In Partnership - December 2017

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Coventry Send

In Partnership - December

From the manager's office

xmas

Festive greetings! It's hard to believe that we are almost at the end of 2017, but here we are.

As the year comes to an end, it's encouraging to hear that the Government is set to continue providing additional funding to Local Authorities and their partners beyond 31 March 2018. 

Whilst the last three years have brought about a start in implementing the 2014 reforms, there is still a long way to go in making sure they are embedded to fully support our young people to successful outcomes. 

This bulletin contains some good examples of working together - if you have any good examples you wish to share, please let us know! sendnews@coventry.gov.uk 

May all your days be merry and bright!

Chris Firth, Manager SENDIASS

Local updates

SEN Information Report - Co-production

JG

Schools are required by the Children & Families Act (2014) to produce an "SEN Information Report", detailing their offer to children & young people with SEND.  

As part of this, and in line with the principles set out in the act, John Gulson Primary School recently held a consultation event with parents to look at the current report, and make suggestions for ways it could be made more accessible for both parents and children alike. 

As well as providing some ideas on the day, a small working group of parents is now set to work with the inclusion manager at the school to monitor the changes; a great example of working together!

SEN information reports should be updated and published annually, and must contain certain information (outlined in paragraph 6.79 of the SEND Code of Practice). 

Local Offer - Preparing for Adulthood Event

pfaevent

On Thursday 23 November, over 60 young people, parents/carers and professionals came together to look at Coventry's "Local Offer" around education and employment for youngsters between 14-25 years old. 

There were a number of young people who spoke about their experiences and the support they received, in following their pathway through either school, college, supported internship and employment. Participants also had the opportunity to hear from providers in the city, and make comments on the information currently available to families in choosing the right pathway.

The feedback was generally very positive, with some suggestions that there needed to be equal focus on securing positive outcomes for those youngsters who don't have an EHC Plan in place. 

A more in depth report is available on the Local Offer website whilst there is also a wealth of information for youngsters between 14-25, and those working with them, on the Preparing for Adulthood  website.

There are also plans for a similar style event in the Spring term to cover "Moving towards Independence" covering issues such as housing and social care - watch this space (and the Local Offer) for updates.

Independent Support

IS

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 LAs 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.

Benefits Information for Carers and Young People

CIAS

The SENDIASS session held in December 2017 was presented by an adviser from Coventry Independent Advice Service.  Information was given around benefits that may support young people and their carers and also included:

  • What happens at age 16 when transferring from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independent Payment (PIP)
  • Basic conditions for PIP
  • Getting ready for Universal Credit
  • Impact for disabled 16/17 year olds, disabled students and their carers.
  • Additionally an adviser from the utility team at Coventry Citizens Advice Bureau attended and gave information about how to save money on water bills. Find out more.  Information was also given on how to get help regarding energy advice.

 Benefits Information Session Handouts

Coventry's Sleigh Team

Christmas Sleigh

The sleigh team, based at the Coventry Transport Museum, are running slots for people with learning disabilities.

Below are the dates the slots will be running. These will take place between the times of 9am and 10am, If you would like to book a child in for a ride to Santa's Wonderland, call 02476 237521.

  • 16 December
  • 17 December
  • 21 December
  • 23 December

Further information can be found on the Coventry Transport Museum website:

http://www.transport-museum.com/events/1299/visit_santa_vintage_sleigh_ride

Sky Blues in the Community

Sky Blues in the Community

Please see information below about the Every Player Counts project, where the Ability Counts and Down’s Syndrome teams are part funded by:

Sky Blues in the Community Every Player Counts Project

Taking the Reins

Taking the reigns

Coventry Taking the Reins is an Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) programme which is partly funded by BBC Children in Need. EFL is a kind of therapeutic approach where you spend time with the ponies on the ground and develop communication skills, increase confidence and learn how to build and strengthen relationships. Due to BBC Children in Need funding, you may be eligible for some free sessions if you are 18 or under and are disabled or have a special need. 

To find out more call 01788 81667, email info@takingthereins.org.uk or visit their website.

Making information accessible - LA website

browsealoud

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.

National information

DfE

The Government has announced a package of support worth nearly £45 million to provide additional help for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Minister for Children and Families, Robert Goodwill confirmed the additional funding for councils and organisations to continue transforming SEN provision and put families at the heart of the system.

In addition to the funding to bolster the roll out of these reforms, a new £9.7million fund has been set up to create new supported internships, helping to bridge the gap for some of the most vulnerable young people between education and employment..

EHC guide - Preparing for Adulthood

cdc

The Council for Disabled Children have developed a guide which has a particular focus on how EHC plans should evolve for young people from year 9 reviews onwards, as their journey into adulthood builds momentum.

The purpose of it is to support the development of skills in writing good quality EHC plans that meet both the letter and the spirit of the Children and Families Act 2014.

This follows on from their previous guide to EHC plans which was produced earlier in the year. Both are useful reads for anyone involved in the development of an EHC plan.

Health

Emotional well-being and mental health - "Rise"

NHS

The Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS trust has recently joined forces with Coventry & Warwickshire MIND, to deliver a more joined up service for supporting emotional well being and mental health for children and young people (0-25). 

The health services that have joined together with MIND are:

They will now be collectively know as "Rise" - and there is a dedicated website available (https://cwrise.com/home) with information around a variety of emotional well-being and mental health issues and referral routes.

Upcoming events

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

Free Birth to Five Workshops

eytraining

Contact for families with disabled children are delivering a series of workshops during January and February 2018.  You can attend all, or any of the sessions. 

Some assistance towards childcare may be available.

Workshops being delivered are:

16/1/18 - Support and Information

23/1/18 - Encouraging Positive Behaviour

30/1/18 - Building Parental Confidence

  6/2/18 - Money Matters

Time: 9.30am - 12 noon

Where: Limbrick Wood Centre, Thomas Naul Croft, Tile Hill, Coventry, CV4 9QX

To book a place please contact SEND Information, Advice and Support Service on Tel: 024 7669 4307 or email: iass@coventry.gov.uk

Parent/carer groups

Are you involved with a parents group? If so, why not tell us about it so more parents can join in? 

1voice

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.

Coventry's SEND Local Offer

Local Offer

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.

Contact us

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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