Latest SEND News and Updates

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SEND News

25 May - 53rd edition

SEND News and Update

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

  • Data Breach

  • Changes in management in SEND
  • Written statement of action progress

  • Children and Young People's Survey

  • Have your say on our draft SEND Strategy 2022 - 2025
  • Better Days for BLMK event

  • Autism Bedfordshire Events

  • LGBTrans Inclusive Swimming Sessions

  • May half term activities
  • What's On
  • Children's Centres SEND Support Coffee Mornings

Data Breach

Following the recent data breach we have contacted all parents/carers to offer our apologies. Some parents/carers may wish to explain the data breach to their child/ren and extend our apologies to them.  We would like to thank one of our parents', who has kindly developed the following resources to support these discussions.   

To access these resources please use the following links:

Data Breach Apology - Parent/Carer version

Data Breach Apology - Widget version


Changes in management in SEND

We have a new SEND sub-directorate in Children’s Services.  The SEND Statutory Team is now managed by Jackie Edwards, Chief SEND Officer, and the Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired and Medical Needs teams are managed by Karen Harris, Principal Educational Psychologist.

Jackie Edwards and Karen Harris report directly to the new Assistant Director for SEND, Helen Phelan.


Written statement of action progress

Don’t forget that we update the Council website termly with updates on how we are progressing against the actions set out in our Written Statement of Action. The actions are separated into the four workstreams that we have developed together with Bedfordshire Luton and Milton Keynes Clinical Commissioning Group (BLMK CCG) and in partnership with SNAP Parent Carer Forum.

The workstreams aim to address the areas of weakness identified by Ofsted and the CQC in November 2019 with key actions to ensuring our service to children and young people with SEND improves.


Children and Young People's Survey

cypp

Have you given us your feedback?  We are seeking feedback from children, young people, parents, carers and professionals to inform Central Bedfordshire’s Children and Young People's Plan for 2022-25. 

Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), East London Foundation Trust (ELFT), Cambridgeshire Community Services (CCS), SNAP Parent Carer Forum and Bedfordshire Police are working together to ensure the refreshed Plan outlines how services work together to support and help children and young people to enjoy life, have high aspirations and reach their goals

The previous plan was created and delivered before and during the pandemic. We know that the pandemic has impacted lots of things in children and young people’s lives, so it is important we get the right things in place to continue to support them to be the best they can be.

Children and young people

In the survey, children and young people are invited to share the support they need to be happy, safe, and healthy, and what’s important to them now and in the future.

We would be grateful for your help in promoting and sharing this. The survey questions were developed for children 10+ years old, but please adapt for children younger than this, as appropriate and required

There is the option of completing an Online Survey  or you can download a PDF version to print out.

Parents and carers

Parents and carers are invited to share what they think needs to be better for children and young people’s education, safety, physical and mental health, and leisure.  

Survey 

Professionals  

Professionals who work with and/or support children and young people are invited to share what they think needs to be better for children and young people’s education, safety, physical and mental health, and leisure. 

Survey

The closing date is Thursday 9th June.

For more information, please email cstt@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk


Have your say on our draft SEND Strategy 2022 - 2025

Have your say on our draft SEND strategy

Have you had your say in our draft Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy consultation? Along with our health partners, we want to hear your views on our Strategy to improve services in Central Bedfordshire for children and young people with SEND and their families. The consultation runs until 22 June 2022.

 

Have your Say


Better Days for BLMK event

If you’re interested in getting involved, register your place at our launch event on the 29th of June.

Better days

Autism Bedfordshire Events

Transitions

Diagnosis

Multi-sports

Football

LGBTrans Inclusive Swimming Sessions

Swimming

Half term

Autism Bedfordshire

May half term

Jubilee Arts

Spring Blossom

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