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SEND News

Issue 72 - 22 February

SEND News and Update

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

  • Individual Health Care Plans in Schools - update from the Bedfordshire and Luton School Nursing Team
  • ADHD Medication in Schools - An Update from the Bedfordshire and Luton Community Paediatrics Service
  • Young Carers Network meeting

  • Young Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire Young Carers Survey
  • Power 2 Parents - Exploitation Workshop

  • Neurodiversity Celebration Week
  • Neurodevelopmental Conditions and Mental Health - CAMHs Emotional Wellbeing Programme
  • Bedfordshire and Luton Discovery College Spring Prospectus

  • Being a Parent of an Autistic Child Course
  • What's On
  • Children's Centres SEND Support Coffee Mornings

Individual Health Care Plans in Schools - update from the Bedfordshire and Luton School Nursing Team

Children and young people who have been identified as having a long-term health condition requiring support in school (including support in an emergency situation) will have an Individual Health Care Plan.

An Individual Health Care Plan is a written document that specifies what sort of help the school can provide for your child and is developed in partnership between the school, parents, pupils, and the relevant healthcare professional who can advise on a child's case. The aim is to ensure that schools know how to support your child effectively and to provide clarity about what needs to be done, when and by whom, for example, what medicines they can administer, and what to do in a medical emergency.

In Bedfordshire and Luton, the school nursing team can support the school and family with writing a health care plan, and the team provide support and training to schools for the management of medical conditions. Health care plans for complex medical conditions (e.g. heart conditions) should be written by the specialist team overseeing the care of your child, however the school nurse can act as a point of liaison and support the co-ordination of this. 

It is best practice for schools to review all health care plans for students annually, to ensure students are kept safe, information is up to date and that they have one for everybody that needs one.

The school nursing team is available for young people, parents/carers or education settings to contact them if guidance is needed or if they have any concerns with managing health of young people in school.

The school nursing team can be contacted via the Health HUB by calling 0300 555 0606 or email ccs.bedsandlutonchildrenshealthhub@nhs.net


ADHD Medication in Schools - An Update from the Bedfordshire and Luton Community Paediatrics Service

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting 5% of the UK population (approximately 1 in 30). The three main features of ADHD are Inattention, Hyperactivity, and Impulsivity. However, not all children and young people with ADHD will experience challenges in all these areas.

NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) have produced guidelines which recommend medication to be used in severe or moderate ADHD where other approaches have not proven effective. Medication may be a valuable addition to help students concentrate, learn, and behave more effectively but it should be used as one part of a wide range of psychological, educational and developmental therapies and not as the only strategy employed to manage ADHD successfully. A child and adolescent psychiatrist or paediatrician can assess if medication is appropriate.

There are two types of medications – stimulant and non-stimulant – that are recommended as options for the treatment of ADHD. The dose of medication will be tailored to the student’s needs and may change as they get older, depending on their response and any side effects.

To ensure that your student receives the full benefit of their medication, it is important that it is taken as prescribed. Some medications are taken before school and their effects last for the whole school day. Other medications last for a shorter amount of time and will have to be taken during the school day – this could mean a supply is kept at school. It is important to address any issues around taking medication at school to ensure that they do not miss a dose for any reason. The student’s doctor or parents will explain the dosing regimen and appreciate your support in ensuring your student takes the medication. ADHD medications (those that are stimulants) are controlled drugs so they must be kept in a locked container and kept out of reach of children. Clinicians advise that medication is taken with food and children should be allowed a water bottle during lessons as the medication can cause a dry mouth.

It is important that student progress is monitored when they start treatment for their ADHD. The student’s doctor will want to monitor not only their development and learning and whether their treatment is working, but also whether they are experiencing any side effects if they are taking medication so that treatment can be adjusted if necessary. The paediatrician may request school report forms and/or Conners' questionnaires to be completed before clinic appointments, and they do appreciate the time that these take for teachers to complete. They are, however, very helpful in ensuring that the child/young person is on the correct medication and dosage.

Any medication that is recommended by your student’s health professional has the potential to cause side effects which can be different in each student. It is important that your student’s health professional is aware of any changes that occur once they start taking their medication, so please try to keep a record of anything you notice at school.

Information adapted from the ADHD foundation.

There are many wonderful resources to support schools with teaching students with ADHD, please see the links below.

Teaching and managing students with ADHD

Refocusing on ADHD in Education

Further Information about ADHD…

ADHD is associated with lower levels and utility of the neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenaline. We all naturally need dopamine – especially when engaged in tasks that require sustained concentration.

We produce dopamine ‘the feel-good hormone’ when we engage in experiences that we find positive. When we understand the role of dopamine in the brain, then we can understand why children and young people with ADHD can be highly distractible, constantly seeking new stimuli and experiences, and present with difficulties in activities that they are not particularly interested in.

The ADHD brain also has instinctive adaptability, for example a greater capacity for visual imagery, which could be a compensation strategy for poor working memory. Children with ADHD can be hyper-active because moving increases the production of dopamine in the brain which in turn supports learning, memory, motivation, and mood regulation.

ADHD is a medical condition that requires specific support depending on severity of the symptoms. Understanding ADHD together with the desire to adapt teaching and learning strategies can enable many students with ADHD to learn more effectively, and there are a number of strategies that can be implemented in the classroom to support students with ADHD.

The Bedfordshire and Luton community paediatric specialist nursing team can be contacted via the Health HUB by young people, parents/carers or education settings if support is required for managing ADHD medication in school.

Health HUB contact details
Telephone: 0300 555 0606
Email: ccs.bedsandlutonchildrenshealthhub@nhs.net

Co-Produced in Partnership with Bedfordshire and Luton Parent Care Forums


Young Carers Network meeting

The Young carers network meeting is a space for young carer leads to come together, share information and ideas about what they are doing in school for young carers, and ask any questions about our offer, or up and coming events/groups.

Next meeting Tuesday 28 March 10.00 - 11.00 on Microsoft teams.

If you would like to attend, please email youngcarers@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk


Young Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire Young Carers Survey

If you are a young carer, or know of a family member or friend who is a young carer, living in Central Bedfordshire, please help us to understand the support you/they may access by completing our short survey:

Please can you share this survey with colleagues, friends and family, and any other organisations/individuals you think can help. It will only take a few minutes and will make a real impact, the deadline to complete the survey is 28th February 2023.

Complete the Survey


Power 2 Parents - Exploitation Workshop

Did you know perpetrators of exploitation will target children as young as 9 years old and no child is exempt from this happening to them. However, ‘knowledge is power’ and there are ‘safety in numbers’ so we are urging as many parents as possible to take part in this workshop to enable us to fight this together!!!

Early Help Plus are really excited to offer an evening workshop for parents to come together to gain an understanding of child exploitation, how they can better safeguard and prevent this from happening to their own children and to support us as professionals to disrupt these perpetrators. This includes a powerful presentation from Rosanne Taylor, mother to murder victim of knife crime, you will be able to hear her experience and find out how she felt she could have prevented this from happening to her son.

A number of guest speakers will be presenting in both an informative and interactive way where you will also have the opportunity to have your say, talk to services who support us in our work and to access a future support group.

Open to any Central Bedfordshire families – children & young people do not need to be currently at risk of exploitation for parents to attend. Knowledge is Power!! Professionals are also welcome to attend

Wednesday 22nd March 2023 5.30pm – 7.30pm at Redborne Upper School, North School site, Connelly Hall, Flitwick Road, Ampthill MK45 2NU

Register for a place

 


NCW

Find out more ...


Neurodevelopmental Conditions and Mental Health - CAMHs Emotional Wellbeing Programme 

NDD

More information and to book a place


Bedfordshire and Luton Discovery College Spring Prospectus

The Discovery College offers free workshops to young people between 13-18 years old across Bedfordshire and Luton.

Workshops will focus on numerous topics from arts and crafts to CV writing and career development.  We welcome carers, relatives, professionals, and friends to join this fantastic opportunity and support young people explore their potential, learn new skills and flourish within their community.

All our workshops will be done in groups either face to face or online. The Discovery College will cultivate a non-judgemental environment and allow everyone to share their voice.

Download the new Spring Prospectus


Being a Parent of an Autistic Child Course

For more information and bookings please contact Home-Start on 01582 660061 or email office@home-startcentralbeds.org.uk

EPECepec

What's on Calendar

In response to feedback from the SNAP PCF Parent/Carer Survey we have updated our What's on Calendar on the Local Offer.   Now you will be able to click on a date and a list of events that are happening that day will appear on the right hand side. Just click on the event that you are interested in to read more information about it.   So check it out and let us know what you think by emailing local.offer@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk 

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 0300 300 8880 to book on.

SEND Stay and Play
Every Wednesday 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 Story Time at Stotfold Library every Thursday (starting 12 January) 
9: 15 – 10:15 am 

Shefford and Stotfold Children’s Centre in partnership with Stotfold Library

No booking required

SEND Support coffee afternoon every 4th Thursday of the month,
1:30 – 2:30 am
Flitwick Children’s Centre 

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

SEND Coffee morning, Stay and Play 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

Stay and Play in your own way 
Biggleswade Youth Centre - 1:30 – 2:30 pm:  21 February, 21 March
Sandy Children's Centre - 9.30 - 11.00 am: 7 February, 7 March

A fun group for Children with SEND and their parents and carers.  Explore our wonderful Children's Centre while spending time with other parents/carers and young children who have additional needs.

No need to book.  For more information 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


Cost of living information on our website