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🌈 Celebrating Neurodiversity Week: Listening Beyond Words 🌈
Neurodiversity Week (March 17th-23rd) is a time to celebrate the many ways young children experience and interact with the world.
Behaviour is communication. Every action, from a glance to a giggle, a stomp to a squeeze, tells us something. As educators, parents, and caregivers, our role isn’t just to hear—but to truly listen.
This week, let’s: 👂 Tune into what children are telling us, in ways beyond speech 💛 Embrace each child’s unique way of connecting with the world 🌟 Create environments where every child feels seen, heard, and valued
Neurodiversity is not something to “fix” but something to celebrate. Let’s make the early years a place where all children can thrive, just as they are. If you are curious about the way a child is communicating please reach out to your child's setting or Inclusion Team
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Horse riding lessons and a roller disco joins the free activities for children this Easter
This Easter holidays, there is a host of free, fun, creative activities for children and young people receiving benefits related free school meals. The sessions will take place across the East Riding and include musical themed dance workshops, Easter crafts, sports camp as well as outdoor adventure sessions and farm experiences.
Sessions are available to book through Plinth, the centralised booking system at https://dub.sh/lEP5tXl or by using the QR code below from Friday 14th March at 8am.
New to the programme this year include horse riding lessons, yoga and mindfulness, roller disco, archery and Shetland pony interactions. There is a greater number of programmes just for young people, and pupils with SEND can enjoy the new aerial hi-ropes adventure in Bridlington.
The activities are all part of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, which is funded by the Department for Education, and is primarily aimed at those aged between five and 16, and who are in receipt of benefits-related free school meals. A limited number of places are also available to children and young people who have an education, health and care plan (EHCP), regardless of their free school meals status.
If parent require 1:1 support for their child, they are asked to book with the provider and then speak to them to identify the support they can offer. If parents feel their child needs additional help to enjoy the session, please contact the HAF team at haf@eastriding.gov.uk to request a 1:1 form. Please note that if parents do not have a package of support by direct payments already in place or the provider doesn’t have trained bank staff, sourcing a support worker may take some time and is not guaranteed. We will be considering applications in date order up until Thursday 20th March. Any requests received after that day may not be processed in time for the holidays.
The majority of sessions are four hours long and each child and young person can book up to four sessions for free in the Easter holidays, subject to availability. Places are booked on a first come, first served basis. Sign up to the newsletter to be the first to hear about the programme at Holiday activities and food
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Welcome to Tia Sohi, our new interim head of SEND
Tia joins us with a wealth of experience in SEND and local authority partnerships and will continue to support the work of SEND and staff during the absence of the head of service.
We are excited to have her on board during this transitional period and look forward to her contributions.
Learn more about Tia and her professional background:
Hi all, my name is Tia Sohi, and I am currently supporting the SEND service as the interim head of SEND in the absence of the substantive colleague.
I have 12 years' experience in education, both within the classroom as a teacher/Senco of alternative provision/PRU, and local authority children services from a case officer up to head of SEND and inclusion. My most recent post prior to arriving in East Riding was supporting local authority partnerships via sector led improvement (DFE) and the change programme.
A priority while I'm here is to support the local area partnership in preparing for inspection and reflecting on areas we excel at, paired with the areas we collectively need to continue improving. I am a firm advocate in collaborative and integrated practice, improving the lived experience of families, children and young people with SEND - both in the statutory and non-statutory world.
I really look forward to bringing the best practice I've been part of nationally to East Riding and meeting you all in the coming weeks and months in the community.
Climate Change Survey
We would like to share the following survey opportunity with you on behalf of Community Vision. Members of the East Riding Youth Council have put together a short survey on climate change for children and young people in East Riding aged 10 – 18 years old, and up to 25 years old with SEND, to tell us how climate change is affecting them and help inform local, regional and national action on climate change, for more information please see attachment.
ERSCP Event Flyer for Climate Change Survey
SEND board membership
The Local Area Partnership is looking for additional membership of the SEND and inclusion board and subgroups to ensure that the board is reflective of the broad range of partners within the local area.
The board's purpose is to ensure strong cooperation and supervision among different agencies. It aims to speed up and improve the delivery of services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families.
Each meeting of the board is designed to ensure that members are sighted on the key issues that have been highlighted by partners through the relevant subgroups and that robust challenge is provided, and where needs be escalations are made.
The board will regularly review the SEND and Inclusion Improvement Plan 24-26 and feedback from each subgroup, for example. Additional specific relevant areas that need attention and may need escalating are also shared.
For the SEND and inclusion board to have the oversight it requires, a number of subgroups sit under the main board, with their own key focuses and relevant workstreams. These subgroups are defined as follows:
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Strategic group - This group reviews the progress and creation of any strategies and improvement plans.
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SEND and Inclusion Performance group – This group looks at the data around SEND – number of plans/waiting lists etc and any review of the quality of work as well and what is being done to improve this.
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Integrated Development (Training, Support and Guidance) group – This group looks at all the training and opportunities to support the workforce – Health/Education/Early Years as well as support and training for parents and young people.
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Voice – This group looks at co production activity, engagement activity, feedback from the local offer and development of new information and resources, this group will send information from the wider community back to the SEND and Inclusion Board.
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Transition group – This group will focus on any transitional point in a young person’s life such as EYFS – Primary – Secondary – Preparing for Adulthood – Post 16, short term breaks, Education Other Than At School/Alternative Provision.
We are seeking additional membership on the subgroups as well as the main SEND and inclusion board. Meetings usually take place every six to eight weeks, and while the majority of the work is around oversight and challenge, smaller task and finish groups to work on specific tasks may come from the subgroups.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please do get in touch with Steve Owen – steve.owen@eastriding.gov.uk
(SEND and Inclusion Board and Subgroup Structure attached)
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The RISE Partnership – Developing a framework for co-production in East Riding
As part of the RISE Programme, funded by the Department for Education (DfE), the Council for Disabled Children (CDC) have been invited by local leaders in East Riding to deliver a workshop which will focus on developing a local framework for co-production.
The event will take place on Wednesday, 26 March, 10am – 3pm, in the Large Conference Room, East Riding Leisure Beverley.
This workshop is aimed at a multi-agency audience, bringing together parent carer representatives as well as practitioners from across health, education, local authority and social care teams, strategic leaders, service managers and senior practitioners; as well as those representing SENDIASS and voluntary sector organisations.
Find out more details about the workshop and how to register.
Flyer - Developing a framework for co-production in East Riding
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SEND family sessions to roll out across East Riding Libraries
From April, dedicated Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) focused family sessions will begin in Beverley, Goole, Bridlington North and Haltemprice libraries, with more joining the offer from September.
Sessions will begin from 26 April and will take place monthly during term time at:
Haltemprice Library on the first Thursday of the month, 10.30am to 12pm
North Bridlington Library on the last Friday of the month, 10am to 12pm
Goole Library on the first Tuesday of the month, 2.15 – 3.45pm
Beverley Library on Saturdays every four weeks, 1.30 – 3.30pm
Find out more information regarding the SEND family sessions at East Riding Libraries – (link to press release: https://www.eastriding.gov.uk/news/article/?entry=2898)
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RSBC
Calling all adventurers aged 11-18 with a vision impairment!
On the 22nd of March 2025, we will go on a jam-packed adventure day at Mount Cook Adventure Centre in Derbyshire, where we will take part in exciting activities like rock climbing, scrambling, and high ropes.
Provisional timings for the trip are as follows: the trip will start at 9.30am and will finish at 5pm. You will be expected to arrive a little earlier than this. Lunch will be included.
You will need to make your own way to Mount Cook Adventure Centre. If you have transport difficulties, please send an email to Fran.Barrett@rsbc.org.uk and we will try to find a solution which works for you.
More information about Mount Cook Adventure Centre can be found here: Mount Cook Adventure Centre | outdoor activity centre derbyshire
Please book your space by following this link: Day Trip to Mount Cook Adventure Centre, Derbyshire · Luma
Places are limited, so please book in plenty of time to secure your space! This trip is free of charge thanks to the 'Adventures Away From Home' funding scheme. If you secure a space and won’t be able to come please let us know in good time so we can let someone from our waiting list take part in this experience instead.
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East Yorkshire Parent Carer Forum
EYPCF – Check-in & Chat
Date – Tuesday 8th April 2025
Time – 10:00 to 12:00
Venue – Beverley Enterprise Centre, Beckview Rd, Beverley, HU17 0JT
COST – FREE, parking is available onsite, refreshments will be provided.
Notes - This session is for all parents and carers of children and young people (0-25) with SEND. Travel and childcare costs can be reimbursed.
Please join us for our regular Check-in & Chat event. Representatives from the local authority will be joining us along with people from health, and social care.
This is also a chance to meet the members of the EYPCF team and a great opportunity to meet likeminded parents and carers who understand what life is like as a SEND family to share experiences and offer peer to peer support.
Please use the following link to book on to the event:
https://buytickets.at/eastyorkshireparentcarerforumeypcf/1615751
Contact – admin@eypcf.co.uk for further information and any dietary requirements.
EYPCF – Volunteering Opportunities
Are you a parent/carer of a child 0-25 with SEND and want to share your experience and knowledge to help improve lives for families across the East Riding?
Being a volunteer of the Steering Group involves representing the PCF at meetings with the local authority, health, and other external organisations alongside other PCF Steering Group members, attending and helping at EYPCF events, check-in and chats, and workshops around the region.
Clearly time is an important element, our experience shows that those who have children linked into local SEND provision are passionate about getting the best care, not only for their own children, but for others too. So many of the parents who come to us for advice are happy to pass on their own experiences in meetings and in consultations.
If you are interested in finding out more, please email admin@eypcf.co.uk.
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Surveys, Consultations and Useful Information
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Local Offer Update - new information and events added to the news and events page!
News and events
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The Families Information Service Hub have no control over the nature, content and availability of the external sites linked to within this newsletter. The inclusion of any links does not imply a recommendation or endorsement of the views expressed within them.
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The next bulletin will be on Thursday 3 April 2025.
If you would like to submit information, news or events for inclusion in the next bulletin, please email us BEFORE 12 NOON on Wednesday 2 April 2025 .
(please note submission does not guarantee inclusion).
Thank you.
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