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SEND News

Issue 73 - 24 March 2023

SEND News and Update

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

  • Blog – from the Assistant Director for SEND, Helen Phelan

  • Parental Mileage Update for Home to School Transport

  • SEND Local Offer Information Booklet
  • New Young Carers Website is LIVE!

  • REFLECT - a new free, confidential and 24/7 text support service
  • Better Days Poetry Nights

  • Easter Holiday Activities

  • Children's Centres SEND Support Coffee Mornings


Helen Phelan

Blog – from the Assistant Director for SEND, Helen Phelan

Welcome to the first SEND blog and updates on what we have been doing to improve the service for our children and young people with SEND and their families.

Read more on the Local Offer


Parental Mileage Update for Home to School Transport

Central Bedfordshire Council will be offering 45p per mile from 1 April 2023 to parents and carers of children who are currently in receipt of parental mileage and those eligible for lone private taxi transfers to and from school, if they wish to do drop off and pick up themselves. The Council recognises that since the pandemic more parent carers can, and want to, do the school run. They are now offering 45p per mile each way to parents if they opt to transport their children to school, instead of choosing a private taxi. The Council will continue to provide transport for any children who are eligible for it.

Parents and carers who already receive parental mileage will automatically be given the new allowance from 1st April 2023 – you do not need to reapply.

If this is something you’d like to consider, please call the School Transport Team on 0300 300 8339  to discuss your circumstances or raise a ticket via the contact form where your options can be discussed.


SEND Local Offer Information Booklet

The new co-produced  local offer website was launched in October 2021 following workshops held with multi-agency organisations, professionals, parents and carers  and young people. Parents/carers, young people and our staff have worked together to make the information in the Local Offer relevant and informative.

The Local Offer sets out in one place what information on support and services are available to support children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) from birth to 25 ,  as well as how to access these services and organisations . We want to continuously improve our SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Local Offer to ensure that it is meeting the needs of local families and individuals .

The SNAP PCF survey conducted in early 2022 outlined the need for further work to improve the reach of our local offer and as a result Central Bedfordshire Council agreed steps , as outlined in the SNAP Action Plan, to address this.   As a result Central Bedfordshire Council and SNAP PCF have worked together to co-produce a Local Offer SEND Information booklet to share with families .

  • This is available as an electronic version,  and has been distributed widely to our colleagues in education, health, care and our third sector partners.
  • Hard copies will be placed in all schools, early years settings, children’s centres, libraries, along with designated  health settings through the Spring Term .

The Local offer can also be found online at www.localoffer.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Use the ‘Recite Me’ tool bar at the top of the page to enable you to access the pages in your own language

 

Booklet

Scan the QR code to go straight to the Local Offer Booklet

Website

Scan the QR code to go straight to the Local Offer Website


New Young Carers Website is LIVE!

You will find information on our fantastic offer for young carers, the events and activities we hold, and how young carers can access our offer. There is information for professionals detailing how we are supporting young carers and how schools and communities can get involved, and a section to support parents in how to register their child as a young carer.

 There’s also information on who a young carer is, what things they may do as a young carer, and organisations who support young carers, alongside videos and photos of some of our residential trips and activities.

Visit the new Young Carers website


REFLECT - a new free, confidential and 24/7 text support service

Reflect

Reflect is a free, confidential and 24/7 text support service for anyone in the UK who needs advice or help. It is delivered by trained volunteers and clinicians who are available around the clock to listen and support anyone who is feeling anxious, lonely, overwhelmed or not quite themselves. It is part of the wider network of Shout services across the UK.

To start a conversation, anyone can text (please don’t WhatsApp!) the word reflect (upper or lower case) to 85258. The service is free, anonymous and does not show up on phone bills.

After sending the first message, texters receive four automated text messages before being connected to a trained volunteer. There is an aim to connect young people in greatest need within five minutes all others within 30 minutes. At busy times it can take longer.

By text message, the volunteer will introduce themselves and ask the texter to share a bit more about how they are feeling. They will only need to share what they feel comfortable sharing – the volunteer will listen without judgement. Conversations tend to last up to one hour.

Reflect can help with issues such as:

  • Anxiety
  • Bullying
  • Depression
  • Loneliness or isolation
  • Money worries
  • Relationship problems
  • Self-harm
  • Stress
  • Suicidal thoughts or feelings

Better Days Poetry Nights

Better Days BLMK is an exciting new project made up of a year of creative workshops for Children and Young People in our local communities. Working in collaboration with young people, local creatives and services, we aim to promote healthy conversations around mental health and emotional well-being - helping to reduce stigma and improve well-being.

Better Days Poetry Nights will be on the second Thursday of the month at Papillion Coffee House on Castle Road in Bedford between 5.30 -7pm. 

Poetry

Easter Holiday Activities

Together with SNAP Parent Carer Forum, we have co-produced a jam-packed list of free activities over this Easter Holiday. From Musical Theatre Camp to Sensory Movement workshops.

Easter

Find out more ...


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