Welcome to this edition of the SEND News Bulletin. This week includes information on
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New SEND Co-production charter
- Central Bedfordshire SENDIASS
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Homestart SEND Parent Mentoring Support Service
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Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF)
- Summer Holiday Activities
- Youth Clubs for young people with additional needs
- What's On
- Children's Centres SEND Support Coffee mornings
New SEND Co-production charter
We have launched our first Co-production charter. The charter is a shared vision for children and young people, with professionals working together to improve SEND outcomes and it was developed following the feedback, views, and input from over 35 parents/carers, 145 young people with SEND, from 17 different schools and settings and professionals from health and social care services.
The charter outlines our commitment to working with children, young people and parents to develop and improve services and support. Specifically, we will ensure we communicate effectively, empower others and focus on solutions.
The Chiltern School in Dunstable carried out several co-production activities throughout the project. The initiatives included the children with SEND designing a new local playground, reviewing communication, signage, and symbol in the community, expressing their needs to practitioners to improve daily lives, and sharing their preferred physical activities.
The Chiltern School have cemented their commitment to co-production by embedding a pupil voice day on a regular basis as way of empowering their pupils
Central Bedfordshire SENDIASS
We provide FREE impartial & confidential information, advice & support around many areas in relation to SEND, including Education Health & Care Needs Assessments (EHCNA) and Annual Reviews of Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
We listen and work with you, the education setting and the practitioners around your child to help you make informed decisions and move towards positive outcomes through a telephone helpline, information leaflets, face to face support, support at meetings & signposting to other support groups & services.
No access referral or criteria required.
Find out more on the SENDIASS website
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Homestart SEND Parent Mentoring Support Service
Home-Start is a registered charity and has been supporting families since 1984 through a number of services including groups, parenting programmes and parent volunteers.
What is it?
The Parent Mentor service is funded by Central Beds Council for families with children with special educational needs (SEND). Volunteer Parent Mentors who have themselves got experience with children with SEND can offer one to one support for a period of time (usually six weeks) to other parents with children with additional needs. Children do not have to have a diagnosis.
Our Parent Mentors have been through an initial training course and also receive ongoing training and supervision. References and DBS checks have also been taken up.
Our support is free and confidential.
What kind of support can the Parent Mentors offer?
This will be tailored according to your needs but could include:
- Emotional support – someone to talk to who “gets it”
- Help and guidance with navigating the pathways to access Neurodevelopmentalservices such as CAMHS, paediatricians and speech and language services
- Signposting to and accompanying for initial sessions to support groups and other services
- Signposting and help with finding other support services such as SENDIASS and specialist organisations
At present our support is via phone or online but once it is safe to do so we will offer home visiting support again.
How can I be referred?
Parents can refer themselves or be referred by a professional
What will happen?
A co-ordinator (who supervises the Parent Mentors) will get in touch with you to talk through what your needs are and to discuss the kind of support that would be helpful. A Parent Mentor will then be matched with you.
Does Home-Start keep records about me or about my family?
All personal information about families is treated as confidential and to be discussed only if necessary with the Home-Start staff in support of your volunteer and to assist your family. Any disclosure of your confidential information may only be undertaken with your express permission except where it is considered necessary for the welfare and protection of a child when information will be shared with the appropriate authority.
Home-Start keeps factual and statistical information about all the families we support
Contact
www.home-startcentralbeds.org.uk
Email: office@home-startcentralbeds.org.uk
Tel: 01582 660061
Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF)
This Summer, Central Bedfordshire Council is running a range of free activities in the School Holidays for children and young people aged 5 upwards.
There is something for everyone with a range of activities including creative activities, music, outdoor and sporting activities and youth/holiday club provision, with healthy snacks and lunch provided to all children and young people attending face to face activities. We are working with some amazing organisations to deliver the Summer programme including FUN, Kids in Action and Full House Theatre
The Holiday Activities and Food programme is for children eligible for benefit related free school meals. This is a requirement from the DfE who are funding the programme.
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (U) Relaxed Screening
27 August 2021 at 11am
Thomas and Bea are now married and living with Peter and his rabbit family. Bored of life in the garden, Peter goes to the big city, where he meets shady characters and ends up creating chaos for the whole family.
The 11am Screening will be a relaxed screening. At a relaxed screening, the soundtrack volume is reduced and low lights are left on. It's fine to make noise, move around or leave the cinem27 Aug a.
Adults £7.50**, Concessions £5.50**
**A £1 transaction fee will be added per ticket.
Wheelchair Users (cannot be booked online; please call Box Office)
Book online or telephone the Box Office on 01582 602080 (Mon-Thurs 12-3pm only)
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Family SEND Swimming sessions - exclusive use of the small pool for children and families with SEND.
Cost: FREE
Please be aware that pool capacity at each venue is limited and spaces must be booked in advance by phone with the pool of your choice. If you do book but are then unable to attend, please phone the centre and cancel your spaces for other families to book.
Saxon Pool & Leisure Centre: 01767 433133
28 July, 11 and 25 August - 2.15 - 3.15 pm
Flitwick Leisure Centre: 01525 493131
4, 18 August and 1 September - 2.30 - 3.30 pm
Dunstable Centre: 01582 361400
3, 17 and 31 August - 12.15 - 1.15 pm
Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre: 01525 375765
28 July, 11 and 25 August - 1.00 - 1.45 pm
Please note that normal swimming admission policy applies. This includes 1 adult (aged 18+) to every 2 children aged Under 8 years. All adults supervising children under eight years of age must accompany the children in the water and be within reach.
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Bug and Butterfly Hunt
Tiddenfoot Waterside Park, Mentmore Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2AE
Thursday 19th August
2.00pm – 3.30pm
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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
Youth Clubs for young people with additional needs
 
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 – 3:00 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 – 10:30 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
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