Weekly SEND Parent/Carer Update

School

Read the latest COVID guidance on Gov.uk and local guidance on North East Lincolnshire Council’s website.

Read this Department for Education post on returning to school on March 8.

Follow the Department for Education on social media for back-to-school updates.

This week attendance at school by children with an EHCP Plan was 45.9% nationally and 54.8% locally.

Contact Jennifer.steel@nelincs.gov.uk if you have a query about school exclusions.

Wellbeing at school

Compass is working with most local schools to provide support for student’s emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Work has been done on sleep, anxiety, stress and many other relevant topics.
Making your child aware of what support is available to them can help them feel more at ease as they transition back into school.

School Nursing Service. Confidential and anonymous support for young people (11-19 years old) weekdays 9am to 5pm. Text 07507 331620
Self-help menu for teens
They can access anonymous, free counselling, information, live forums, and more on Kooth
See Anna Freud’s video on supporting young people through disruption

Feeling comfortable with COVID

Do you want a prompt or guide to help explain the virus, hand washing, face masks, COVID changes or something else? There are easy read guides for children and young people of various ages and needs on the Local Offer COVID-19 Advice and Guidance page.
Young Minds has some simple points for teens and young people that can help combat anxiety and develop a healthy understanding of the pandemic like ‘get the facts’ and ‘don’t over expose yourself’.
Young minds also has a guide for parents about speaking to your child about COVID.

SEND Surveys extended

The SEND surveys have been extended until 8 March.

We really need more responses from chidlren and young people. It only takes a few minutes. Tell us what you think of our local services in the SEND Annual Survey. Every year is different so please share your views.

I am a parent or carer
I am a child or young person

You can also find these on the SEND Local Offer, ‘Have your say’ section.

Health

If parents and have any queries or have any health queries, please email designatedclinicalofficer@nelincs.gov.uk.

What’s new on the Local Offer?

Favourite the SEND Local Offer on your browser!

See some updates from this week below.

Parent/ Carers

If you are a parent carer please remember that you can register with your GP as a carer. You can also access information, advice, and support with the Carers Support Centre.

Competition!

Who doesn’t love a competition? Get creative, be inspirational, showcase your creativity and personality through creative writing, photography or something digital like a podcast. Find out more.

North East Lincolnshire Parents Participation (NELPPF)

Follow the North East Lincolnshire Parents Participation forum on Facebook.
See NELPPF on the Local Offer.

Email: nelppf@gmail.com
Telephone: 07583 474892

Useful contacts

The Sector Support ‘Community Service Fact Sheet’ has an extensive list of community support available for money, food, wellbeing, welfare and more.
See the Voluntary Sector Alliance COVID-19 updates page for more on financial support, health and wellbeing, local updates, COVID updates, community safety, volunteering and more.
• Report a concern online or call 01472 326292 (opt. 2)
• Support for those isolating without anyone to support them for supplies and more call the Council (01472) 313131
• Health – if you are struggling to manage your symptoms, call 111. If you are in urgent need of medical assistance, call 999
• Domestic Abuse (women and men). NEL Women’s Aid (01472) 575757, and Men’s Helpline, 0808 8010327
• Wellbeing – if you are struggling with your mental health, call (01472) 256256
• Carers’ Support Service (support for informal carers). Go online or call (01472) 242277

Y.P.A.G

The Young Person’s Advisory Group is restarting. This is a group for young people aged 11-25 who have Special Educational Needs.
The group will meet once a month for an hour to get involved in activities and interact with other children and young people with SEND. There is a group for primary and a separate group for secondary students and young people.
If you would like to be involved in a fun, online (during COVID) social activity and engagement group please contact lauren.thompson2@nelincs.gov.uk.

Thank you!

Our SEN Team want to say a huge thank you to parents of children who have recently had an EHCP Annual Review and are waiting for their paperwork. The SEN Team acknowledge that they have an EHCP Annual review backlog due to COVID and capacity. We are so grateful for your patience and understanding as we work hard to get up to date.

If you’re worried about any aspect of this please contact sen@nelincs.gov.uk.

We encourage regular communication if you have a query or feel your child is not getting the support they need.

How are you?

Use the North East Lincolnshire COVID 24/7 supportline. If you need to talk to someone, about anything, you don’t have to wait for things to get worse. Call the 24-hour COVID-19 support line on 01472 256256, option 3. There is always someone there who wants to listen.

If you want to talk to someone by text, giveusashout.org provides support to anyone, anywhere and at any time, who may be experiencing a challenging time with their mental health. Text SHOUT to 85258.

The Council is working with local services and can link you to the right support for welfare, befriending and more. Call 01472 313131, option 0.

SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs Disability Information Advice Support Service)

SENDIASS provides free impartial information, advice and support to disabled children and young people aged 0-25, and those with SEN. Hours Monday-Thursday, 8.30am- 4.30pm. Friday 8:30am- 4pm. Leave a message and we’ll get back to you within three days.

SENDIASS received positive feedback from parents about the EHCP Hub.

“It was easy to navigate and really happy that all the evidence is in one place for me to see. It was very transparent.”
– Parent

“It’s been easy to use and [the IT side] hasn’t bothered me, although I thought it would. It was great to have all the info there.”
– Parent

Email: nelincs@barnardos.org.uk
Facebook: @NELSENDIASS

Do you know about the SENDIASS live chat?

We now have a Live Chat function on the NE Lincs SENDIASS Website which will be monitored by one of our experienced project workers every week day between 10am and 11am. Any queries received via the chat function outside of these hours will be redirected to our email which will be actioned as soon as possible.

The SENDIASS website includes specific information about the service we offer along with helpful videos, fact sheets and pages specifically catering for Parents/Carers, Children and Young People, as well as a page dedicated to Professionals.

If you have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01472 355365 or email nelincs@barnardos.org.uk

We hope your enjoyed reading this Weekly SEND parent/carer update.

If you would like to be in the weekly meetings, you are most welcome and can contact clare.linfitt@nelincs.gov.uk for more information.

If you have questions about SEND we are always here to help. Please don’t hesitate to email sen@nelincs.gov.uk. We always try to make sure that children and parents/ carers voices are heard.

These Weekly SEND parent/carer update are shared with teams within education, health and social care as well as parents/carers SENCOs, the DfE and local charities.

If parents/carers or young people over 16 do not have access to the internet or if they prefer to receive paper copies only please contact sen@nelincs.gov.uk.