Latest SEND News and Updates

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SEND News

7 July - 30th edition

SEND News and Update

Welcome to this edition of the SEND News Bulletin.  This week includes information on


  • The Chiltern School embrace co-production to support pupil power!
  • The Council’s co-produced Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) Position Statement receives national recognition.

  • Have your say on SEND Services and Support
  • SEND service welcomes Peer Review team on 12-13 July

  • Last chance to have your say on proposed changes to special schools and additional resource provisions within mainstream schools.

  • CAMHSTalk Podcast
  • CAMHS Wellbeing Webinar - School Transitions

  • Counselling for Young Carers

  • Summer Holiday Activities
  • What's On
  • Children's Centres SEND Support Coffee mornings

Its CO-PRODUCTION week 5 - 9 July

The Chiltern School embrace co-production to support pupil power!

The Chiltern School in Dunstable took an active part in Central Bedfordshire’s Co-production Charter initiative. Pupils’ views were sought on designing a new local playground, reviewing communication, signage, and symbols in the community, and expressing their needs to practitioners to improve daily lives. They also expressed their preference for physical activities and understanding the medicines they might take.     

The Chiltern School have cemented their commitment to co-production by embedding a pupil voice day on a regularly basis as way of empowering their pupils. The school have also produced a short video to demonstrate their experience and positive outcomes from their participation in developing the charter.

View the video


The Council’s co-produced Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) Position Statement receives national recognition

Central Bedfordshire Council’s Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) position statement has been nationally recognised as a shining example of good practice by the PDA society.

PDA is difficult to diagnose as PDA individuals share autistic characteristics and several other symptoms including:

  • resisting and avoiding the ordinary demands of life
  • using social strategies as part of avoidance e.g. distracting, giving excuses
  • appearing sociable but may lack understanding
  • experiences excessive mood swings and impulsivity
  • appearing more comfortable in imaginative and role play
  • displaying obsessive behaviour that is often focused on other people.

The position statement which was co-produced in collaboration with the SNAP Parent Carer Forum (SNAP PCF) and professionals across the health and social care sector provides reassurance and recognises the need for extra support to children and families affected by PDA.

We are collaborating with SNAP PCF to develop a training programme for professionals across social care and education settings working with SEND children.  The training programme will be available from the autumn term 2021

Our statement and PDA Society introductory video can be viewed on the Local Offer.


Have your say on SEND Services and Support

Online Survey

As part of our commitment to improve and develop the right services and support for families with children and young people with SEND, the 2021 online Parent/Carer survey is now live.

This is an annual survey, supported by SNAP Parent Carer Forum, that provides parents and carers in Central Bedfordshire the opportunity to share their views on what is working well, how support has changed for the better and what we need to continue working on.

Please contribute your views, and help influence the development  of our services.

The online survey closes on 09 July 2021.


SEND service welcomes Peer Review team on 12-13 July

The Peer review is an outstanding action linked to our improvement plan following the Local Area SEND Inspection that took place in November 2019 and the subsequent Written Statement of Action (WSOA).

The Peer review provides a key opportunity to reflect and review the progress that has been made since the 2019 inspection. The Peer reviewers will assess the work that still needs to be done to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND in Central Bedfordshire.   

Each reviewer has a wealth of experience in the SEND inspection arena and will work with us over the two-day period to rigorously review progress against the WSOA.


Last chance to have your say on proposed changes to special schools and additional resource provisions within mainstream schools.

The 12-week public consultation closes on July 8, as part of the Schools for the Future programme, which is a long-term plan to raise education standards and make sure we have the right schools, in the right places, delivering the best education.

Further information, plus a consultation questionnaire, is available online at  Schools for the Future


CAMHSTalk Podcast

CAMHS Podcast

This is the second in a three-part series discussing the effects of COVID 19 and lockdown restrictions on the wellbeing of young people. Doctor Uttom Chowdhury, an expert consultant child and adolescent psychiatric who specialises in neurodevelopmental disorders and works at CAMHS, discusses how the pandemic has affected people’s wellbeing with a particular focus on tics and Tourette’s. Uttom shares his words of wisdom and support for families.

More information


CAMHS Wellbeing Webinar - School Transitions

July 21st - Evening Session

CAMHS Wellbeing

Counselling for Young Carers

Young Carers

Summer

Summer

SEND

Bug Hunting

Bug and Butterfly Hunt

Tiddenfoot Waterside Park, Mentmore Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2AE

Thursday 19th August

2.00pm – 3.30pm

 

 

Pond Explorers

Flitton Moor, Brook Lane, Flitton, MK45 5EJ (nearest postcode)

Monday 26th August

½ hour sessions available morning and afternoon

For more details and how to book, visit the Greensand Trust website


Summer Fun

Summer Fun

Fullhouse

Summer Fun

Summer Fun

What's on

More events and workshops that are being held this month are on our Events Calendar 

Do you provide a service or run events for children and young people with SEND and their families?

We would like to offer providers the opportunity to advertise local SEND services and events in our fortnightly SEND news bulletin, on our local offer Facebook page and to be included in the local offer events calendar.

If you would like to be featured then please email details about your service and/or event to local.offer@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk


Children's Centres SEND Support Coffee mornings

SEND Support face to face coffee afternoon every other Wednesday,
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Leighton Buzzard Children’s Centre

Booking is essential due to Covid restrictions please call 01525 384368.  Children welcome.

SEND Support virtual coffee afternoon every second and fourth Monday of the month,
2:00 – 3:0
0 pm
Dunstable Children’s Centre

If you would like to book a space please call 0300 300 8106/0300 300 8104

SEND Support virtual coffee morning every first and third Wednesday of the month,
9:30 – 10:3
0 am
Shefford and Stotfold Children’s Centre

If you would like to book a space please call 0300 300 8112

SEND Support virtual coffee morning every first and third Thursday of the month,
10:00 – 11:00 am
Flitwick Children’s Centre 

If you would like to book a space please call 0300 300 8111

SEND Support virtual coffee morning every first and third Friday of the month,
10:30 – 11:30 am
Houghton Regis Children’s Centre 

If you would like to book a space please call 0300 300 8115

Super Kids Online – virtual support group for parents or carers with children who have SEND
Sandy Children's Centre - every other Thursday, 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Fortnightly catch ups and support online.  A chance to speak to professionals from the CDC, Early Years Support Team, Speech and Language plus more.

To book a free place contact Karen on 0300 300 6009 or email karen.burton@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk


Please visit the Local Offer for more information on activities, services, advice and support across Central Bedfordshire for children and young people with SEND or follow us on Facebook

We hope you have found the information in the bulletin helpful. We would love to hear your feedback and what you would like to see in future editions.  Please let us know by emailing send.feedback@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk