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Happy New Year. We hope you find the latest edition helpful, our theme for this month is mental health.
It's also full of information kindly shared by many of you in our SEND community in Bradford district. If you have anything to share, email:
localoffer.news@Bradford.gov.uk
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Quick links to helpful information
- What’s On this February half term in Bradford district.
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Information about how to get a Max Card (discounts on things to do).
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Did you know? Family Hubs offer support for children and young people with a Special Educational Need or disability up to the age of 25. Find the latest timetables of activities and events.
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Living Well website and newsletter sign up.
Local Support groups
A full list of parent and carer support groups across Bradford district.
Additional support group information on Bradford’s SEND Local Offer.
Update from our Annual Survey
The Parents' Forum would like to say a huge thank you to all of the parents and carers who completed the annual survey 2023.
Thank you for your honest answers and thoughts. There were 317 responses which is nearly triple the number of people who answered last year’s survey!
The Forum are now analysing all of the information you have provided and will then share it with you and all of the services and organisations that support our children throughout the district. This is expected to be completed by the end of February.
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New service offered to Bradford families
Bradford Portage service has expanded and now forms part of the families SEND support team, offering a range of programmes and workshops to families who have a child/ren with Special Educational Needs and disabilities up to the age of 25.
Read more on our SEND Local Offer website, you can make a referral here.
The Rhyme Challenge is a fun way to introduce children and families to rhymes.
Young children learn best through seeing someone they know well doing things, and through repetition.
The Rhyme Challenge is taking place now and right through to March. Find the dates of what's on at your local library here.
A focus on Mental Health
Time to Talk Day, 1 February 2024
There is no right way to talk about mental health, and most of us will either have experienced a mental health challenge ourselves or know someone who has or is struggling.
You can watch mental health experts from services across Bradford District and Craven sharing their top tips on how to listen and provide support when someone talks about their mental health.
You can watch these videos on the Healthy Minds TikTok and Instagram.
Here's some links to further support:
Healthy Minds is a website that can help you find mental health information in Bradford district and Craven. The directory lists more than 250 support services and activities.
Guide-Line can give support if you are feeling extremely anxious and/or having panic attacks, call: 0800 1884 884. Translation service available including Urdu, Arabic, Polish and Punjabi.
First Response provide urgent support to anyone in Bradford district. It could be for self-harming, suicidal thoughts, or a mental health crisis. 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 0800 952 1181.
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How to get help from the schools mental health support team
Who are we?
The Healthy Minds mental health support team provide support to children and young people (aged 5 - 18 years of age) and their parents and carers.
What sort of support can you give?
We work on a 1:1 or group basis with children and young people who are presenting with mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
What support can you give to parents and carers?
We work with parents and carers using interventions including parent-led CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), family therapy, parent support groups and our parenting programme for conduct problems.
How do we get referred for help?
The first point of call is to contact your child’s school and speak to a member of school staff who can speak to the team.
More information can be found on the Healthy Minds website or email at, mhst@bdct.nhs.uk
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Parent and carer support group
Tuesday 20 February (10.30am or 7.30pm) online on Zoom
This month's topic: supporting your child's self-esteem.
The parent support group is an online group, facilitated by NHS mental health practitioners. The group is a safe space for parents to get-together, share your experiences and build positive relationships. On the day the group will talk about what self-esteem is, what can impact self-esteem, and how to build and support positive self-esteem.
If you would like to join the session, email: mhstparentsupport@bdct.onmicrosoft.com
Join Bradford, Keighley and Craven mental health support group (called Raising Yorkshire Puddings) on Facebook.
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Help your child get a better night's sleep
The Together Trust charity is offering free support both face-to-face (in person) and over the telephone to help families with a child aged 2 to 11 who has sleep difficulties.
Together Trust will provide advice, information and practical approaches to help your child improve their sleep.
Sleep session - in-person (2 hours)
This 2-hour session will include a presentation from a qualified practitioner, covering tips and strategies for sleep, and a chance to ask questions.
- Wednesday, 7 February, 10am to 12 noon
- Bradford East Family Hub, 365 Barkerend Road, Bradford BD3 8QX
Sleep workshop - in-person (4.5 hours)
This 4.5 hour session will take a more detailed approach and will include an opportunity to create your own sleep plan for your child.
- Wednesday, 6 March,10am to 2.30pm
- Bradford East Family Hub, 365 Barkerend Road, Bradford BD3 8QX
- Please bring your own lunch.
Sleep chat - by telephone (20 minute appointments)
A 20 minute phone call with a qualified sleep practitioner, to get individual advice for sleep issues. Appointments are available (10am - 12 noon) on the upcoming dates:
- Tuesday, 6 February
- Tuesday, 12 March
- Wednesday, 17 April
To book a telephone sleep chat or a place at the face-to-face sessions, please email admintss@togethertrust.org.uk, and include:
- Your full name
- Preferred session and date
- Contact telephone number (if you are requesting a telephone sleep chat).
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This is what parents have said about the information packs and support they have received as part of the 1:1 clinics with the Together Trust:
You can read more and self-refer for the 1:1 clinics here. (Please be aware there is a waiting list, but please do in the meantime access the group sessions.)
Children’s Mental Health Week, from 5-11 February 2024
This years theme is ‘My Voice Matters’. Parents and carers can access a number of resources.
Tips to support young people's mental health.
Ideas from primary school pupils about how children like them can look after their mental health.
10 ways to look after mental health - written by Secondary school students to help other young people look after their mental health.
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Some useful places to find mental health help and support
Kooth - A free, safe and anonymous place for young people to find online support and counselling. Includes a magazine and discussions boards.
Mind - Information for young people aged 11 - 18. You can choose if you are
YoungMinds is a website with information on what to do if your child or a young person is struggling with how they feel. There is also a parents helpline if you want to speak to someone about your child.
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Call YoungMinds free parents helpline, 0808 802 5544
(Monday - Friday 9.30am - 4pm).
Crisis support helping young people
Childline - free, private and confidential. Can support a child or young person up to age 19. Call 0800 1111.
Samaritans - Available 24 hours a day providing free confidential emotional support to anyone, anytime. Call 116 123.
Shout - free 24 hour text support for anyone in crisis. Contact if you need immediate support. Text 85258.
Online Abuse support - If anyone is acting or has acted inappropriately towards a child or young person you can report it here.
West Yorkshire Night OWLS is a confidential support line for children, young people, their parents and carers who live in West Yorkshire. Freephone 0800 1488 244 8pm-8am every day.
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Youth Theatre Drop-Ins!
Freedom Studios are running new Youth Theatre drop-in sessions. No previous experience is needed and all sessions are completely FREE.
Each week on Thursdays 6.30pm to 8pm there will be the chance to try out performance skills. If you are a young person aged 11-19 and interested in:
- Screen Acting
- Clowning and Improvisation
- Music and Film Composing
- Storytelling and Songwriting
- Puppetry and Poetry.
There is also a three day performance skills drop-in course at Kala Sangam in February half term (Feb 12 to Feb 14, 10am – 3pm). Places are limited, email: yt@freedomstudios.co.uk.
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The SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan published last year set out plans for reforming the SEND system
What does this mean for Bradford?
We are currently working with the Department for Education and our neighbouring local authorities with a two-year programme to implement, test and refine the changes recommended in the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan.
Have your say on Bradford Council's Executive budget proposals for 2024-25
Bradford Council's Executive has published its budget proposals for 2024-25.
These proposals reflect the budget challenges faced by the Council and represent significant changes across many services.
You have until Saturday, 17 February 2024, to feedback your views through the budget proposals consultation.
The Council's annual budget-setting process leads up to Full Council on Wednesday, 7 March 2024, when the budget for 2024-25 will be set.
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Listen in is a project happening right now in the communities, across the Bradford district and Craven
As well as a number of visits across communities in our district, the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership will be engaging with children and young people with SEND and complex needs. For example, they will be listening in at school councils, youth justice sessions, youth groups and specialist schools to find out what young people's experiences of health and care has been like and hearing ideas about ways things can improve.
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Update: Shortage of medicines for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
There is a national shortage of the medication prescribed for ADHD. The shortage is now expected to last until April 2024.
However, supplies of some medicines may be coming back into stock.
Developing future support for children with Down syndrome
Earlier this month the Department for Education announced that, along with the wider rollout of other programmes for children with SEND, they will be collecting new data about the numbers of children with Down syndrome and where they are educated through changes to the School Census. The aim is to identify good practice and shape long term services.
The Down Syndrome Act 2022 aimed to raise the understanding and awareness of the specific needs of people with Down syndrome.
School wellbeing day ROCKED!
What was the day about?
A group of young adults who are part of the ‘Into Employment’ programme at the School of Rock and Media (SORM) were set an inclusive wellbeing challenge by Richard Cracknell (Child Friendly Bradford Lead) and Matt Elliott (SEND Children’s Participation Officer).
What did they have to do?
To design and plan a whole day of school-based activities to improve student mental health and wellbeing. They were given one week to plan, design and delivery their ideas!
What ideas did the young people have?
Each group had their turn to present their ideas and explain why their day would benefit all young people.
- The first group wanted a 'sensory room' for the day, and an opportunity for a ‘chill and chat’ space throughout the day.
- The second group wanted a 'smash room' to allow young people to release any frustrations they had. They discussed the importance of mindfulness sessions to remain calm and relaxed throughout the day.
Well done to everyone involved, it sounds like everyone came up with some fantastic ideas! This is what some of the young people said:
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