5:35 pm, Thursday, 11th February 2021
SEND Weekly Update
This is your weekly SEND Update for 8-14 February. Top topics include tips to support your children to wind down or keep occupied when they come home from school, half term tools for fun, wellbeing and support, and a snapshot of some of the great ways schools got involved in last weeks #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek.
Access Pathway
Carly Pickles, Access Pathway Coordinator shared positive feedback from a Families First Practitioner and the family they worked with.
“Thank you for being incredibly warm and inviting the last two times I have been on TEAMS with you.
– Families First Practitioner
I felt the process today was incredibly well organised and efficient by yourself, it was really positive I felt you really understood the journey of this family, I believe this is a positive step-forward for [the child] and family it was a pleasure to be a part of and a great learning process for myself…The parents were relived and happy to hear that a more specialist screening will be available for their child, in fact mum cried and I think it has been a long time trying to be heard.”
For more information on the Access Pathway please look at our SEND Local Offer.
National Apprenticeship Week
This week is National Apprenticeship Week running from 8-14 February.
Ryan who has Asperger’s Syndrome has done spectacularly by progressing from an Apprenticeship onto sustained employment. Read his success story.
Find out more about apprenticeships and supported training and employment for young people with SEND on the Local Offer.
Follow the campaign on social media, #NationalApprentceshipWeek.
Supporting children and young people at home
How are your children when they come home from school? They may be tired from the day, or excited to be home and out of the structure of school, or eager to start doing something with you. Later afternoons and evenings can often be a busy time for families when everyone is home. Sometimes something simple like setting or switching a routine helps gives children the direction to play independently, get involved and help out, and stay focused on good behaviour.
Parents may find these resources helpful to give their child structure for when they come home from school, play independently, and wind down.
- NSPCC’s tips for creating a routine, managing anxiety, and helping them to express their feelings.
- Simple self-help for young people
- Anger management for autism
- Change4Life indoor activities for young children
- Twinkl resources for parents to help children of various ages including activities, dinner time conversation starters, things specifically for children with SEND, and self-care.
Some of the Twinkl resources are printable. Get free printing from Holidays by Design or contact the SEND Team at sen@nelincs.gov.uk.
SEND Team
During lockdown NE Lincs SEND team have continued to make wellbeing and education calls to families of children and young people with an EHCP. Families have responded very positively and we have been able to offer information, advice, guidance and support to quite a number of parents/carers.
Take a look at some of the feedback we have received.
“We’re very appreciative of the call. It’s lovely to talk to someone and know that people care.”
– Grandparent
“It’s good to know were not just ‘being left to it’.”
– Parent/ Carer
“Thank you. I think the Local Authority is doing brilliantly making calls for children with SEN.”
– Parent/ Carer
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 325950.
How are you?
COVID-19 has had health, social, emotional, and financial impacts on many of us. A wellbeing booklet will be coming to your doorstep. Wellbeing is for everyone and there is a range of support from simple self-help to professional and peer support.
You can also use the North East Lincolnshire COVID 24/7 support line – If you need to talk to someone, about anything, you don’t have to wait for things to get worse. Call the 24-hour COVID-19 support line on 01472 256256, option 3. There is always someone there who wants to listen.
If you want to talk to someone by text, giveusashout.org provides support to anyone, anywhere and at any time, who may be experiencing a challenging time with their mental health. Text SHOUT to 85258.
The Council is working with local services and can link you to the right support. Call 01472 313131, option 0.
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
North East Lincolnshire Parents Participation (NELPPF)
Follow the North East Lincolnshire Parents Participation forum on Facebook.
See NELPPF on the Local Offer.
Email: nelppf@gmail.com
Telephone: 07583 474892
NELPPF parent representative requested for the Carers Support Centre and Centre4 to be added to the Local Offer Money and Benefits section.
Half Term
For fun virtual activities for the whole family. See the full calendar of events on the Community Spotlight page.
5 Ways to Wellbeing reminds us to keep it simple and appreciate the little things to be happy and content.
If your child is aged between 11 and 19 years they can still contact the school nursing team via text on 07507 331620 over half term.
Please remember these useful contacts throughout half term if you need:
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.
Y.P.A.G
The Young Person’s Advisory Group is restarting. This is a group for young people aged 11-25 who have Special Educational Needs.
The group will meet once a month for an hour to get involved in activities and interact with other children and young people with SEND. There is a group for primary and a separate group for secondary students and young people.
If you would like to be involved in a fun, online (during COVID) social activity and engagement group please contact lauren.thompson2@nelincs.gov.uk.
Communication
We encourage regular communication if you have a query or feel your child is not getting the support they need.
Contact the most relevant service or contact sen@nelincs.gov.uk.
SEND Annual Survey
Take the SEND Annual Survey as a parent or carer or a child or young person.
The survey’s close on 22 February.
Health
If you are struggling or are worried your child’s health needs are not met in school please email Sarah Harding, Designated Clinical Officer for SEND at designatedclinicalofficer@nelincs.gov.uk.
Schools
Last week some local schools got involved with #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek.
John Whitgift Academy did a host of activities including a sleep survey, discussing feelings with Compass Go, and sharing uplifting videos and activity ideas to support positive mental health. Join in some light-hearted humour with the JWA pantomime horse antics.
Waltham Leas students chose ‘Dress to Express’ wearing what they feel most comfortable and ‘themselves’ in.
Eastfield Primary have Wellness Wednesday afternoons to take a break from screen time. This week’s theme was mental health, express yourself and children chose from a menu of activities like listening to music, paint your emotions, and build a place you’d like to visit.
At Littlecoates Academy there was positive reading, lots of challenges to spend time off screen and the children worked hard in PSHE on positive and negative thoughts and how it’s okay to get help.
“Thank you for this. I feel like now I can use my words openly.”
– Student
Read the latest COVID guidance on Gov.uk and local guidance on North East Lincolnshire Council’s website.
Attendance at school by children with an EHCP plan was 37.2% nationally and 54.9% locally.
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.
Local Authority Education Link Officers contact settings regularly during the week to offer support or guidance. If parents/carers have any questions about COVID and their child’s education, they can email school@nelincs.gov.uk and an education officer will directly respond to your communication. Emails can be sent at any time and will be responded to between 9am and 5pm, Monday-Friday.
Up next!
There’s lots changing to the Local Offer every week.
- See new stories added to ‘Celebrating our children and young’ people.
- See half-term activities added to the news page.
- Read about apprenticeships and supported employment, additional links to support and information for parents and carers and more training for professionals.
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.
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.