SEND weekly parent and carer update

Who deserves to win?

Local children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) have come together through the Young People’s Advisory Group (YPAG) to plan the SEND Award Ceremony.

Nominations are open. Anyone can vote so why not check out the ten categories and let us know who you think should be recognised. SEND Award nomination form – This survey is created by QuestionPro | QuestionPro Survey

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

The Ceremony is themed ‘night at the movies’ and is sure to be a lively and fun occasion for both young people and adults.

Read the full article on the SEND Awards.
NELC SEND Local Offer | Nominations open for the SEND Awards (nelincs.gov.uk)

LGBT+ Peer Support Group

Courtney Peet and Amy Quickfall from NAViGO talk LGBT+ in North East Lincolnshire.

Courtney leads an inclusion group for young people 16+ every fortnight.

The next couple of dates are:

• 21 October
• 04 November
• 18 November
• 02 December
• 16 December
• 30 December

They said: “The group is very friendly, informal and relaxed. It’s not ‘mental-health heavy’ but we know that the peer support aspect can really help your mental health.

“Through our activities and conversations, we may be able to identify challenges or opportunities and signpost people to support if they want it.”

Courtney is a young person from the LGBT+ community. She is very friendly and approachable and is happy to meet with any new members beforehand so they know someone before they start, and can join the group more confidently.

They also have an LGBT+ parents, partners and carers group launching on 4 November from 6.00pm-7.30pm at Suzie’s cup of joy in Cleethorpes. This group will be meeting monthly and a name is yet to be decided on.  

Training

There is also training for young people to offer peer support. The M4Y training with Think2Speak is taking place on 2 November at Centre4. It will be an all-day event.

CML Training
This training offers a safe space to be open and break some myths and stigma, with the personal touch from Chad and his story.

• 816 LGBTQ+ – 21/10/21 09:30 – 16:00 @ Centre 4 (25 spaces)
• 816 LGBTQ+ – 22/10/21 09:30 – 16:00 @ Centre 4 (25 spaces)
• 816 LGBTQ+ – 10/11/21 09:30 – 16:00 @ Centre 4 (25 spaces)

If you would like to join either group, or the training please email, navigo.rainbowbadge@nhs.net.

Next week!

Have you taken the opportunity to be involved in the work being done on the Access Pathway?

Join the workshop next week with Council for Disabled Children.

Wednesday, 20 October from 10am-1pm.

Register with the password, NELincs2. Working together in North East Lincolnshire: Reviewing the Access Pathway Tickets, Wed 20 Oct 2021 at 10:00 | Eventbrite

This workshop brings together parents, carers and professionals from across Education, Health and Social Care to review the work done so far on the Access Pathway.

The focus of this session is parent and carers’ experience of being involved.

It follows on from the workshop on 28 June, where parent carers and professionals worked together to agree expectations for working together in North East Lincolnshire, and a framework for ‘measuring’ and evidencing how well partners live up to these expectations.

We will:

• Present the working together expectations agreed in the workshop on 28th June*
• Discuss each of the expectations, identifying has gone well so far in working together on the Access Pathway and what could be improved in the future
• Discuss what partners are doing to understand the impact of changes to the Access Pathway for families, and how this could be improved

For more information please contact Kate at kthomas@ncb.org.uk.

Awareness Campaigns

October has several Awareness Campaigns dedicated to raising awareness of various types of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

ADHD Awareness Month

Check out these top tips from a local parent whose son is 16 and has ADHD.
NELC SEND Local Offer | ADHD Awareness Month (nelincs.gov.uk)

Dyspraxia Awareness Week

This week is Dyspraxia Awareness Week themed Primary and Secondary Education.

Our SEND Parent Engagement Champion, Abi Fleming and her son Joe have shared their story about his dyspraxia.
NELC SEND Local Offer | Parent perspective- dyspraxia (nelincs.gov.uk)

Check the News Page for more on dyspraxia for teens and parents as well as tips on key skills from last weeks Dyslexia Awareness Week.
NELC SEND Local Offer | News (nelincs.gov.uk)

SEND Coffee Morning

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.

Curriculum support workshops

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.

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

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

01472 326830

Pop-up events

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.

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.

At the event you will be able to speak to:

• North East Lincolnshire SENDIASS | Barnardo’s (barnardossendiass.org.uk)- external site 
• Compass GO… North East Lincolnshire Mental Health Support Teams – Compass (compass-uk.org)- external site 
• Jenny Hodson, Youth Leadership Manager from VANEL- external site 
• NELC SEND Local Offer | Short Break (nelincs.gov.uk)

To be Covid safe there will be 25 places for parents and carers.

More schools and services are invited to attend so stay posted for updates.

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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)

School

Health

Vaccinations for SEND

Are you a young person aged 16 or older, or do you support someone of this age, who would benefit from being able to access a COVID-19 vaccination in a quieter environment with support to prepare beforehand and set appointment times to reduce waiting?

We are looking at the possibility of setting up specific sessions to support young people with SEND and would like to hear from you if you would be interested in this service or if you wish to discuss any issues you have had in accessing a vaccination due to your specific needs.

Please contact Sarah Harding, Designated Clinical Officer SEND by email-designatedclinicalofficer@nelincs.gov.uk.

Contact

If you need advice regarding access to health services or feel your child needs additional support in school due to their medical needs 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 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.