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SEND News

27 April - 51st edition

SEND News and Update

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

  • Introducing Sarah-Jane Smedmor and Dr Helen Phelan

  • Have your say on our draft SEND Strategy 2022 - 2025
  • Apology regarding School Transport

  • SEND Early Intervention Offer update
  • Being a parent of a child affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • What's On
  • Children's Centres SEND Support Coffee Mornings

Introducing Sarah-Jane Smedmor and Dr Helen Phelan

Sarah-Jane Smedmor

Sarah-Jane Smedmor, Director of Children’s Services

Sarah-Jane joined us last week as our Director of Children’s Services.

Sarah-Jane was previously the Corporate Director Care and Protection Children’s Services for Dorset Council where she has strategic lead for social care and responsibilities for early help, education and SEND services. Sarah-Jane’s professional background as a children’s residential practitioner and children’s social worker shapes her beliefs and values. These are that children should be at the heart of all we do, supported by a highly-skilled and motivated workforce who provide the right services for the right children and families at the right time.

Sarah-Jane joined Dorset in 2020 to support their improvement journey and last Autumn, Ofsted rated Dorset Children’s Services as Good overall with Outstanding for Leadership and Management. Sarah-Jane’s child focussed approach, partnership ethos and demonstrable performance will enable us to continue to deliver great services for our children and families and improve those where we need to.

She is really excited to join children’s services and the whole council who are so ambitious and aspirational for all children and looks forward to meeting everyone. 


Doctor Helen Phelan

Dr Helen Phelan, Assistant Director for SEND

Helen joined the council two weeks ago as our new Assistant Director for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). 

Helen has been the Director for SEND and Inclusion in Barnet for the past three and a half years, and prior to that was Head of SEND Services and Principal Educational Psychologist in Cambridgeshire.  Helen brings a great breadth of knowledge and over 25 years experience in the field of SEND.

Collaborative working and co-production with all stakeholders, and especially with children and young people with SEND and their parent/carers are the cornerstones of how Helen works.  Helen is passionate about getting excellent outcomes for children and young people with SEND, and her top priority is to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs achieve well and get the right support, at the right time and in the right way in Central Bedfordshire. 


Have your say on our draft SEND Strategy 2022 - 2025

Have your say on our draft SEND strategy

We have launched a consultation asking for views on our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) strategy 2022 - 2025 to improve the service for children and young people with SEND and their families.  

 The consultation, which will run until 22 June 2022, sets out our plans for improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND.  

 The strategy has been co-produced, reflecting the priorities and aspirations of families and partners across Central Bedfordshire, and demonstrates a shared commitment as a partnership to continue to work together to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people with SEND 

This strategy will be used to inform the development of a number of key action plans to help partners deliver their priorities and ambitions over the next three years. 

You can have your say on the consultation by completing the online questionnaire.

The consultation runs until 22 June 2022. 

Have your Say


Apology regarding School Transport

CBC would like to apologise for some communications about the eligibility of children with special educational needs and/or disability (SEND) for travel assistance that were incorrect.  We would like to be clear that a child with SEND will be provided with travel assistance where it is identified that they are unable to safely walk the journey to and from school (accompanied where a parent/carer would normally be expected to do so) due to their SEND needs even if distance criteria are not met. The child is not required to have an EHCP. 

We have taken steps to ensure that this message is consistent across our webpages and letters.  If you have any questions in regard to travel assistance eligibility please contact the school transport team.


SEND Early Intervention Offer update

The Early Intervention Offer is designed to help schools offer additional support for children and young people who need it, on top of quality first teaching and SEN support.

As part of this offer, the Early Intervention Panel will be held weekly. It has two functions:

  1. For schools to request tier 1 or tier 2 funding:

    Tier 1 funding will be allocated for schools to access whole school/staff training on a particular issue/barrier to learning that affects one or more pupils in the school. Schools will need to complete a form on the local offer.

    Tier 2 funding will be allocated for schools to request when they need funding to support a pupil. Schools will be required to state the support they will use the funding for. The same form, on the local offer should be used.
  2. To consider the application for an EHCP needs assessment.  The EHCP co-ordinators will bring requests to panel and will get an immediate decision. If the panel considers the request does not meet the threshold for assessment, the panel will consider a tier 1 or 2 funding option.

Being a parent of a child affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder

A FREE 10 week programme run by parents for Mums, Dads and Carers

EPEC

For more information and bookings please contact:

Colette Fletcher, EPEC Hub Co-ordinator, 01582 660061 or email office@home-startcentralbeds.org.uk


What's on

More events and workshops that are being held this month are on our What's On Calendar 


Children's Centres SEND Support Coffee Mornings

Leighton Buzzard Mencap Opportunity Group
Thursdays 10 – 11:30 (Termtime only) 

Casual chat & play session for parents, carers & their children who have additional needs. Support for parents, carers & their children who have additional needs.
Ring 01525 384368 to book on.

SEND Stay and Play
Every Friday from 10:00 – 11:0
0 am
Dunstable Children’s Centre

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

SEND Support coffee afternoon every second Monday of the month,
1:30 – 2:3
0 pm
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 Wednesday, 1:00 am – 2:30 pm

Fortnightly catch ups and support online and face-to-face.  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


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 What's On page.

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