SEND weekly parent/carer update

We would like to say a huge thank you to the many parents and carers who have asked to receive our weekly parent/carer SEND Newsletter.

If you know someone who would like to receive the weekly update please contact Lauren Thompson, Local Offer Engagement Coordinator and Communications Officer at lauren.thompson2@nelincs.gov.uk.

We would also like to thank the amazing 107 parents/carers who responded to our January – March Annual SEND Survey. This is a big increase from last year and reflects the growing participation of local parents and carers of children with SEND.

Your willingness to share your feedback is really helping us shape SEND services in our Local Area and without your comments, feedback and suggestions we would not be able to move things forward. Without your engagement, we would not know the things that are important to you, what needs to change and how to improve.

Since November 2020, our SEND Services team now receive on average 400% more contacts asking for support.

These come directly from parent/carers themselves or from parent/carer groups.

This enables us to directly effect change and provide information, advice and guidance specific to individual cases. Thank you for trusting us to work with you.

Keep an eye out for the Annual SEND Survey results in the next two weeks which includes the highs and lows you have told us about and most importantly the actions we will take to improve the things you have told us need improving.

How are you feeling? What it’s like to be a parent/carer for a child with SEND

This week at our SEND parent/carers meeting there was a lot of appreciation for mums who care for their children with SEND. Often this is at the same time as caring for other children, family members, and obligations like work.

“Mum’s, I don’t know how you do it! You do a brilliant job. You have to wear so many different hats.”
This comment was shared by a local dad who has a daughter with profound and multiple SEND.

Other parents said to remind yourself: “You are doing all you can.”

There was also feedback about brothers and sisters of children with SEND. They may help care for their siblings or take care of household tasks. They often share the time and attention of their parents/carers.

Many thanks to the parent/carers who take part in our weekly meeting. Your insights are invaluable and each contribution you make is followed up and communicated to the SEND Executive board and NE Lincs CCG/LA leadership team. We feel privileged that you share your stories with us.

Supporting a child with additional needs can be so rewarding and so hard.

This week Sharon Westerman from the Carers Support Centre spoke to SENCOs at NE Lincs SENCo forum about the challenge’s parents/carers face and how SENCos can support families by signposting to NE Lincs Carers Centre who offer a range of assistance for parents/carers of children with SEND.

You can find out more information from their website. The Carers Support Centre can offer support, training, counselling, and other therapies to parents.

It has support and social groups for young carers.

Kooth is a safe, free, anonymous online counselling and emotional support platform for young people. There are live events, online forums, peer support and more.

Young Minds covers lots of common things young people deal with. It can be a good place to start to help them develop healthy behaviours with others and within themselves.

Older children and young people can start to work proactively and independently to handle challenges for themselves and develop insight into how other people may be feeling.

Rainbow Room in NELincs

This week members of our SEN Team visited children and staff at the Rainbow Room at Western Primary School, a LA maintained school.

The Rainbow Room is a specialist provision for children with SEND within a mainstream setting.

It gives local children the specialist support they require while being able to integrate with children, staff, and the curriculum in a mainstreams setting.

This is often viewed as best practice.

We caught up with them to see the positive impact the Rainbow Room has had.

Read the full story about the Rainbow Room on the Local Offer, SEND stories page.

Lateral flow testing

Lateral flow testing kits can be picked up from Duchess St. car park, supplied by schools, or ordered online. Feedback from parents has been that their tests have come quickly in the post.

If a child has had a positive lateral flow test within a school setting or an official lateral flow testing site they need to self-isolate and don’t need to have confirmed with PCR test.
If have positive lateral flow at home with home testing kit they need to have PCR test to double check. If the PCR testing kit comes back negative they can go to school.

Read the Gov.uk information on lateral flow testing.

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

SENDIASS has been receiving enquiries about school admission appeals.
If your child didn’t get a place at the school you wanted there is a standard appeals process.
If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), you cannot appeal through this process and procedures and deadlines are different. Parents/carers should contact the SEN Assessment and Review Team on (01472) 323166 or for more advice please contact SENDIASS.

If you decide to appeal, there are some basic steps to follow:

1. Accept the place you have been given and go on the waiting lists for the other school you would like.
2. Download the appeals form from the Local Authority School admission appeal page.
   • State your reasons for appeal clearly and concisely.
   • SENDIASS can support you with template letters to help you compose your appeal.
   • See the Ace Education website for ideas on what to include.
3. ‘Submit the appeals form, by the due deadlines, to the admissions authority- details are on the appeals form’.
4. If you don’t receive confirmation that your appeal has been received follow up with the school or Local Authority.

This information on school admission appeals can also be found on the SEND Local Offer ‘Appeal or make a complaint‘ page.

online or call- 01472 806890. Local charges apply. They also have information on their Facebook, @wearewithyoucharity.

North East Lincolnshire Parents Participation (NELPPF)

NELPPF have been handling enquiries from parents who are new to the system and are looking for information.

They have also been providing information about the law and school exclusions.

Follow the North East Lincolnshire Parents Participation forum on Facebook, @NorthEastLincsParentParticipationForum.

Email: nelppf@gmail.com
Telephone: 07583 474892

Local SEND parent Facebook group

Would you like a space to share your experience and learn from other parents of children with SEND?

“I’m Lynnette, mother of two, and the files in my hand contain everything relating to my son and his ADHD. 

“This range of information includes his EHCP, diagnosis, mainstream secondary behaviour log and communications between myself and school. 

“Also in these files is school reports from his specialist independent school amongst other things.

“People who don’t have a child with special educational needs don’t understand the amount of paperwork you need to keep and other things like the evidence you need to apply for things such as a blue badge or disability living allowance.

“Having a child with special educational needs is hard work both physically and mentally.

“Not only because of the challenges you face with raising a  child with SEND, but also because of the challenges and struggles of getting your child diagnosed. 

“If you are struggling with any part of your journey, whether it be with school, applying for things or getting a diagnosis, please join our Facebook group where you can get support, advice and find contact details all in one place.”

The group welcome anyone wanting to stay up to date with local SEND information, advice and guidance, including teachers and other professionals.