This year the Local Authority launched The Able Group - a youth voice group for disabled young people. 

Since the group's launch, the members have produced a fantastic film, available on YouTube, which shares their aspirations and their current experiences of schools, colleges and work. They now plan to campaign about discrimination, particularly around bullying, and work with services to improve their accessibility for young people.

Members of the Able Group recently explained why they signed up:

“I think we should have more groups like this because it gets people off their phones and gets them thinking for themselves.”

“When you’re young, you have to try to express yourself otherwise people won’t know what you want.”

“Everyone should be able to have their say in anything.” 

The Able Group is open to all disabled young people in East Sussex from 12 -25. If you want to find out more or think you know someone who would like to join please contact Nicola.Bryson@eastsussex.gov.uk.

The Summer Reading Challenge for 4 to 11 year olds takes place in all libraries over the summer holidays.  Sign your child up online from the 14 July, then visit the library and tell them the secret code word to get the collector’s map. Your child then needs to choose any six library books to read (printed books, audiobooks or eBooks) and collect prizes along the way – all for free!

This year, the Summer Reading Challenge is inspired by the children’s comic The Beano, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary. Children will explore a map of Beanotown to find the mysterious buried treasure and become ultimate mischief makers! Dennis, Gnasher and friends will help them solve clues and collect stickers and other prizes, having lots of fun and adventures along the way.

Check out the Summer Reading Challenge video to learn more.

The East Sussex SEN Matrix is a tool used in all local schools to help staff assess students' needs, provide the appropriate support and enhance their own understanding of SEN.

We are pleased to announce that a revised version of the Matrix is now available on the Czone schools website. It is a framework drawn up by the Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (ISEND) Service in collaboration with staff working in educational settings across the county, Children’s Integrated Therapy Services (CITS) and parents and carers.

It is designed to:
• Provide a shared understanding for schools, the Local Authority, parents/carers, and services such as Health and Social Care about how to identify the SEN of children and young people
• Offer guidance on provision and resources recommended to meet these needs, and to facilitate educational progression
• Support development of knowledge and understanding about SEN
• Contribute to the development of good SEN and inclusive practice
• Provide a framework from which the Local Authority and its moderation partners will make consistent decisions about funding levels for children to facilitate their educational progression

If you have any questions about the Matrix, please email ISENDProjects@eastsussex.gov.uk. 

A new 'Changing Places' accessible toilet facility has been built near Eastbourne bandstand. 

For many people with disabilities, the standard design of 'disabled toilets' are completely unsuitable. Changing Places toilets provide a hoist and changing bed which can make all the difference to someone who wants to go out for the day - well done Eastbourne!

Visit the Changing Places website to find out more about the scheme. Have a look at their 'Find a toilet' page, where they map out all Changing Places facilities in the country.