SEND weekly parent and carer update

Covid

From 30 November for at least three weeks, Government have introduced temporary measures to respond to the emergence of UK cases of the new variant of COVID-19, Omicron.

The Government have done this to try to slow the spread of the new variant in the UK while work is done to find out as much as possible about the variant.

In a temporary measure, Government have introduced three key aspects for businesses. From 30 November for at least three weeks:

• Face coverings are mandatory to wear on public transport and in retail premises unless you are exempt. This applies to most high street premises (shops, shopping centres, post offices, banks, personal care and beauty treatment premises, travel agents, takeaways etc)
• All arrivals into the UK from abroad need to take a PCR test by the end of day 2, and must self-isolate until a negative result is received

All contacts of those with the suspected variant, Omicron, must self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of vaccination status. These will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace.

This article was originally published on North East Lincolnshire Council’s News page. Read the full article. Temporary COVID-19 measures introduced from today – NELC | NELC (nelincs.gov.uk)

Masks and SEND

Children aged 12 and over should wear masks.

If you have an age, health or disability reason for not wearing a face covering:

• you do not routinely need to show any written evidence of this
• you do not need to show an exemption card

This means that you do not need to seek advice or request a letter from a medical professional about your reason for not wearing a face covering.

However, some people may feel more comfortable showing something that says they do not have to wear a face covering. This could be in the form of an exemption card, badge or even a home-made sign.

Carrying an exemption card or badge is a personal choice and is not required by law.

This content was originally published on the gov.uk website. Face coverings: when to wear one, exemptions, and how to make your own – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Climb4

Climb4 sis a social enterprise that works with vulnerable families and children and young people across North East Lincolnshire.

They joined the regular ‘parent carer Covid meeting’ to share the variety of programmes that they offer.

• They have an employability programme for women aged 18 and over. It focuses on personal development and positivity before employment.
• Positive Active Minds programme. A family, peer support, mental health programme for families as well as individuals. (17) PAM Positive Active Minds | Facebook
• After school and holiday activities. They have activities at four different venues. Parent and baby sessions and the funded HAF programme for children who get free school meals.

Children and young people with SEND are welcome to join. If you have an EHCP they ask that you send it to them to make sure that they can give your child the support that they need.

They have a teaching assistant that is SEND trained and can hire additional staff members through an agency if your child’s needs are higher.

Visit the Climb4 website

Call: 01472 236668

Email: info@climb4.co.uk

Preparation for adulthood

Parent Representatives needed

Parent representatives are needed to get involved in our work across education, health and social care preparing young people for an adult life that includes independence, supported living and work.

We have a monthly meeting at 1.30pm on the first Thursday of the month. If you would like to join us to drive and shape our developments to improve outcomes for young people with SEND aged 14-25, and their families.

Please contact Angie Kershaw to learn more and get involved, Angie.Kershaw@nelincs.gov.uk.

Online Q&A

Learn more about the importance of supporting all young people with SEND to prepare for adulthood.

This event is part of a series of events to help professionals understand the key steps and responsibilities they have.

It is our role as professionals to help young people to move into adulthood with opportunities to participate in our local community while maintaining their health and wellbeing and with doors open to employment or independence that suit them.

The online event is on Tuesday, December 14 from 10:30am-11:30am.

Book your place on the ‘Preparing for adulthood, professionals session‘.

Understand our local offer with speakers from Linkage College and Focus (adult social care).

There will be a brief overview of the importance of supporting all young people with SEND to prepare for adulthood.

Focus will also be joining to tell you about how they support young people, discuss their eligibility criteria, and transitioning to their service.

There will be a live question and answer session at the end.

Parents and carers and children and young people are also invited to learn more about how they can be supported through this exciting next step.

SEND Awards

The winners of the SEND Awards have been picked!

The panel was made up of the YPAG group and four special guests, Councillor Ian Lindley, Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Skills, Rob Walsh, Chief Executive at North East Lincolnshire Council and NHS North East Lincolnshire CCG, local teacher and lunchbox hero Zane Powles, and Debra Gray, Principal at Grimsby Institute.

These special guests will also be presenting awards at the Ceremony alongside The Worshipful the Mayor of the Borough of North East Lincolnshire Cllr David Hasthorpe.

There were a total of 142 nominations. The whole panel were very impressed by the quality of the nominees and said that “everyone deserves to win.”

There are ten award categories.

Children and Young people

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

Creative Arts Award– Sponsored by The Culture House
For someone who has made an outstanding artistic achievement.

Sports Award– Sponsored by Grimsby Town Sports and Education Trust
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.

Education and Learning Award
For any student who is dedicated to their education and strives to achieve the best they can in their chosen curriculum areas.

Environment Award– Sponsored by Outdoor Learning Schools
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.

Student Personality of the Year Award– Sponsored by Youth Action
For anyone aged 5-25 years in education or training who really stands out as an inspiration to us all.

Adults and Organisations

Inspiring Teacher Award
For an adult working with children with special educational needs who has had a huge impact. A committed individual who raises the aspirations for young people with SEND.

Education Setting Award
This award is for an Early Years setting or a school or college that stands out by making a real difference to the lives of children and young people with SEND and their families in our community.

Special Recognition Award– Sponsored by Focus
For achievements not covered in other categories, such as inspiring parent/carers, support workers, health care workers or social care workers who have made a real difference to the lives of children and young people with SEND and their families in our local area.

The other contributors from the community who are supporting the initiative are:

• Lincs Inspire
• The Waste Team Charity
• Candiland
• Eclipse Gymnastics
• Daniella Draper

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

Tickets have been reserved for winners and their family to attend.

Winners will be contacted in the coming weeks and the nominations will be upload to the Local Offer.

Autism in Schools

The following schools have been selected to be a part of the Autism in Schools project.

Primary schools

• Bursar Primary Academy                             
• Littlecoates Primary Academy
• Queen Mary Avenue Infants
• Signhills infants Academy
• St Josephs Catholic Primary
• Weelsby Academy
• Woodlands Academy
• Wybers Wood Academy

Secondary schools

• Havelock Academy
• Ormiston Maritime Academy

The programme is part of a pilot in partnership with NHS England called ‘Autism in Schools’. The aim is to provide an uplift in support across the academic year, creating a more autism-friendly ethos and changing the approach to autism across the entire school system with coordinated funding, specialist practitioners and awareness raising.

The team coordinating the project will be arranging introductory sessions to explain more about the project and how parents/carers can be involved in making positive changes by working with their child’s school.

Check the Local Offer for more updates.

Autism friendly outings

Have you heard of quiet hour or Autism Hour?

This is a campaign that encourages businesses to make adaptations to welcome people with autism.

A normal environment that may be crowded, loud and chaotic can be difficult for some people to adjust to.

Read about some local places who are supporting this initiative.

Relaxed Screenings – Cleethorpes – Parkway Cinemas

Freshney Place #AutismHour

Clarks Quiet Time Appointments – Freshney Place

Quieter Hour – Morrisons

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 our SEND Engagement Champion, Abi Fleming and other parents of children with SEND who may attend.

Our sessions are held twice a week during term time from 9:30-11:30am.

Monday

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

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Thursday

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

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

Re-subscribe to North East Lincolnshire Parents Participation (NELPPF)

The outgoing NELPPF Committee recently stepped down to give others the chance to re-establish a parent carer forum for North East Lincolnshire. The North East Lincolnshire Carers Support Service (NELCSS) wants to thank them for all their effort and passion to make things better for local families.

Stay with us!

Thank you to all North East Lincolnshire parent carers who have subscribed to and support NELPPF in the past.

Due to GDPR we cannot bring your contact details across to the new forum. Please stay with us. Simply re-subscribe to NELPPF e-news today.

We are establishing a new forum to represent the collective views of parent carers and help improve services for children and young people with additional needs.

Contact NELPPF

Email: nelppf@carerssupportcentre.com

Telephone: (01472) 242277

Follow @NELPPF on Facebook.