Welcome to our Autumn, October edition. We hope that your children and young people have been settling into new school, learning or work routines over the last few weeks.
We have a whole host of topics for you to catch up on. We hope you enjoy the changing season, and find some useful information to read below.
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Shortage of medicines for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
On 27 September 2023, a National Patient Safety Alert was issued highlighting shortages of various medications used to manage Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Shortages are currently expected to last until December 2023.
This article below includes advice on which medication is affected, and how to manage during the shortage.
Let’s Get Talking, Bradford!
Thank you to local parents and carers who have helped choose the new name and logo for Talking Bradford.
Drum roll please….Here is the favourite! You loved the bright colours and easy to read graphics.
Talking Bradford is a new step-by-step guide to speech, language and communication support in Bradford. The first part of the launch is for families of children aged 0-5.
You will be able to find more information on the service in the coming weeks on the Families and Young Persons Information - FYI website.
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Support for school attendance
Getting children to school on time and every day can be a challenge, and if your child has a special educational need it can create additional challenges.
If you are worried about attendance or want some advice schools and/or the attendance team can:
- visit you at home or make time to see you at school
- talk to you about all the problems that may be making if difficult for your child to attend school
- help you to deal with the difficulties which stop your child from going to school regularly
- put you in touch with other services, if you need more advice or support.
- they may work with you to complete an Early Help Assessment.
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Sleep Tight Bradford District and Craven
Sleep Tight Bradford District and Craven, a new sleep service, can provide specialist one-to-one sleep clinics for parents of children, aged 2-11 years old who are experiencing sleep difficulties.
Run by the Together Trust, a charity highly experienced in providing sleep services, their sleep practitioners will work with families to create a personalised sleep plan for children so that everyone can get a good night’s sleep.
If you’re a parent or carer living in Bradford District, find out more about Sleep Tight Bradford District and Craven here.
For further resources and advice from the Together Trust, including sleep tips for babies and young children, visit The Together Trust here.
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School choices
It’s that time of year when you might be considering school preferences for 2024.
It is helpful to name a couple of options and we recommend that you spend time looking at which schools you feel would be most suitable for your child. You could look at school websites, ask for a phone conversation with the SENCO or arrange a face to face visit.
If possible, take your child and/or young person along with you to see what their views and wishes are. SENDIASS have developed information sheets with some helpful questions you might want to ask.
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Wise Owls drop in sessions - learning language through play
If you have concerns about your child's speech and language development, help is available at a new drop-in session called Wise Owls, funded by Family Hubs and Start for Life.
Wise Owls is available for any family with children aged 18 months to 4 years. It’s a welcoming space where you can meet with one of the supportive language development workers and have a chat while your child plays.
The sessions start in October with weekly sessions at Canterbury Nursery (BD5), Delph Hill Community Centre (BD12) and Rainbow Family Hub in Keighley (BD22).
There will also be sessions in Bradford West very soon - please keep an eye on the FYI website, on the Family Hub pages for your area.
Owlets
If you have specific concerns, you can also speak to your health visitor about a referral to Owlets group sessions to get extra support.
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Protect your child from flu this winter
As we move into the winter months we expect to see in an increase in the number of cases of flu, especially amongst young children. Flu can be a nasty infection that is easily spread between family members. The best way to protect your children against flu is vaccinations and there are different options available depending on the age of your child.
2-3 year olds
The flu vaccine for 2-3 year olds is a nasal spray. The nasal spray does contain pork gelatine (porcine), but there is a porcine free alternative available in the form of a jab. Contact your child’s GP to arrange a free appointment for either the spray of the jab.
5-11 year olds
The School Immunisations team is administering flu jabs for 5-11 year olds in your child’s school. In order for them to be eligible for the jab, parents must complete the electronic consent form which is sent by the school. You can also contact your child’s GP to arrange an appointment.
Read further information about protecting yourself or your children against flu.
The new Local Offer website is nearly ready!
We are now in the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) phase of our website development and invite you test and give your feedback on the new website.
As we continue to develop our new Local Offer website you now have your opportunity to shape the Local Offer website to best meet the needs of our SEND community in Bradford.
We have been working to build our new website throughout the last few months and are now ready to give you the first opportunity to try it out. Thank you once again, on behalf of our SEND community, for your support.
If you would like to support this testing phase you will find more detail and and a link to the new website here.
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Tell us what you think to the Terrific Twos Campaign
Did you seen the Terrific Twos campaign aimed at helping families to find out about the 15 hours of free childcare for two-year-olds?
We would appreciate you could share what you thought of the campaign by telling us in this quick survey.
The campaign has been running since April 2022, and ran across media, including postcards, social media, leaflets, banner in parks and nurseries and an event in City park. If you didn't see the animation video featuring children from our district, watch the Terrific Twos video.
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Children and young people’s interview panel
Elliot was a young person who came forward to take part in our young people interview panel for the Assistant Director of SEND position within Bradford Council in September 2023.
Elliot was joined by two other young people who all did a fantastic job in asking the questions that mattered to them and contribute to the selection of the candidate they felt would work in their best interest. Let's hear how Elliot found the experience:
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 If you are a young person or know of someone that would be interested in taking part on a SEND young people interview panel, contact matthew.elliott@bradford.gov.uk
National Citizen Service - All Stars
The National Citizen Service All Stars programme is for young people aged 16-17 who are interested in building on their strengths, gaining new friends and learning new skills.
The All Stars group in Bradford are looking to identify young people who would be interested in signing up to join the programme.
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Neurodiversity - Future Pathways project in Bradford Schools
Bradford Council’s Educational Psychology Team are working in partnership with the Centre for Applied Education Research (CAER).
The project is to give teachers better tools and advice on identifying and meeting neurodivergent children’s learning and support needs.
The team want to help teachers make the right adaptations in the classroom and help parents support their children better at home. The team are in Phase 1 of this exciting project with 13 schools using the first live version of the Electronic Developmental Support Tool (EDST) which sits at the heart of the project.
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Down Syndrome Training & Support Service
You will find information in the latest October newsletter, including:
- activities for young people with Down syndrome - (youth clubs, dancing)
- independent speech and language group sessions
- early intervention
- training.
Read the October newsletter here.
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