on Saturday 16 April 2016. Please come and join in with rugby, wheelchair basketball, football, dance, tennis, Boccia and other activities too. There
will also be the opportunity to find out about other sport and exercise activities going on in and around the local area.” Date: Saturday 16 April Time: 10.00am – 3.00pm Venue: Teddington Sports Centre, Teddington School, Broom Road, Teddington, TW11 9PJ A full timetable of the day will be available at: www.richmond.gov.uk/RISE 2. “Richmond Council and Richmond Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are refreshing the carers strategy and we want to hear from carers across the borough to better understand how support is currently accessed for you in your caring role and what services are important to you.” Deadline: 8th April 2016 To complete the survey, please click here 3. “Ofsted has just published a report called Moving Forward that found that too many young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are poorly prepared for adult life. The report explored the early implementation of the Children and Families Act 2014, which extended statutory protections for education up to the age of 25 where needed.” http://www.specialneedsjungle.com/post-16-send-education-postcode-lottery/ 4. “Duty of care for disabled people in UK not being met, say [House of Lords] peers” Just in case you missed this… http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/mar/24/duty-of-care-for-disabled-people-in-uknot-being-met-say-peers?CMP=share_btn_link
What’s new on the Local Offer New content and documents to these pages – read the link names to see the content: https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/preparing-for-adulthood/preparingfor-employment https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/education/post-16education/funding-post-16-placements https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/education/university https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/leisure-activities-and-shortbreaks/accessibility-and-facilities-in-the-local-area https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/489-express-promoting-autismawareness-and-understanding https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/information-and-advice/achievingfor-children-parenting-support/parenting-programme And… the Local Offer has anew Wiki online application form (complete with explanations of what a Wiki is) https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/assessment-and-education-health-and-careplanning/about-wiki-s-and-how-to-get-one
Council for Disabled Children (CDC) Digest “We've had a very busy end to the financial year with lots of government announcements, consultations and funding news. So to ease you into the holiday's we've pulled together all the latest news to get you up to speed. In this issue you have: Guest blog from Sean Harford, National Director at Ofsted, on the new local area inspections starting in May; An informative piece from A/DCI Mark Hine from the Metropolitan Police on how to identify and respond to Child Sex Exploitation;
A spotlight on one of the latest project from NHS England called Transforming Care Partnerships; Barrister, Steve Broach's review of the latest case law coming through SEND Tribunal News from nasen on the launch of their FREE CPD training for all classroom teams; All this along with the usual updates on policy announcements, consultations, training, events and resources.”
nasen = national association special educational needs CPD = continued professional development http://www.councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/resources/spring-digest2016?mc_cid=4a4ff4d8f3&mc_eid=7dbeace220
World Autism DAY – 2nd April… “Imagine having all five senses multiplied by one hundred. Many people with autism, myself included, have never experienced complete silence.” http://themighty.com/2016/03/beth-hiatt-student-autism-writes-powerful-article-schoolmagazine
World Autism Month – April events See Express CIC events at the Rose Theatre on 28th April – lots going on… http://www.expresscic.org.uk/events.html We also found plenty on the Richmond NAS (National Autistic Society) events page…. http://www.richmondnas.org/activities-and-events.html
Chocolate & Cats… People who eat chocolate at least once a week see their memory and abstract thinking improve, researchers say… (just think of all those chocolate eggs…) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/12187042/Chocolate-makes-you-smarterstudy-suggests.html?platform=hootsuite How a cat enabled an autistic six-year-old to communicate (1.38 minute video)… http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35797084 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