SEND weekly parent/carer update

Have your say! Family hubs

NELC Officer Matt Clayton joined this week’s meeting.

You may have heard the news that some Family Hubs are closing. These are Family Hubs that are not used very much. There will be alternative support in places where they are closing. Everything that was going on will take place in other hubs. For example, the equipment from sensory rooms will be moved to another hub or preferred site, like a school.

There will be a public consultation about how families would like to receive help.
There will also be a series of workshops with partners and parents.

Matt said: “We want the voice of local people. Giving people the right support and provision when they want and need it is central to future decisions. We will consider all options.”

The recruitment panel would like to have parent representatives from NELPFF and SENDIASS.

Teen Life Autism Programme

Teen Life Programme is a virtual delivery programme for parents/carers of young people aged 10 to 16 years on the autism spectrum.

Did you know?
You can bring another person with you to the training. For example, an aunt, grandparent or older sibling of your child might like to know how to support them better when they are with them.

What is the Teen Life Programme?

Teen Life is a programme for parents and carers of young people on the autism spectrum aged 10-16. The programme includes information on understanding autism in teenagers and covers a range of topics that are relevant to this age group. This is a version of the programme that will be delivered online.

Topics covered include understanding autism in teenagers, women and girls, self-esteem, spending time with other people, stress and anxiety, behaviour, puberty, independence skills, education strategies and planning for the future.

Find out more and make contact to sign up.

Last call for entries!

It’s your last chance to enter the Creative Connections Competition which is open until Wednesday, 31 March.

Creative Connections is a competition organised locally by young people from Youth Action group for young people as part of a Young Advisors lottery funded project.  The theme is ‘reducing loneliness and isolation through creating connections’ and is open to young people aged 11-25. 

They can share their perspective on the theme through creative writing, artwork, photography and digital options such as podcasts.

Entry forms will be available from 1 March on our Your Voice page as the competition opens and entries need to be in by 31 March, 2021.

School

EHCP Hub

The EHCP Hub continues to be updated with children and young people’s plans.

All children in Secondary and Special Schools who have a plan are on the hub. Most of the Out of Area plans are on. Children attending our Primary schools and who are in receipt of a plan continue to be updated. The final group of students who are having their plans uploaded will be those in post-16 and will be done ready for September when they attend their setting, which may change over summer.

There are new training sessions for parents and carers to see a demonstration of the site and to learn how to use it for themselves.

Join an EHCP Hub demonstration to learn how to use the EHCP Hub.
All sessions are the same, so you only need to sign up for one.
Wednesday, 21 April, 1-2pm 
Thursday, 22 April, 6-7pm
Friday, 30 April 9:30-10:30am

The link to all sessions and other training available relating to SEND is on the ‘Events’ page of the SEND Local Offer.

Health

If you are struggling or are worried that your child’s health needs are not being met in school please email Sarah Harding, the Designated Clinical Officer for SEND at designatedclinicalofficer@nelincs.gov.uk.

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

Alcohol

Parents/carers are aware that at this anxious time some families have reported struggles with mental health and sought support for the overuse of alcohol.
Alcohol change UK offers COVID tips on alcohol and mental health.
We Are With You provides support for drugs and alcohol. You can also get in touch if you are worried about someone else’s drinking or drug use. Chat online or call- 01472 806890. Local charges apply. They also have information on their Facebook, @wearewithyoucharity.

What’s new on the Local Offer?

There’s lots changing to the Local Offer every week.

• See what’s new and how you can get involved on the Engagement and Coproduction page which will soon have a calendar of events.
• Changes to the Test and Trace support payment for parents and other Department for Education updates.