Welcome to the latest edition. We hope those of you with children at school or in education, are getting settled back into the new term, and any transitions are going well.
Thanks to everyone who has shared information with us on Facebook, email or through conversation. It really does make a difference to the information we share.
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Voluntary role - can you help?
Bradford Local Area SEND Strategic Partnership Board is looking for a voluntary independent chair for ‘Our SEND Journey’ workstream. The commitment is 2 hours per month. You can read more here.
Quick links to helpful information
- Barnardo's offer free online training on topics to help families -
bitesize online courses and workshops.
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Sibs is a charity that supports brothers and sisters of disabled children.
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Makaton resources from The Makaton charity.
- Find out what's on for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture!
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Lantern Making Workshop, Lister park, 1 November, suitable for small children. Various times. £6 - lantern, paint and lights included.
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Lister Park lantern parade on 1 November starts from 6pm with the pre-parade performances, and 6.30pm parade begins. Read more.
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BBC Tiny Happy People is a free online resource for supporting parents to develop the language and communication skills of their children aged from birth to 4.
- Keep up-to-date on Baby Week Bradford, 14 - 20 Nov 2024. Register here.
- There's a page all about toilet training on the FYI website.
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Sleep support is available for children aged 2- 11 years from the Together Trust and Sleep Tight service.
- For sleep support for a child aged 5-17 with complex needs and more than one health care professional involved, you can refer to the Children’s Community Support Team (CCST).
- Weekly free play and learn sessions available for families with young children (aged 0-5) each week in Bradford district.
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HOPE 4U (hope for you) can help expectant and new parents across Bradford district and Craven with utility debts, maternity grants and benefit checks, along with lots of other support.
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Baby wellbeing event (baby weighing, immunisations, advice) - Airedale Shopping Centre, Keighley on Thursday 24 October, 9am to 1pm, and Thursday 14 November, 9am to 1pm.
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Barnardo’s SENDIASS is an independent and free advice service for parents / carers. They can support with all things SEND including EHCPs and SEN support, appeals, mediation, complaints. Children and young people can also access the service independently.
- Did you attend the June Autism event - AutistiCon at Leeds Playhouse? If so the team are looking for feedback.
Mental health crisis support
If you are in crisis and need immediate support please contact First Response crisis service 0800 952 1181 who offer support 24 hours a day, seven days a week to people of all ages living in Bradford district.
Flu vaccinations
If someone you care for has a learning disability they should be offered a free flu vaccine. Here's an easy read leaflet about getting the flu vaccine. If your GP practice doesn’t contact you in the next few weeks, please give them a ring to arrange an appointment. You are also entitled to a free flu vaccine if you or your child are aged 18 years to 65 years in a clinical risk group, or if you are a carer in receipt of carer’s allowance. Read more about flu vaccines here.
Groups to support families
The Educational Psychology Team is leading a project to increase support in the local area for young people, schools and families when there are attendance difficulties linked to emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) and/or mental health needs.
The parent support sessions will:
> Give you a safe space to talk and get ideas from a psychological perspective
> Share ideas and help you feel supported by other families
> Increase your awareness and understanding of EBSA and help you gain ideas of how you can support your child and what you can expect from schools.
The groups will be delivered by Victoria Morris, Specialist Senior Educational Psychologist. You will need to attend all sessions at each hub.
* Bradford West Family Hub, Farcliffe on 10,17, 24 Oct
* Bradford South Family Hub Reevy Hill on 14, 21, 28 Nov and 5 Dec
* Bradford East Family Hub, Barkerend 4, 11, 18, 25 March
Further sessions will be available at other venues in the district. We will update you through our Bradford Local Offer Facebook page and future newsletters.
Email: EBSA@bradford.gov.uk to book your place.
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Bradford City Disability Football Club - join in!
Juniors and adults training available!
Bradford City Disability Football Club is an inclusive, accessible and friendly group. New members are always welcome, and the group caters for all ages and abilities from the age of six and over.
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Mondays, 5pm - 7pm (juniors, age 6+ and adults) £3 a session, at Bradford Academy, Lister Avenue, Bradford BD4 7QJ
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Thursdays, 6pm - 8pm (juniors, age 6+ and adults) £3 a session, at Dixons Allerton, 51 Oaks Lane, Allerton, Bradford BD15 7RJ
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Saturdays, 11am - 12 noon (juniors, age 6+) at 5 Alive, £3 a session, York Street, Bradford BD8 OHR
To find out about the sessions, contact coach Paul Jubb on 07845 568226
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Parent and carer support group
Tuesday 15 October 2024, 10.30am or 7.30pm
The topic for October’s group is: Supporting your child: Teenage brain development.
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.
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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SEND Short Breaks, personal care, and mediation services
What are we doing?
During 2024 and 2025 Bradford Council and Bradford Children and Families Trust are working together with partners from the NHS to improve and develop personal care at home, Short Breaks, and mediation services for children and young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities).
How are we doing this?
During the last few months, the team has been getting in touch with those who have experience of these services directly, as well as the many local groups for children, young people, parents, and carers. So far there have been three surveys and in-person engagement sessions. The group would like to thank everyone that has been involved in this work. You can find more information here.
There's still an opportunity to have your say!
(Please note you only need to attend one session)
SEND Feedback Session Online (daytime) – Tuesday 22 October 2024,12 noon - 1pm
SEND Feedback Session Online (evening) – Tuesday 22 October 2024, 7pm - 8pm
SEND Feedback Session In-person (daytime) – Thursday 24 October 2024, 10.30am - 11.30am
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October is ADHD Awareness Month
Did you know? There is a West Yorkshire ADHD support group, offering support across the region. The group has a private Facebook group, a website and you can phone for advice and to find out more on 0113 8563459.
The ADHD support group is run by people who are either neurodiverse themselves or have a child who is, so fully understand about everyone's individual situation and child's needs.
There are also regular events - some online and in-person. Find out about upcoming events.
Upcoming event with the ADHD support group (in Bradford)
Thursday 10 October
Me Time - Coffee & Cake @ Tiffin Coffee
Come along for a relaxed chat, coffee and cake and have a couple of hours to yourself with like-minded people.
Me Time events are for parents/carers of people with ADHD or suspected ADHD. Find out more and book online.
A deposit of £5 is payable on booking, this will be refunded to you on attendance at the event.
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Well done to Bradford Keighley and Skipton Disability Athletics member!
This summer, 25-year-old Guillaume Junior Atangana (known as Junior), along with his sighted guide Donard, won a bronze medal in this year's Paralympic Games in Paris in the Men's 400m.
He reached the podium in a personal best time of 50.89 seconds! Amazing work!
Junior lives in Bingley and and Donard in Bradford, they are both part of Bradford Keighley and Skipton Disability Athletics and are coached by Janet-Alison Arkwright at the club.
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Bradford Keighley and Skipton Disability Athletics is a group for people of all ages.
Swimming at Shipley pool, Tuesdays 4pm – 5.15pm
Athletics at Carlton Keighley, Green Head Road on Monday and Wednesday 6 – 7.30pm.
Bradford Keighley and Skipton Disability Athletics is a local club that provides disabled people throughout the Bradford, Keighley and Skipton areas with sporting opportunities of both a recreational and competitive nature. Regular exercise improves health and fitness.
Get in touch on Facebook, email bksda@aol.com or call: 07756 560765
Open day events
If you are at a stage of thinking about next steps, you might be interested in the following up-coming open days to help with future choices. We've included a selection of up-coming dates below.
Keighley College 8 October, 4pm
University of Bradford postgraduate virtual open day, Wednesday 9 October, 4pm - 7pm.
Bradford College 15 October, 5pm - 7pm
York St John University, Saturday 12 October 2024, 9.15am to 3.30pm
New College Bradford 19 October, 9am - 1pm
Leeds University, 19 October
Shipley College 14 November, 5.15pm - 7pm
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Using Makaton
Makaton is a language programme that uses signs, symbols, facial expressions and speech. It’s used by people who have difficulties communicating verbally.
Makaton can help children and young people who have difficulty with:
- listening to and understanding speech
- communicating what they want, think, or how they feel
- making themselves understood
- paying attention.
Learn how to start using Makaton or access free resources here.
To access the free resources, simply sign up. You can access printed resource, and for children learning about body safety you can access a Makaton friendly version of 'pantosaurous' the set of four videos from the NSPCC teaching children ways to stay safe from abuse.
Read here how Makaton has helped a young boy called Parker, on the BBC's Tiny Happy People website.
You can learn more about Makaton at The Makaton Charity website.
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In Our Place – a new, free online place for families’ and people’s emotional wellbeing
‘In Our Place’ is a new online library of free courses for everyone in the Bradford district.
You can find a link directly to the In Our Place courses from the new Parenting and family programmes page on the FYI (Families and Young Person’s Information) website.
These free courses are offered to help people better understand themselves and their family members, to support and help deal with family life, parenting, relationships, and emotional wellbeing.
The In Our Place online library consists of 17 separate courses, themed for different age groups and needs, from pregnancy, for families during the childhood and teenage years, through to adult life. Here's a couple specifically you might be interested in.
- Understanding your child with additional needs
- Moving up to secondary school for children with additional needs
Some of the courses are available translated into languages including Modern Standard Arabic, Polish and Urdu.
You can register for as many courses as you want, access the courses for free, all you will need is your post code and the access code – BDPARENTS.
Family Hubs in the district
Family Hubs welcome families and offer support for every age and stage of family life.
Family Hub area timetables show the sessions and activities that are taking place for families in the coming month.
Some sessions will need booking in advance - please contact your Family Hub if you would like to book a place.
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Save the dates - Baby Week Bradford returns from 14 to 20 November 2024!
Baby Week Bradford, the annual celebration of babies and all those who care for them, is back from 14-20 November 2024 with Playful Starts and Happy Hearts, celebrating all things play.
If you’d like to join the mailing list to receive information as it’s announced, please register here.
New leaflet about the learning disability register
A new leaflet has been created about the learning disability register. This has been developed for families and people with a learning disability to ensure individuals get the help they need when accessing health services.
By being on the learning disability register your child will be able to get a free:
- annual health check from the age of 14 upwards together with a health action plan
- Annual NHS flu vaccination
- NHS COVID-19 vaccinations/boosters
If you are their main carer, you should also be registered as a carer, in order to make sure that you can support them to attend appointments. You would also be entitled to a free NHS carer’s health check.
If you think your child may have a learning disability, talk to your GP surgery and book an appointment to discuss this with them.
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