Issue 94 - 14 March 2024

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

• Have your say on new special school places in Biggleswade, Houghton Regis and Shefford

• Proposed changes to Home to School Transport Policy

• Consultations

• Local Offer Drop-ins

• National Supported Internship Day (NSID) 2024
• Neurodiversity Celebration Week

• New Website - 'Everything ok?' - For Young People aged 10-18 years 

• MIND BLMK Crisis Cafe

• Young Person’s Sanctuary

• Sensory Adventures Library Tour

• SNAP PCF Spring Term Events
• Children Centres SEND Stay and Play sessions

Have your say on new special school places in Biggleswade, Houghton Regis and Shefford

We have launched three statutory consultations on changes to Chiltern School and Ivel Valley School and College, to meet the growing need for specialist places, plus the opening of a new Additional Resource Provision (ARP) at Shefford Lower School.

This is to ensure that more children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) have access to great education close to home.

A growth in demand for special school provision within Central Bedfordshire has resulted in increased placements within the independent sector and outside of Central Bedfordshire.

From September 2017 to September 2023 Central Bedfordshire experienced an almost 94% increase in EHC plans. This compares to 65% nationally.

What are we proposing?

The Chiltern School (Houghton Regis)

We intend to create more spaces for students with complex SEND and who need a special school place.

This will happen in phases from September 2024. We propose an expansion onto the former Universal Technical College (UTC) on the Kingsland Campus, which is less than a one-minute walk from the current Chiltern School.

This will create up to 115 additional places for children with severe learning difficulties, and autism with complex needs.

The proposals will enable the school to provide additional support to students, including: -

• Rebound therapy, which can only be offered for 20% of the week in the current site as there is not a dedicated space.
• Additional sensory spaces.
• Additional dedicated classrooms, group rooms and a secure outdoor space for pupils with ASD.

The proposed expansion would also mean the permanent closure of the former primary school site at Beech Road, Dunstable.

Have your say on the Chiltern School proposal.

Ivel Valley School and College (Biggleswade):

Ivel Valley School and College operates from three different sites: the main school is based at Hitchmead Road, two classes catering for key stage 2 and 3 children are based in satellite classes at Biggleswade Academy and the sixth form is based at The Baulk.

The expansion at Ivel Valley School and College by 23 places from September 2024 is required to cater for the children moving from the Biggleswade Academy site due to this school’s move from a middle school to a primary school in September and will also accommodate a small number of additional children.

These additional places at the school are being phased at the Hitchmead Road site, before the construction of a new school building.

Have your say on the Ivel Valley School and College proposal.

Shefford Lower School:

A new Additional Resource Provision (ARP) to create places for a total of 12 children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) requirements. The ARP will be phased to deliver 4 places in September 2024, an additional 4 places in September 2025 and the remaining 4 places when the school becomes a primary school.

Have your say on the Shefford Lower School ARP proposals.

What’s next?

You can provide your feedback on the links above until April 5^th when the statutory consultations close. The feedback will then be analysed, and a final recommendation will be considered by our Executive Committee in the summer.  

Proposed changes to Home to School Transport Policy

We are asking residents, particularly parents and carers of children who are planning to use our home to school transport service, to have their say on proposed changes to our Home to School Transport policy. 

We are proposing changes to two of our policies – for all children of compulsory school age, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or other mobility difficulties, and our policy for Young People aged 16-19. 

Both policies have been reviewed and amended to:

• make them clear.
• make them easy to understand for people who are thinking about or applying for transport.
• ensure they are aligned with the Department for Education’s (DfE) revised guidance on Home to School Transport, which was published in June 2023. 

Have your say and take part in the consultation

Consultations

There are also 2 other consultations where we would like your feedback:

Have your say on the Adult Social Care Strategy 2024 - 2029

Skills for All Strategy consultation

Local Offer Drop-ins

Come and join us for a tour of the Local Offer Website and find out how it can help you find support for your family. Book a place via the QR Code below or visit Eventbrite

National Supported Internship Day (NSID) 2024

National Supported Internship Day (NSID) 2024 is being held on the 27^th March 2024. The Day aims to highlight the importance of supported internships for young adults with learning disabilities and autism spectrum conditions.

For further information about supported internships please visit Employment and Training (Post 16) page on the Local Offer.  Further information can also be found on the National Development Team for Inclusion web page What are Supported Internships? - NDTi

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2024 Events Schedule

New Website - 'Everything ok?' - For Young People aged 10-18 years

Central Bedfordshire Council have launched a new ‘Everything OK?’ campaign and website. 

Following the successful launch of web pages dedicated to parents, carers, and professionals on our website, the new ‘Everything OK?’ website is designed to signpost young people between 10 and 18 years old to relevant local and national information, advice, and support.

Visit the Everything OK? website

Parents, carers and professionals can visit dedicated pages on our website which cover emotional health and wellbeing, life challenges and relationships.

MIND BLMK Crisis Cafes

Crisis Cafes are for adults aged 18+ and are safe, non-judgemental spaces that you can come to if you find yourself in crisis or mental distress in the evenings. You will be met by a trained mental health worker who will listen and help you identify ways to address the problems you are facing. Each Crisis Café is now operating a drop-in service and an appointment is not required.

• Houghton Regis Crisis Café: Townsend Court, Mayer Way, Houghton Regis, LU5 5BF
• Biggleswade Crisis Café: The Lawns Resource Centre, The Baulk, Biggleswade, SG18 0PT
• Milton Keynes Crisis Café: 226 Queensway, Fenny Stratford, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK2 2TE
• Luton Crisis Café: Luton Wellbeing Centre, 46-56 Dumfries Street, Luton, LU1 5BP
• Bedford Crisis Café: Florence Ball House, Bedford Health Village, 3 Kimbolton Road, Bedford, MK40 2NX

Crisis Cafes are open seven days a week, 365 days of the year, between 5.00pm – 11.00pm, apart from Biggleswade which is open 5.30pm – 11.00pm. Please note that our Central Beds provision is split between Houghton Regis (Saturday to Wednesday) and Biggleswade (Thursday & Friday).

If you would like further information about Crisis Cafés, please email: crisiscafe@mind-blmk.org.uk or call 0300 330 0648 (open 9am – 4:30pm).

Young Person’s Sanctuary

Young Person’s Sanctuaries are safe, non-judgemental spaces that you can come to if you find yourself in crisis or mental distress in the evenings. You will be met by a trained youth mental health worker who will listen and help you identify ways to address the problems you are facing.

Who are the Young Person’s Sanctuaries for?

• Young people (14-17yrs) who are experiencing severe mental distress or crisis.
• Young people are welcome to bring anyone from their support system.
• Young people do not need to be known to mental health services to attend.

Further information can be found on the local offer.

Sensory Adventures Library Tour

Join family favourites Full House at libraries across Central Bedfordshire for an exciting sensory adventure in the Jungle, Desert or Ocean! For ages 5 - 18. For more information or to book please call 01525 630783 or email info@fullhouse.org.uk Please note booking in advance is essential. Our sensory adventure sessions are best suited to children and young people with severe learning disabilities or profound multiple learning disability (PMLD). To find your nearest sensory adventure visit theLocal Offer

SNAP PCF Spring Term Events

Please email stating the title of the training with your preferred workshop dates and times, and your name, to admin@snappcf.org.uk

SNAP PCF is free to join, please complete the SNAP Membership Form. 

Children Centres SEND Stay and Play sessions

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