4:34 pm, Thursday, 28th January 2021

Parents weekly update. 25-31 January

Top topics from this week include preparing for half term, self-care and wellbeing, and improvements to the Access Pathway information on the Local Offer.

Transition to half term

Schedule an activity like a new walk to completely disengage from home learning. Try these ideas:

• If you have a health condition, follow @weareundefeatable for ideas and inspiration.
• Put old worksheets to use by learning to make everything into origami or expert level paper aeroplanes.
• Follow @DiscoverNEL and take the #DiscoverNELChallenge or visit their website for local walks and things to do.
• Local walks and bike rides on the Council’s website.
• Change4Life has kid friendly ideas for indoor activities, active games, and healthy eating that both parents and children will love.
• Public Health England’s #BetterHealth campaign can help you jump into action.
• LincsInspire virtual activities

“Home everything”

If you are currently wearing a lot of different h

ats, and are the home parent, teacher, worker, and carer you might find this useful.

Be gentle with yourself
Be nice to yourself. Let it go, move on, show gratitude to yourself and others. We are often our own hardest critics and discount the many great things we do each day. Give yourself lots of credit everyday!

Focus on what you have accomplished not what you have not
Whatever you focus on will grow. Focus on everything you have accomplished and small milestones and let go of slight upsets in your routine. Don’t give too much time to problems and setbacks. It might feel like problem solving but can quickly turn to unhelpful rumination, worry and stress. If the solution doesn’t come to you in the first 5 minutes let it go. This way you’ll stay positive, focus on solutions and it will be easier to keep up the good work.

Being disciplined includes accepting when it’s time to take a break!
Taking a break means distancing yourself physically and mentally as much as possible from ‘working/schooling/parenting’. Put the devices away, move to another room, start a completely new task, and mentally close what you have been doing. It will be easier to let it go from your thoughts if you state a time you will return to it. Your day may feel ridged and structured so let go little and often.

News article-“Don’t strive for perfect” and other helpful lessons learnt from the first Lockdown.

Wellbeing and mental health

Search ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ on the NHS website.

• Connect
• Be Active
• Take Notice
• Keep Learning
• Give

Text ‘Shout’ to 85258. Free, 24/7 text support.

Call the 24/7 Single Point of Access, 01472 256256 to speak to a local mental health professional. Select option 3 for anything that has become an issue since COVID.

Not quite sure where to go? Explore NAViGO’s options.

If you’re doing alright but would like a daily boost, search ‘Every Mind Matters’.

If you don’t want mental health or wellbeing support but are facing something that is affecting your health and happiness call North East Lincolnshire Council on 01472 313131. They are working closely with local partners and services and can put you in touch with the right help.

Barnardo’s SEND Hub has SEND podcasts, COVID guides, info on benefits and welfare, and more.

Wellbeing and mental health- Children and young people

Kooth provides a safe and secure means of accessing mental health and wellbeing support designed specifically for young people.  

School Nursing Text Service: Local text services to school nurses for students aged 11-19 in #NEL. Call 07507 331620.

Young Minds– For young people but also has tips for parents like how to speak to your child

There are lots more self-help tools for teens.

Childline– Call them for anything that’s worrying on 0800 1111.

Young Minds Matter: North East Lincolnshire’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Duty Line 01472 626100 – 9am and 5pm – Monday to Friday. Outside these hours contact SPA – 256256 option 3.

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. Hours 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

SEND Annual Survey

Take the SEND Annual Survey as a parent or carer or a child or young person.
No young people have done the survey yet! Your views always make an impact. Take one minute or 30 minutes to say as much or as little as you like. Everything helps.

I am a child or young person

I am a parent or carer

The survey’s close on 22 February.

The Educational Psychology Team

The Community Educational Psychology Service Advice Line for parents and carers offers advice regarding COVID related difficulties. Call 01472 323308.

Health

If you are struggling or are worried your child’s health needs are not met in school please email Sarah Harding at Designated Clinical Officer for SEND at designatedclinicalofficer@nelincs.gov.uk.
Video appointments are continuing. Training with health professionals to familiarise them with the new EHCP Hub and process is continuing.

The Educational Team for Hearing and Vision (ETHV)

ETHV are a joint service who support children and young people who have hearing aids or those whose vision cannot be corrected by wearing glasses.

We will continue to offer this support during these times and look forward to being able to see everyone more often again soon. Find practical guides on the ETHV page.

SEND Outreach

The SEND Outreach Team have worked throughout COVID to provide continuing support for children/young people with Special Educational Needs and or Disabilities.

If you feel your child needs extra support in school because of difficulties with communication and interaction, social and emotional difficulties, or physical disabilities you can speak to your child’s school’s Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) who can make a referral to the SEND Outreach Team.

Telephone: 01472 325950
Email: sendoutreach@nelincs.gov.uk

North East Lincolnshire Parents Participation (NELPFF)

Follow the North East Lincolnshire Parents Participation forum on Facebook.
See NELPFF on the Local Offer.

Email: nelppf@gmail.com
Telephone: 07583 474892

School

A parent indicated that it would be useful to know what special schools are nearby. This is on the Local Offer.

Parents also indicated that they would like more support from schools. Knowing that you feel supported through COVID while you are home learning as well as handling other responsibilities is very important to us.

The SEND team are making calls to families of all children with an EHCP to enquire how they as parents/carers are feeling and how well educational provision is going for their child.
If parents/carers are struggling or want more support, we can help. We are here for you.
 
401 calls from our specialist team have be made during the current lockdown.
This is 35% of all families of children with an EHCP.

We are continuing at pace to make these calls.
Should parents wish to contact us and request an EHCP wellbeing and education contact call please email Siobhan.Hardy@nelincs.gov.uk or call 01472 323166.

Read the latest COVID guidance on Gov.uk and local guidance on North East Lincolnshire Council’s website.

All NE Lincs educational setting are working with our Public Health team to communicate information regarding new or suspected cases of COVID and the local position is being carefully monitored.

Useful Numbers

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 COVID-19 updates page for more on financial support, health and wellbeing, local updates, COVID updates, community safety, volunteering and more.
• 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.

Up next!

There’s lots changing to the Local Offer every week. These are the main points from parents and services in this week’s meeting.

• Parent Representative would like a clearer picture of the process of the application through the Access Pathway including timescales.
  They would also like a clearer idea of how quickly queries are answered. 
  Check back to the Access Pathway page to see these updates. Use the Local Offer feedback form to let us know if it is suitable for you. 
• Our services would also like to show you a bit more about what is going on behind the scenes and all the people working hard to get you and your child the best quality assessment and care suited to their needs.

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 you would like to be in the weekly meetings, you are most welcome and can contact clare.linfitt@nelincs.gov.uk for more information.

An accessible version of this newsletter can be found on the Local Offer news page. 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.