Feb/March Local Offer news

View this email in your browser

Local Offer - general

SEND Local Offer Partnership Newsletter 

February/March 2021

Hello and welcome

Hello everyone

As we move into March we are getting closer to 8 March when some of the restrictions put in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic will start to lift. For some, your children will have remained in school, but for others this date will signal the start of a return to schools or colleges. We have set out further details below. This newsletter updates you on all the things we are aware of and the SEND Transformation and Compliance Team want to remind you that we are here to support you as we all find our way through these challenging circumstances. 


update

Government announcement 

The Government has announced that from 8 March, people in England will see restrictions start to lift. They have published details of a four-step road map.

 The first step will be split into two parts:

Step 1 (part one) - March 8

  • All schools and colleges will reopen, as well as after school clubs.
  • One plus one recreation will be allowed; for example, people will be permitted to meet one other person from outside their household to socialise.
  • Stay at home order will remain.

Step 1 (part two) - March 29, at the earliest

  • Rule of six to return for outdoor meetings, including private gardens as will two-household rule.
  • Outdoor sports facilities to reopen.
  • Stay at home order to end.

Before proceeding to each next step, the government will examine the data to assess the impact of previous changes.

Details on the each step can be found on the Government website.


carers' vaccine

unpaid carers - update on vaccines

If you are an unpaid carer who is in receipt of Carer’s Allowance or are the main carer of a disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer contracted Covid-19 you should be included in Priority 6 of the governments priority grouping. 

Unpaid carers will be identified through two channels. You will be identified:

  • If you are registered as an unpaid carer with your GP. This is known as having a “Carers Flag” on your primary care records.
  • You are in receipt of or entitled to Carer’s Allowance. The Department for Work and Pensions will share this information with the vaccination programme.

If you have any concerns that you might not be contacted through these routes and want to find out more or would like to register with Carer's Resource you can call them on 01274 449660.


children and young people views

Covid vaccine questions and concerns from young people

Young people from Bradford District have worked with doctors and health professionals to produce a short film that will answer people’s questions on the COVID-19 vaccine.The Ambassadors worked with other young people to pull together the most common questions about the vaccine and put these to local health professionals. 

 You can watch the YouTube video here.


sharing ideas

SEND listening events 

The Parents' Forum Bradford and Airedale are now hosting parental listening events along with the SEND Transformation and Compliance Team and partners from the local area across Education, Health and Social Care.

The first event was held in January and was well attended by professionals and parents.

Parents were able to put queries to the different professionals in the room and also gave us some really useful feedback that will be shared via this newsletter and published on the Local Offer website.

A number of presentations were given by SEND T&C, SEN Assessment Team, Bradford CCG and the Specialist Teaching Support Service, these presentations were recorded and are available to watch or read the slides here

Date for your diary
The next listening event will be on 22 April 2021, 10am – 12.30 and closer to the time we will share a booking link on the Local Offer website, Parents' Forum Bradford and Airedale website pfba.org.uk and their Facebook page.


something new

Preparing for Adulthood – Have Your Say

Professionals in Bradford have recently undergone an audit, looking at a number of points and reviewing how their services are best preparing children and young people for adulthood. This audit has helped us further understand our working practice in Bradford and where we need to focus efforts moving forward.

Can you help?

We are now looking for a Task and Finish group to work with the lead co-ordinators to develop a version of the audit which parents/carers and children/young people will be able to complete. We will be looking for input on children’s services, health services and adults social care.

If you would like to take part in this, email us at sendtandc@bradford.gov.uk


Bradford Council urges carers to make use of support services

Bradford Council is reminding unpaid and family carers about the range of services available to support them which they can access, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Read More


what do you think

Have your say - rate our website
(a quick survey)

Please complete our quick survey

It will help us gain valuable feedback on our website, the form can be found on the right hand side of the page the link takes you to. 

 We would also value any compliments, comments or concerns about the Local Offer, in particularly we would like to gain feedback about the:

  • The content of the Local Offer website including the quality of existing provision and any gaps in the provision.
  • Local Offer pocket information booklet.
  • The accessibility of information on the Local Offer website.
  • How the Local offer has been developed or reviewed.

The Local Offer website survey has been reviewed and developed by parent carers', children young people and service providers. Please view and complete the very short 2min Local Offer survey


Short Breaks update

Following on from the Short Breaks listening events we held in September/October please take a look at our update presentation.


Information about  Annual Reviews

Since the first lockdown, schools have been successfully holding annual reviews virtually using either video platforms or conference calls. The new annual review paperwork, launched in June 2020, works well in both virtual and face-to-face meetings.

Read more questions and answers about annual reviews here.


ASD waiting list letter from NHS

Local NHS organisations are aware of the concerns of families across Bradford district and Craven about the delay in autism assessments for children and young people.

This update is to inform families about how we’re working together to improve services.

You can read more about the autism assessment and diagnosis process here.


Never miss a newsletter!

If you would like to take a look at any previous newsletters please read them here.


Group of children

No Child Cold

Thank you to everyone who has given to the No Child Campaign so far.

Every penny is going towards helping families in need to pay towards heating their homes during lockdown, supporting children learning at home because no child should have to learn in the cold. The fund is still open for donations and grants are available for anyone who needs to claim.

Please don’t suffer this winter get in touch for help or to make a donation.