|
Somehow the festive season seems to be upon us already - it doesn't seem to have been 5 minutes since the summer was here! Although the term has whizzed by, it's seen quite an exciting development here at SEND IASS with the work of our new Children & Young People's worker. Making sure that children and young people are at the heart of what we do was outlined as a central principle of the 2014 SEND reforms, but has always been the fundamental principle of IASS (and Parent Partnership before it) - it's what everyone involved in working in SEND does it for!
We've been working on a new website exclusively designed for young people, by young people at Hereward College, which will hopefully enable young people to not only access information, but also to voice their opinions on their lives and what's important to them. Hopefully, it'll be up and running in early 2017 and that as many children and young people across Coventry can be involved with it.
2016 has been an interesting year(!) - I hope 2017 is productive for all our children and young people.
 On 12 November, Coventry's One Voice Parent/Carer Forum held an event at The Welcome Centre to look at Coventry's "Local Offer". Over 30 parent/carers attended and took the opportunity to discuss the provision available in Coventry and its borders.
As well as looking at the information on the Local offer website, there was also discussions about some of the activities that children and young people were accessing, some of which were not listed on the website; attendees were reminded that any parent, young person, professional or organisation can add an event or activity to the Local Offer. Some of the suggested changes have already been updated on the site with more to follow, actioned through the "Local Offer" working group. We'll update you in future bulletins about the progress.
|
 To keep up with all the news from the One Voice Parent/Carer Forum, check out their Facebook page.
|
 Early in 2017 - if not at this current moment - a number of children & young people, along with their parents will be making decisions about which educational setting to go to next September.
As part of the normal school admissions round for Reception places - for children born between 01/09/2012 and 31/08/2013 - you can make an application at any point up until midnight on Sunday 15 January 2017. It is highly recommended to make an application for this age group, as places are much easier to give up at a later date, than they are to find!
Those youngsters going through the Education Health and Care process with a view to leaving their current setting - those moving from primary school to secondary school or moving into post-16 provision - will be invited to state their preference for a school/further education placement in the Spring term.
SEN magazine, which has articles around a wide-range of topics related to SEN of interest to schools, parents and professionals, has produced an interesting parental view of this process, which is well-worth a read.
If you are visiting a school/college to help make your decision, why not have a look at SEND IASS's leaflets on "Choosing a School" to help you?
 As notified in the last bulletin, public consultation has now opened on the Local Authority's proposed changes to "Home to school" travel arrangements.
This policy relates to all children of statutory school age (5-16) and also to those young people between the ages of 16 - 18 (or to 25 if they have an Education Health and Care plan).
The consultation will run until Friday 13 January 2017, and anybody can make contributions via the online survey (hard copies can also be requested). There are also a number of drop-in sessions to learn more about the proposals in December and January.
Contact a Family, a national charity, have produced a short questions and answers around home to school/college transport which is a useful resource, and summarises the Government's "Home to School travel and transport guidance" published in July 2014.
|
 Visiting Coventry has
just got easier for people with a disability
The
Council and Coventry Citizens Advice have teamed up to pilot the mobile app
assist-mi.
The app is a tool for people with disabilities
to request assistance they may need when visiting a venue in the city.
Councillor Christine Thomas, Chair of the Disability Equality Advisory Panel, says: "The scheme simply means that there is more choice for people with disabilities. It offers people the chance to be more independent and spontaneous in the decisions they make about when and where they wish to visit in Coventry.
"I believe that Assist-Mi should be a normal function that is provided by every venue. It’s about replacing barriers with bridges for disabled people"
The app can be downloaded from the assist-mi website.
|
Below is a selection of upcoming events around SEND. If you know of any additional parents groups, child/young person's activities, and/or training around SEND that you think would be useful for others to attend, why not add them to the Local Offer?
|
The "One Voice" Parent/Carer Forum is having a festive get together to give parent/carers the opportunity to discuss issues around SEND, including the current travel assistance consultation.
The group regularly feedback to the Local Authority about a range of issues that affect parents/carers and their families to help influence service delivery, so if you have a concern, why not come along and discuss it over a coffee and a mince pie?
Where: Limbrick Wood Centre, Thomas Naul Croft, CV4 9QX
When: Monday 12 December, 9.30am - 11.30am.
No booking necessary.
|
|
 |
 Coventry Action for Autism Group (CAFAG) are having a festive pool party in the lead up to Christmas. Families are welcome to join in the fun with a private hour in the splash pool followed by refreshments and a gift for the children/young people.
Where: Coventry Sports Centre, Fairfax St
When: Sunday 18 December 5.30pm - 7.30pm
Cost: £4 per person (places must be booked in advance)
Please contact Mary on 024 7672 8988 or for more information about the group, check out their Facebook page.
|
 The Positive Parenting Programme ("Triple P") has a host of sessions for parents starting in the Spring term of 2017.
These range from antenatal to supporting teenagers, as well as the "Stepping Stones" programme for parents with a child with a diagnosed disability/SEN.
All courses are for between 6-10 weeks and feature a mix of group and individual sessions.
For more details, see the website or contact 0800 434 6217.
|
 |
|
The HOPE programme, a 6 week course run through the Carer's Trust and Coventry University for parents of children and young people with ASD,ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder, is due to commence in the New Year.
It supports parents/carers to focus on ways to manage their own emotions in a supportive group environment.
To find out more about the course, there is a taster session next week.
Where: The Den, Back of the Central Methodist Church Hall, Warwick Rd, CV1 2HA.
When: Wednesday 14 December 11am - 12.30pm.
Cost: Free
Or contact Gill on 024 7661 0040 (ext 308)
|
|
The Coventry Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Local Offer brings together information for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their families.
The SEND Local Offer will cover services available to the public across education, health and social care:
Education: such as nurseries, playgroups, schools and colleges as well as support services like Educational Psychology and SEN services
Health: children's and adult services including GPs, therapists and hospital services
Social care: such as short break services and children's and adult disability services.
|
|
|
Finally, a very happy festive season to you all from all of us here at SEND IASS.
"May your days be merry and bright..."
|
If you have any comments or wish to contribute something to the next bulletin, please let us know by contacting us sendnews@coventry.gov.uk
Alternatively, you can keep up to date through SEND IASS's;
|
