Welcome to the SEND Partnership newsletter. It has been a busy month, with the World Autism Acceptance day event taking place this week. It was fantastic to see so many families in one place, all finding out about services on offer across the district. We hope you are enjoying the warmer weather. Spring has definitely arrived! Take care, and we'll be in touch again next month.
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Quick links:
- 'Anxiety and how to help your child' - 20 May, online support session with the Bradford District NHS Care Trust’s mental health support team. Attend 10.30am or 7.30pm. Email: mhstparentsupport@bdct.onmicrosoft.com
- Join the Yusra Jinaan Foundation for a free Communication Workshop on Sunday 11 May at 10.30am at the IslamBradford Centre. Book here.
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Families are invited to the Home Educators mindfulness walk at Cliffe Castle, on Friday 2 May (12 - 2pm). To book, email: nicola.fox@bradford.gov.uk
- Are you a young person between the ages of 16 and 24 and passionate about mental health and wellbeing? You can apply to be a Heathy Mind's Apprentice - there are paid opportunities. Apply before 18 July here.
- Young people aged 11 - 19 years can get advice and support from school nurses on a variety of health and wellbeing issues. Contact or text the confidential NHS Chat Health line on: 07312 263223
- There are volunteering opportunities at Reevy Hill Family Hub (Bradford South). Register your interest or email: arlie.haslam@bradford.gov.uk
- A helpful blog from Safer Bradford about carer wellbeing and how to get help if you're a carer balancing work, family, and your own health.
- The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, what is it and how will it impact your family? Read more here.
- 21 May - 29 June | Mary Poppins at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
- 24 - 26 May | Saltaire Arts Trail
- Bradford 2025 events.
Please spread the word with friends and family - sign up to this newsletter and/or join us on the Bradford Local Offer Facebook page.
For a list of parent/carer support groups across the Bradford district, click here.
ADHD de-escalation course - 1 day (Bradford)
This course is run by West Yorkshire ADHD support group to help you with managing and reducing difficult and angry behaviours from your child in your home. Tuesday, 13 May (9.30am – 3pm) at St Stephens CE Primary School, Gaythorne Road, Bradford BD5 7HU. £20 per person. Book here.
World Autism Acceptance Day event was a big success
Yesterday, over 350 people came to the World Autism Acceptance Day event held at Bradford City Football Club. Airedale and Wharfedale Autism Resource (AWARE) organised the event, and said they have already had brilliant feedback from families and organisations. On the day people could walk around the many stalls of services, from the local authority to health providers and a wide selection of charities. Thank you to everyone who came along and to everyone involved in the event. Our Local Offer Lead Officer, Nigel Hammon can be seen on the photograph at yesterday's event with the new Local Offer leaflets that arrived this week. If you want any leaflets for your setting or group, email: localoffer@bradford.gov.uk
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Update on SEND post-16 travel arrangements
All students who are post-16 and currently receive travel assistance, should have received a letter in the post outlining what their offer will be from September 2025.
If you are new to transport and want to apply, please use the form on the Bradford Council webpage here. Once completed please return it to schooltransport@bradford.gov.uk. Applications for September 2025 will need to be received by school transport by Friday, 13 June 2025.
New applications received by the Council for post-16 travel assistance will now be made in line with the new Transport Policy (2025 – 2026) now on the Bradford Council webpage here. The new policy will determine the travel assistance offer families will receive from September 2025. Eligibility criteria for new applications will not change.
We will continue to update you on these changes in upcoming SEND Partnership newsletters.
Chai & Chat free Speech and Language therapy groups
This project is a collaboration between Seedlings Speech Therapy and SEND Salaam, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, which means it's free for families in the Bradford area. The sessions are for families of children aged 18 months to 5 years. Register your interest here, or scan the QR code below.
Mental Health Awareness and Bradford district's family hubs
Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from 12 to 18 May and Bradford district's family hubs will be having a focus on mental health and wellbeing throughout the month of May. Please take a look at the timetables and follow the Family Hub Facebook pages to keep up-to-date with events and activities!
Bradford district Family Hubs: check out your local hub's May activity timetables.
Follow your local family hub on Facebook:
Bradford East Bradford West Bradford South Keighley/Shipley
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New disability multi-sports group
Bradford Disability Sports and Leisure are running a new multi-sports group on Fridays (5.15pm - 6.30pm) at Grange Interlink, Summerville Road, Bradford BD7 1PX. Cost is £3 per session. Contact Andrea: 07502 436773 or email andrea.dodsworth@bdsl.net
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Parents and carers have their say at community dialogue event
Over 40 parents and carers came along to a LEAP community dialogue event on 9 April at Laisterdyke Community Centre to meet with leaders from Bradford Council and Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership. Attendees heard from LEAP projects and then listened to experiences and ideas from parents, with an opportunity for a more informal chat with leaders and Councillor Sue Duffy.
People were asked to think about:
👉 Access to services and support
👉 Community-based services
👉 The role of communities in meeting the needs of children, young people and families
👉 Next steps.
Along with the recent Parents' Forum for Bradford and Airedale survey, which over 300 SEND parents contributed to, this important feedback will be used to refresh the SEND strategy.
The Local Offer team will be coming out to more community-based events to talk to parents about the SEND Local Offer and to listen and find out how we can keep improving what we do - get in touch if you want the Local Offer to be at an event. Email: localoffer@bradford.gov.uk
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School attendance support - run by an Educational Psychologist
The Educational Psychology team is leading a project to support families when there are school attendance difficulties linked to mental health needs.
Sessions have started in Ilkley, but there's still time to join the sessions at Rainbow Family Hub sessions (attendance is required at all four session dates).
Rainbow Family Hub, Braithwaite Grove Keighley BD22 6JB
All sessions will take place, 1pm - 2.30pm on the following Thursdays.
💙12 June 💙 19 June 💙 26 Jun 💙 3 July.
To book, email: EBSA@bradford.gov.uk or phone: 01274 439444
We have two helpful One Minute Guides, including Improving school attendance and Emotionally Based School Avoidance.
Some feedback from some parents and carers who have attended one of the sessions.
SEND Service Standards Charter – improving levels of service
Our new charter sets out how services should communicate with you. To make sure you are more informed and involved, SEND services will:
- listen to your experience and develop service information with you (‘co-production’)
- ask how you prefer to keep in touch
- use plain language and explain any terms
- aim to meet SEND timescales that are set by law.
You can tell us about your experience, whether that’s good or ‘could do better’, by scanning the QR code or clicking here to the feedback survey.
Find out more on the Local Offer website.
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Action for stammering children
Steph Burgess, stammering lead for Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, was a guest at a Parliamentary Reception this month, to see the launch of a new report in support of children who stammer. As the clinical lead for Airedale’s nationally renowned stammering service, Steph, who is a Senior Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, contributed to the new report as part of a small focus group of specialist speech and language therapists (SLTs). Read more.
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