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In this issue:
I think it would be fair to say that there continues to be huge challenges facing all of us concerned with children and young people with SEND; from parents, to educational settings, to local authorities, and the children and young people themselves. Increased pressures in the system - including real problems in recruiting trained staff in schools, health and social care - means that sometimes even when a young person's needs and provision are identified, the struggle remains on how to provide it.
Coventry LA are currently carrying out a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) for SEND, which is looking at pulling together all the data we have about SEN in Coventry. Once this has been gathered, the next stage will be to link this into the experience of young people (and families) of having a special educational need in the city, and what priorities should be focussed on. We look forward to helping to gather as many of your views as possible in the coming months so it can be as true a representation as possible. This will also be supported by the Parent Carer Forum, so keep a lookout for ways to be involved.
In the meantime, whilst the challenges remain, there are still lots of ways to help support our young people and families - hopefully there is something in this bulletin which appeals to you.
Chris Firth, SENDIASS manager
The NHS England has launched a new educational programme called 'Autism Central' to provide support for families and carers of autistic children and adults.
Autism Central aims to build knowledge and understanding of autism and empower families and carers to advocate for autistic people they support in order to get the right understanding and adjustments in place across the services they use.
'Contact - for families with disabled children' will be managing the programme in the Midlands and have a number of FREE online events to provide advice and support to parents/carers with their autistic child’s education, anxiety, siblings and much more.
See what’s coming up and book your place.
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If you're autistic and need support communicating your feelings, sensory processing or routines, CASS one-to-one sessions might suit you.
Find out more via the CASS website.
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If you're autistic or awaiting a diagnosis, CASS offers one-to-one sessions and social groups to support children and young people's daily living and mental health.
Find out more on the CASS webpage
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Coventry Educational Psychology Service is exploring the idea of establishing a support group for parents and care givers of young people with selective mutism.
Join Coventry's Selective Mutism Family Group Survey! Share your thoughts, shape our community, and make a difference!
Take the survey now!
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Are you a young person between the age of 18-25?
Coventry Youth Activists (CYA) are a group of campaigners. They believe in disabled young people having a voice, having a chance to do what they want to do, breaking down barriers, ending online discrimination, and in changing our community with creativity and kindness.
They are on the lookout for new members to join their small group. To find out more please visit the CYA website
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Have you been to one of SENDIASS' online coffee mornings?
They're an opportunity to meet up with other parents, have a chat (or just a listen) and support each other. Stay as long (or as little) as you are able - no pressure!
Date of next coffee morning: 14 November 2023
Venue: Metropolis Restaurant, Earl Street, Coventry, CV1 5RU
Please contact us by email: iass@coventry.gov.uk or Tel: 024 7669 4307 to let us know you'll be joining us.
Coffee mornings take place regularly so look out for future dates and/or other events we may be running by visiting our SENDIASS events page via the SENDIASS website.
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Park Edge Family Hub is running a variety of new coffee mornings for parents/carers. Go along, meet other parents and enjoy a coffee and a chat.
The new offer includes:
A Speech and Language Coffee Morning
When: Every 4 weeks from from Friday 20 October 2023, 9.30-11.30am
Where: Park Edge Family Hub, Roseberry Avenue, Bell Green, CV2 1NE
A coffee morning for parents/carers who have a child with a disability
When: Every 4 weeks from Friday 13 October. 9.30am-11.30am
Where: Park Edge Family Hub, Roseberry Avenue, Bell Green, CV2 1NE
 Park Edge Family Hub also have these new groups:
- Coffee Morning for Speakers of Other Languages
- Dad's Coffee Morning
Contact Park Edge Family Hub for more information: 024 76 97 7880
Wood Side Family Hub are running a group called SENsitivity welcoming families with children who have disabilities and/or additional needs, and their siblings.
When: Thursday 2 November 10am-11am and 1.30pm-2.30pm
To book your place call 024 7697 8090.
Are you a parent/carer of a child with Autism?
Or perhaps you're a professional working with autistic young people?
CASS are offering free training workshops to boost understanding and confidence around autism.
Find out more via the CASS training webpage.
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Chat Central is a FREE service for adults aged 18 plus living in Coventry. Anyone who is socially isolated and needing a confidence boost can join their supportive activities and groups. People can drop an email to s.taylor@vacoventry.org.uk or Whatsapp to register, or just turn up for up to 25 sessions.
This is a FREE course for your teenager to access, it is designed to help them understand their feelings and brain development and to support wellbeing.
Scan the QR code to register and use the code 'SPIRES3' for free access!
A booklet providing useful information about services and support available for those who are diagnosed or who self-identify as neurodivergent, and those who care for and support them.
Access the booklet via the Dimensions webpage.
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Rise is a family of NHS-led services providing emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people in Coventry and Warwickshire.
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The Family Hubs can help you find and get help from different services in the area and will be able to give you information, advice and support.
If you need additional support please contact your nearest Hub directly to find out if there is anything they can do to help.
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Kooth is an anonymous digital counselling and support service for children and young people aged 11-25 years providing access to emotional wellbeing and early intervention mental health support. For more information visit the Kooth webpage.
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Coventry City Council have developed a 'Cost of living and wellbeing support' webpage. This page has a broad range of links to information and advice you may find useful if you’re struggling financially and require support with helping you manage the cost of living pressures.
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'Act on Energy' provides free impartial advice on energy efficiency and grants and projects available in your area to help keep you warm this winter.
To find out more visit the Act on Energy Website
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P3 can provide help with: Housing/tenancy issues, independent living skills, money management/benefit advice, health and well-being or general advice and support.
Contact P3 on 08081 962660 or visit your local family hub to find out more.
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Coventry Independent Advice Service is a charity offering free confidential advice around benefits, making claims, debt, money problems and challenging decisions on benefit claims.
You can contact them via their advice line: 024 7652 1101
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Coventry Citizens Advice provide a range of free, confidential advice, including housing, benefits and debt.
You can contact them via their Advice Line: 0800 144 88 48
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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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