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Welcome to the first bulletin of the 2017/18 academic year. As always, it's been a busy first few weeks as our children and young people adapt back into their settings, and the changes associated with this - new teachers, classrooms etc. And for some, it's a whole new setting where everything is new! Hopefully, this has been a positive experience for you all so far, whether you are a child, young person, a parent/carer, or a professional supporting it.
Due to some changes at Limbrick Wood Centre over the summer, we've had to make some small changes too, including having our own separate entrance for visitors to SEND IASS. 5 weeks in, and I'm still having to remind myself on a daily basis to use the right door...so I know even small changes can take some getting used to!
Remember, we're always on the lookout for items of interest for the bulletin - if you have a top tip to share, an inspiring story to tell, or just something that you want to tell the world (remembering that our circulation list is limited to the Coventry area!) then please get in touch sendnews@coventry.gov.uk.
Chris Firth, Manager SENDIASS
 The Local Authority and its partners are continuing to work on its "local offer" for children and young people with SEND and their families.
However, it also needs input from all people involved in shaping services for children and young people with SEND, including children, young people and their parent/carers.
Do you know where to find information about services in the city, and if you do, can you always find what you're looking for? Is there suitable provision for children and young people with SEND? If you think the answer to any of these questions is "no", then you can be part of the solution!
You can leave comments, questions and feedback through the Local Offer website under the can't find what you're looking for section.
There is also an event in planning for Wednesday 22 November 2017 for you to share your thoughts, specifically around "Preparing for Adulthood" - further details to follow.
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Robert Goodwill, the new Minister of State for Children and
Families, has recently sent a letter to all Local Authorities confirming that there will be no
movement in the transition end date of 31 March 2018 for converting statements to Education, Health and Care plans. The letter also clarifies
that any remaining Statements from 1 April 2018 will continue to be maintained by LA's until a transfer review is completed.
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.
See full details and contact details.
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 From September 2017, changes to the Local Authority's home to school travel assistance policy came into effect.
If you've been affected by these changes, you can find copies of the policies, including how to appeal decisions, on the Local Offer (Post-16 policy and Statutory school age).
Government guidance for such policies can be viewed for both statutory school age (5-16yrs) and for post-16 learners.
There is also a range of information available through the "Contact" website (formerly known as Contact A Family).
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 Family Fund is
the UK's largest charity providing grants to families raising disabled or
seriously ill children aged 17 and under. Our grants for family breaks, sensory
equipment, clothing, white goods and much more help to break down the
additional barriers that families face, and ease some of the daily pressures.
Rosie, 11, from Coventry, has a diagnosis of polymicrogyria, cerebral palsy
type 4, and has low muscle tone. She recently received a grant for an
inflatable spa where she can relax and that gives her mum Lorraine a place to
do Rosie’s hydrotherapy with her at home. Lorraine said, “Rosie loves her
Lay-Z-Spa, it gives her that freedom with her body which is so important. It’s
great to have access to that kind of therapy in our own garden, going to the
pool can be a long process as we’ve got to change Rosie, and then navigate
slippy floors while carrying her which is dangerous, so being able to give her
that freedom in the comfort of our own garden is great.”
To find out more, including how to apply, please visit www.familyfund.org.uk
You can also find us on Facebook (facebook.com/FamilyFund), Twitter
(@FamilyFund) and Instagram (@Family_Fund).
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SEN magazine is an online (and print) publication covering all areas of SEND, and is "essential reading for teachers, SENCOs, carers, parents, therapists and all practitioners in special needs" (in their words!) You can subscribe to receive the magazine every two months, but they regularly update handy tips and articles through the website.
Recently, they have produced some handy tips for working with children/young people with Dyslexia.
NASEN has produced a range of
resources to support early years practitioners and
others working with young children who have SEND. The resources
include webcasts, miniguides and face to face training
materials.
The resources can be accessed for free, although you will have to register in order to access them.
 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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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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SEND IASS are hosting a drop-in session for parents and carers (and young people who are not due at their educational settings!) to ask any questions they have around SEND.
No booking is required and refreshments will be available. Separate appointments may be required for more detailed information.
Date: Wednesday 11 October 2017
Time: 9.30am - 11.30am
Where: Limbrick Wood Centre, Thomas Naul Croft, Tile Hill, Coventry, CV4 9QX
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 There are lots of opportunities for both children and adults within libraries across the city.
As well as offering a range of options for 0-4yrs, there's also a range of clubs for children of school age, including help with homework (5-11yrs), code clubs (9-13yrs) and micro:bit sessions (8-13).
And 2017 has seen Tile Hill library become an Autism friendly library with a range of autism-specific features.
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"We have a lovely show coming to our venue in February Half
Term 2018 called A Tiger’s
Tale. It’s
aimed at youngsters with a running time of 50 minutes and the company have
asked if we would be able to bring in an audience for a BSL interpreted
performance of the show on Friday 23, Saturday 24 or Sunday 25 February 2018.
Based on the extraordinary story of Fenella, the
Holmfirth Tiger, A TIGER'S TALE is a high spirited balancing act of circus,
puppetry, live music and song.
At this point, we are very keen to go ahead with a
signed performance but we would like to make sure that it is something that is
wanted from our local community. We are not looking for you to book right now,
we just want to gauge the level of interest from some groups and schools."
To register an interest, as either an individual or group, please contact Creative learning co-ordinator, Lynsey Cullen.
Email: l.cullen@warwick.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)24 7615 1793
Are you involved with a parents group? If so, why not tell us about it so more parents can join in?
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Coventry's One Voice Parent Group is part of the National Network of Parent Carer Forums and helps support the views of parents/carers on issues involving SEND.
Made up of parents of children and young people with SEND, the group is always looking for additional parents to raise awareness of SEND and influence decisions made by service leaders.
If you would be interested in being part of the group email or check out the One Voice Facebook page for more information.
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 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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