1:04 pm, Friday, 5th November 2021

SEND weekly parent and carer update

This is the SEND weekly parent/carer update for Monday,1 to Friday, 7 November, 2021. This week:

SENDIASS Tender

North East Lincolnshire Council (The Authority) is commissioning a Provider to fulfil the Local Authority’s duties to provide a Special Educational Needs and Disability Information and Advice Support Service Provider (SENDIASS) as required by the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice 0-25 years.

The SENDIASS Tender was published on Thursday, 28 October, 2021 and will run for 30 days closing Monday, 29 November 2021 at 12pm.

Find out more information on the tender. Public quote/tender – Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Information Advice & Support Service (SENDIASS).

What you say really matters. We reached out to parents and carers in many ways to find out what they needed from their SENDIASS service and were careful to include everything they asked for.

Read more about how the recent engagement from local parents and carers has been incorporated into the new specification for SENDIASS. NELC SEND Local Offer | SENDIASS Tender (nelincs.gov.uk).

3 last minute spaces on EarlyBird Plus

Three last minute spaces have become available on the National Autistic Society EarlyBird Plus Programme which starts on Wednesday, 10 November.

The EarlyBird Plus Programme is an eight week programme for parents/carers of children aged between four and nine with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Each session lasts two and a half hours.

Sessions take place at Grimsby Town Hall, Town Hall Square, DN31 1HU.

Session dates:

  • Wednesday, 10 November
  • Wednesday, 17 November
  • Thursday, 25 November
  • Tuesday, 30 November
  • Wednesday, 12 January
  • Wednesday, 19 January
  • Wednesday, 26 January
  • Wednesday 9 February

To get the most from the course you need to attend every session.

If you are interested, or would like to discuss this further, please email EPtraining@nelincs.gov.uk.

Not long left to nominate!

Nominations for the SEND Awards close on Monday, 8 November.

Nominate online now. SEND Award nomination form – This survey is created by QuestionPro | QuestionPro Survey

We have heard a lot of great stories about children and young people who are invested in the environment through projects inside and out of school, are great friends and supportive of their peers, contribute to the community by participating in groups and helping out, and who love art and sports.

That’s why we hope to see some more nominations for children and young people in these categories.

Community Award
For someone who goes to remarkable lengths to help others lead their best life.

Creative Arts Award
For someone who has made an outstanding artistic achievement.

Sports Award
For someone who’s sporting achievements deserve to be celebrated.

Friendship Award
For someone who goes that extra mile to support others and be a great friend.

Environment Award

This award provides us with an opportunity to celebrate and promote the outstanding achievements of environmental volunteers and supporters who are determined to look after our planet. 

Awards will be given out during the SEND Award Ceremony which will take place on Friday, 21 January from 5-7pm in the Assembly Room at Grimsby Town Hall, Town Hall Square, Grimsby, DN31 1HU.

A number of tickets have been reserved for shortlisted candidates and a parent or carer. They will be contacted in December.

EHCP Annual Review

Please remember that you can ask for a copy of your EHC Plan at any time. This might be helpful to see before your EHCP Annual Review.

Please remember to complete the EHCP Annual Review. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will help us to improve your experience for next time.

EHCP Annual Review feedback | QuestionPro Survey.

Sleep training for professionals

Good quality, adequate sleep is vitally important for young people to be able to meet their full potential. During adolescence biological changes take place making it harder for youngsters to fall to sleep at night.

There is a range of training for professionals working with children and young people at various stages of their development.

Find out more about the different courses and workshops. NELC SEND Local Offer | Sleep training for professionals (nelincs.gov.uk)

Application forms and information available from Louise Marrow, KIDS Sleep Coordinator louise.marrow@kids.org.uk.

SEND Coffee Morning

Karen Bull from SENDIASS will be joining the session on Monday, 8 November at Central Family Hub.

Join us for a friendly chat over a cuppa at these drop-in sessions. Discuss your experiences and seek and share advice with other parents of children with SEND.

Get practical help and support to use the EHC Hub.
Speak to SENDIASS over their web chat.

Our sessions are held twice a week during term time.

Our coffee mornings are open to all carers who help children and young people who need support or have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Monday

Central Family Hub,
Edward Street,
Grimsby,
DN32 9HL

9:30-11:30am

01472 326830

Thursday

Nunsthorpe Family Hub,
Sutcliffe Avenue,
Grimsby,
DN33 1AR

9:30-11:30am

01472 326600

For more information contact Abi Fleming, SEND Parent Champion.
Email- sendparentchampion@nelincs.gov.uk.
Call or text- 07552743370.

We really appreciate the parents, schools, and local services and organisations who have been sharing our news and social media posts about our events from the Local Offer and @FamiliesFirstNEL.

Language- Curriculum support workshop

Join one or more of our monthly curriculum workshops at a Family Hub.

Gain the skills you need to help your child in key areas like reading, writing, and maths as well as soft skills to help them with their emotions, get organised and stay focused.

You can invite your school SENCO, teaching assistant, or pastoral support worker from your child’s school to attend the workshop with you.

Check the Events page on the Local Offer to see the full list and book onto a workshop.

The next curriculum workshop is on language skills.

NELC SEND Local Offer | Events and training (nelincs.gov.uk).

Central Family Hub,
Edward Street,
Grimsby,
DN32 9HL

01472 326830

Wellspring Academy Trust pop-up

We are holding regular pop-up events with professionals from SEND services, health and social care.

The first event is at Phoenix Park Academy, Park House, Park Avenue, Grimsby, DN32 0BZ.

Friday, 19 November, 2021 from 9:30 am – 11:30 am.

To be covid safe there are limited places available. The event is nearly a third booked up so book now to secure your place!

Book your place. Wellsprings Phoenix Park Academy Pop Up Event Tickets, Fri 19 Nov 2021 at 09:30 | Eventbrite.

Other schools attending are Littlecoates Primary Academy and Beacon Academy.

If your child attends or will be attending one of these schools, why not sign up?

In addition to staff from these schools, you will be able to speak to:


Would you like to join us at a pop-up event or suggest a place where we should be and the services we should team up with?

Contact Abi Fleming, SEND Parent Champion by email sendparentchampion@nelincs.gov.uk or call or text, 07552 743370.

North East Lincolnshire Parents Participation (NELPPF)

NELPPF is a collective voice for parents and carers in North East Lincolnshire. They offer guidance and support from 0 to 25 years and make sure that parents’ views and experiences influence local services to make things better.

Maureen and Wendy are the two associates from Contact who are now coordinating NELPPF.

Maureen has extensive local, regional, and national experience in parent/carer forums.

If you would like to know more about NELPPF please contact Maureen, maureen.atcontact@gmail.com.

Email: nelppf@gmail.com
Telephone: 07583 474892

School

Read the latest National COVID guidance and local guidance.


Follow the Department for Education on social media.

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

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. Get in touch Monday-Thursday, 8.30am- 4.30pm. Friday 8:30am- 4pm. Leave a message and we’ll get back to you within three days.

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

Web chat

The web chat is monitored by one of our experienced project workers every week day between 10am and 11am. Any queries which are received via the chat function outside of these hours, or on a day an adviser is unable to log in, the message will be redirected to our email which will be actioned as soon as possible.

Training

Exclusions

Monday, 22 November, 2021
10am – 12pm

This training will raise awareness of the exclusions process for both fixed term exclusions and permanent exclusions.

Book your place on the Exclusions training.

And more…

Elective Home Education Awareness Session Tickets, Thu 16 Dec 2021 at 10:00 | Eventbrite

Transition to Post 16 Opportunities Tickets, Mon 10 Jan 2022 at 10:00 | Eventbrite

Person Centred Planning and EHCP Reviews Tickets, Fri 11 Feb 2022 at 10:00 | Eventbrite

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 website for North East Lincolnshire.
• 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.


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 newsletters 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.