12:53 pm, Friday, 3rd March 2023
SEND Newsletter- Friday 3 2023
Autism Acceptance Week
World Autism Acceptance Week is back from 27 March – 2 April 2023!
Our theme for 2023 is colour, and we have a new virtual challenge, the Spectrum Colour Challenge; a new in-person event, the Spectrum Colour Walks; and lots of ideas to get your fundraising off to a colourful start.
Locally, we have the Autism in Schools Project that increases knowledge and awareness of autism and neurodiversity.
As a result local parent carers have benefitted from a suite of training selected by the parents forum. This includes the upcoming sensory training which is free to you. Do you understand sensory needs? Why not sign up? Understanding Sensory Processing Workshops | Eventbrite
We have also stocked your local library with books on autism and SEND. Titles include ‘All My Stripes‘ that tells the story of a zebra named Zane who has autism and worries about not fitting in, ‘The Superhero Brain. Explaining Autism to Empower Kids.’, and ‘Autism: understanding behaviour.‘ for parents and professionals. Visit your local library to check out a book. Libraries & Archives (lincsinspire.com).
Local teams are also busy upskilling local professionals on autism so that they can provide the best support to children and young people.
Comment on the Autism Strategy 7 March
Join an online consultation event on the DRAFT NEL Autism Strategy which is currently being expanded to include children.
This has been co-produced with the Faraway Community Interest Company (CIC), members of the NEL Adult Autism Board and a range of stakeholders across NEL.
We would like to share this with as many autistic people as possible as well as parents/carers and professionals.
Read the strategy and find out how to participate: NELC SEND Local Offer | Comment on the NEL Autism Strategy (nelincs.gov.uk)
Help for Households
See what support is available to help with the cost of living and find out how to save money with our energy saving tips.
Help for Households – Get government cost of living support
Better Together- Parent carer forum launch
Come and join us at a great local event for parent carers and professionals.
NELPCF is the brand new Parent Carer Forum for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) aged 0-25.
The event is held on Thursday 23 March from 9:30am-12pm at Grimsby Town Hall, Town Hall Square, DN31 1HU.
Key speakers will bring you up to date information and advice about services.
At the event you can meet with practitioners from Early Years through to Preparing for Adulthood who support you and your child.
Attendees include:
- SEND Local Offer website coordinator
- Families First Information Service
- NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB)
- EBBSA Team (Emotionally-Based Barriers to School Attendance Support Team)
- Compass Go
- Children’s Disability Service
- YPSS Careers Advisors
- Young Minds Matter
- Specialist Advisory Teachers
- Carers Support Centre
- Linkage
- And more…
Bookmark the NELPCF website- NELPCF.
EBBSA Coffee morning
☕ Drop in for a chat with the Emotionally-Based Barriers to School Attendance (EBBSA) Support Team on 30 March.
Discuss your experiences and share advice with other parents and carers of children with worries about going to school. 👪
Free school meals
Even if your child receives Universal Free School Meal (Reception, year 1 and year 2) it is still important to make an application as the school will receive additional funding, known as the pupil premium, for every eligible pupil. Your Child will also be eligible to take part in the Easter Summer and Christmas Holidays HAF Programme.
Find out more: Free school meals
SEND Annual Survey extended
The annual Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Survey has been extended until 10 March 2023.
Some of the improvements that we have made based on previous feedback includes:
- a stronger parent carer-led approach using the insights and experiences of people like you to offer services in a way that is more suitable for your needs.
- A better understanding of the training that parents and carers would benefit from, and would also recommend for the professionals that support your children.
- Key issues that affect your child like SEND awareness, and inclusion.
It has taken respondents only five minutes on average to complete the survey. Have your say at Parents and carers- SEND Annual Survey | QuestionPro Survey
Start a new career in child and family social work
The Step Up To Social Work programme in North East Lincolnshire Council opened on Friday 17 February for recruitment for aspiring social workers to apply for a place on the intensive but highly rewarding training programme.
Start a new career in child and family social work | NELC (nelincs.gov.uk)
Kooth
Did you know that your child can access Kooth as an additional means of support for their emotional wellbeing and mental health? It’s free, safe, and anonymous. They will find a range of key topics that young people often face.
Free tech- tackling digital poverty
The National Databank was founded by Virgin Media, O2 and the Good Things Foundation. This acts like a foodbank, though provides free mobile data, texts and calls for people in need.
Virgin Money is the first bank in the UK to sign up to the programme and they will distribute O2 sim cards loaded with 20GB of free data every month for six months, from 16 stores across the country, including the Grimsby store
Customers just need to turn up at the Virgin Money store (12 Bethlehem St, Freshney Place, Grimsby DN31 1JZ), ask for help with one of the sim cards and one of the Virgin Money members of staff will work with users to register their sim cards, which provides enough data for around 220 hours of internet browsing per month, show them how to get online and offer tips on how to stay safe when browsing.
British Sign Language (BSL) Level One
Learn BSL Level One at Baysgarth Secondary School, Barton upon Humber.
The course starts on Monday 11 September for 35 weeks from 6-8pm.
Contact
Text: 07778403528
Email: webbbsl@hotmail.com
SENCo Forum
On 27 February 2023 over 60 SENCos and professionals gathered together at Centre4 in Grimsby for the Spring Term NE Lincs SENCo Forum.
The focus for this term was learning and cognition. Rachel Barnes from NE Lincs Specialist Teaching Advisory Service gave SENCo’s the opportunity for a first look at NE Lincs Graduated Response for Learning and Cognition. This will be available for parent carers and professionals on NE Lincs SEND Local Offer.
SENCOs were also introduced to Jane Starbuck from NASEN/DfE Whole School SEND and provided with access to a range of SEND responses and CPD opportunities.
This regular event is just one example of the many projects for professionals to share best practice, network with other local services and professionals and learn from regional and national speakers.
Nunny’s Farm opened up to our SENCo’s during the networking break. Children and young people can have a range of great experiences at the farm which is SEND friendly and inclusive.
Help with cost of childcare
Your Family could be missing out on help paying for Childcare go to www.childcarechoices.gov.uk and see what you could be entitled to #HelpForHouseholds
Youth Club
Every Tuesday Oasis Hub South Grimsby holds a community Youth Club from 4.30pm-6pm, ideal for children aged 8 and over.
We provide lots of fun activities along with a hot meal and the best news is we provide this FREE of charge. Book here: https://buff.ly/3WRnJms
If you would like to know more about youth activities and holiday activities email: kelly.chapman@oasisuk.org
SENDIASS
SENDIASS provide support for SEND, across education, health and social care.
Sendiass North East Lincolnshire | Facebook
Contact SENDIASS:
Call- 01472 326363
Email- ask@nelsendiass.org.uk
SENDIASS website