Welcome to another "In Partnership" e-bulletin, keeping you up to date with local and national information and events for children and young people with SEND.
It's hard to believe that we are one half-term away from the end of another academic year, and the changeover to Summer has started here at Limbrick Wood centre; from huddling around an electric heater two weeks ago to huddling round a mobile air-conditioning unit last week!
And of course, no Summer seems to go past these days without a national vote on something. No matter what the result in the election next week, we can but hope that the commitment from the Government is to support children and young people with SEND to achieve their best possible outcomes whatever the stage of their education.
Finally, the last bulletin of the academic year will be with us in July - we'd like to know your top tips for things to do and places to go to keep children and young people entertained over the school holidays. Send them to us at SENDnews@coventry.gov.uk and we'll put them all together as an ideas manual!
Chris Firth, SENDIASS manager
If you are a parent/carer or a young person currently going through the process of an Education Health and Care Needs Assessment - either as a transfer from a statement or a new request - you can access Independent Support through one of two providers in the city.
Funding for the project has now been confirmed until March 2018.
See full details and contact details.
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Do you know about Browsealoud?
Browsealoud enables hundreds of web pages (and downloadable documents held within them) on the Coventry City Council website to be more accessible for all in a range of different ways.
These include; translating into over 100 languages; speakaloud (which enables you to listen to pages/documents in either English or a range of languages); a range of viewing options; you can even make an MP3 to listen to!
For more information, go to www.coventry.gov.uk/translate
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The National Autistic Society has produced a range of interactive
resources as part of their Too Much Information
campaign, including a film, report and interactive tools that explore what it
feels like to experience sensory overload.
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The National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has carried out some research to voice the experiences of children missing out on an education.
Legally, children missing education are defined as those not on a school roll and not receiving education other than at school, such as at home.
Ofsted, however, uses a wider definition of pupils missing from education in their inspections which includes those on a school roll but on unsuitable part-time timetables or unlawfully excluded.
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Contact a Family have produced some information as part of their #knowyourclaim campaign in regards to understanding Universal Credit.
This includes a factsheet about Universal Credit and the impact for families with disabled children.
If you are unsure of how these changes might affect you and your family, you can also contact their free helpline on 0808 808 3555.
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Coventry Independent Advice Service (CIAS) is a charity offering free advice, information and support to all Coventry residents. The service is confidential and their skilled advisers can help you with things like:
- Identifying entitlement to benefits and helping you make claims
- Helping you to sort out debt or other money problems
- Challenging decisions on benefit claims
- Giving basic advice and information about housing and other issues
- Helping you find other kinds of support.
Advice services are delivered in in places like Children’s Centres, libraries and community centres. We now run advice sessions in 11 areas of the city and our advice is available in at least two areas on any weekday. Find the full list of times/locations.
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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?
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SENDIASS and the Carer's Trust are holding an information session around "Carer's Rights" as part of National Carer's Week (12- 18 June).
The event will cover the range of support available to carers from information and advice to practical support and assessments.
Representatives from both organisations will be present, and available to answer questions as part of the session.
Date: Wednesday 14 June
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Where: Esquires Coffee Shop, The Transport Museum, Hales St, Coventry, CV1 1JD.
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Do you know someone aged 8-11 who’s interested in Lego robotics, or simply loves Lego?
The disruptive media learning lab from Coventry university will be visiting three city libraries to showcase its Lego robotics projects using Lego mindstorm kits.
Other Lego kits will also be available for attendees to build their own creations!
All sessions are free to attend:
Earlsdon Library, Friday 9 June, 4pm - 5pm
Bell Green Library, Tuesday 13 June, 5pm - 6pm
Tile Hill Library, Tuesday 20 June, 5.30pm - 6.30pm
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Do you have a burning question about SEND provision in Coventry?
The One Voice Parents Group and SENDIASS are currently working with the Local Authority and Health professionals, to develop a series of "Ask the Experts" SEND forums over the coming year.
This will give children, young people and parents/carers the opportunity to put their questions about SEND related issues to a panel of experts and decision makers in Coventry.
At the time of going to press the first forum is scheduled for Monday 26 June at The Welcome Centre (9.30am - 12.30pm). Refreshments will be available for attendees.
Full details will be published as soon as they are confirmed, via the Local Offer Events page and SENDIASS/One Voice Parents Group social media feeds.
Are you involved with a parents group? If so, why not tell us about it so more parents can join in?
Coventry Action For Autism Group (CAFAG) hold a regular coffee morning on the 2nd Wednesday of every month for any parents of autistic children. They are friendly and informal, offering the opportunity to pop in for a coffee and a chat.
They meet between 10am -12pm at "Friends Meeting House", Hill St, Coventry, with closest parking at Belgrade Plaza. Young babies and children are welcome too!
Upcoming dates are: 14 June and 12 July.
Contact Kellie for further information 024 7668 8521 or email kajcov@btinternet.com.
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.
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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;
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