 Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to the latest edition of our SEND Newsletter.
Thank you for being an integral part of our community. We truly believe in the potential of every child and provide the support and resources necessary for them to succeed. In this newsletter, you will find valuable insights, tips, and stories that inspire and empower both children and their families. Together, we can create an environment where every child can thrive and reach their fullest potential. Enjoy reading and thank you for your ongoing commitment to making a difference!
This has been a busy term with the expected area SEND inspection taking place, finishing on the 6th of December. I would like to thank those of you who responded to the survey and shared your views with inspectors. This is appreciated. I am proud of what we achieve together. Our SEND Strategy sets out our aims and ambitions for children and young people:
- Outcome 1- Your needs are identified and assessed in a timely and effective way
- Outcome 2- You and your families voices are heard, and this makes a difference
- Outcome 3 - You receive the right help at the right time
- Outcome 4 - You are well prepared for your next steps in life and achieve well
- Outcome 5 - You feel valuable, visible and included
We will be sharing the inspection report in the new year when we are able.
Some recent SEND highlights include:
- Our Youth Employment Hub has formally opened and is co-funded by the Department for Work and Pensions/Jobcentre Plus. The Hub includes partners such as SENDIASS to support young people aged 16 to 24 into education, employment and training.
- Herefordshire Educational Psychology Service have trained another 69 ELSAs across Herefordshire Schools, with ambitions to have an ELSA in every school in 2025
- Introduction of a free helpline for professionals in educational settings who require support from the SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) Inclusion Service. Specialist staff are on call to offer immediate advice and strategies to support children and young people presenting with behaviour that challenges, without needing to complete a referral.
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Parent Carer Voice is moving into a new shared space in central Hereford where they will be able to support a range of community initiatives for children and young people with SEND in Herefordshire
- A new Community Interest Company (CIC) is launching in Herefordshire from January 2025. HANDS (Herefordshire Autism & NeuroDiverse Support) CIC will provide peer support services for individuals, families and professionals.
Can I take this opportunity to wish you and your family a magical and special Christmas time. Happy Christmas everyone!
Warm wishes,
Liz Farr
Service Director, Education, Skills and Learning
PCV are moving
Parent Carer Voice are moving into new premises along with the National Autistic Society Herefordshire Branch and the new Community Interest Company 'HANDS'. From January 2025, PCV will be found at Suite 4 Berrows Business Centre, Bath Street, Hereford. You can still contact them through the same email address admin@pcvherefordshire.com or visit their website: www.pcvh.co.uk
Become a member - be heard!
As well as being there to listen to and offer support to families of children and young people with SEND, PCV are a strategic partner in the local area and represent the collective parent carer voice across the SEND system in Herefordshire.
It is vital that all parent carers of children and young people with SEND have the opportunity to help inform and shape services and one of the ways they can do this is through membership of their local parent carer forum.
To find out more about PCV including the support they offer and how to become a member, please visit their website. To read more about how they work in partnership with Herefordshire Council and H&W ICB please visit the Co-production page of the Local Offer.
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Annual Parent Carer Survey 2024 - last chance to share your views...
There are just a few days left for parents and carers of children and young people with SEND to complete the PCV Annual Survey. This is your opportunity to share your experiences, what's working well for you and your family and what you would like to see in future.
Click on the link here or scan the QR code to have your voice heard. It really can and will make a difference.
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HW SENDIASS is the Special Educational Needs/Disabilities (SEND) Information, Advice and Support Service covering Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
HW SENDIASS have a dedicated team of trained advisors offering legally based and easily accessible information, advice and support on all matters relating to children and young people (0-25) who have or may have SEND. The service is FREE, impartial, and confidential.
Contact them for free SEND advice:
Call: 01432 260955 Monday-Friday 8.30am-4pm (24hr answerphone service)
Email sendiass@herefordshire.gov.uk
SENDIASS Christmas Hours
The SENDIASS adviceline will be closed for Christmas from 4pm on Friday 20th December and will reopen from 8.30am on Monday 6th January 2025.
You will still be able to leave a message on their answer machine and one of their advisors will call you back as soon as possible after their return.
Coping with Christmas
Christmas is just around the corner and the excitement is building; however, this time of year can be tricky for a child with additional needs. Christmas brings heightened excitement, changes to routine and the possibility of sensory overload. All of these can be difficult for children and families to deal with. SENDIASS have produced some information to help families deal with the festive period: SENDIASS Information Coping with Christmas
Merry Christmas from the SENDIASS team.
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A new employment hub for young people has opened in Hereford. Based at 57-59 Blueschool Street, the Youth Employment Hub (YEH!) provides a one-stop-shop for careers and employment advice for young people aged 16-24.
Visit the new YEH! website to find out more about education, employment and training opportunities.
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Herefordshire Council's SEND Local Offer is a place for families to find out about the support, services and information available for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The Local Offer includes information about education, health and social care services from birth to 25 years of age and much more.
A lot of content on the Local Offer has been co-produced with parent carers of children and young people with SEND to ensure it is informative and useful. If you'd like to share your views about the local offer in Herefordshire or you would like some help finding particular information, please email localoffer@herefordshire.gov.uk - we would love to hear from you.
Deaf Hearoes is a club set up by the Hearing Support Team in response to children feeling isolated or alone in wearing hearing technology. The club offers the opportunity for deaf children to meet other children who need support with hearing and communication. The group began quite small but has grown over time.
For further information about Deaf Hearoes, please email the Hearing Support Team on HSTeam@herefordshire.gov.uk
ELSA stands for 'Emotional Literacy Support Assistant' which is a nationally recognised and accredited role. ELSAs can help children and young people with self-regulation, friendships, social stories, anger, empathy, parental separation and more.
So far in 2024, Herefordshire Educational Psychology Service have already trained 69 ELSAs from across Herefordshire Schools at a reduced cost, thanks to a generous subsidy from HCF a local charity, Herefordshire Community Foundation.
In total, we have trained a local network of 190 ELSAs over the last 5 years. Our SEND video (available on YouTube) shows one of our very first ELSAs talking about her work (at 5:19 minutes).
We now have a mission to have at least 1 or more ELSA in every Herefordshire School so that all children and young people that attend a Herefordshire school can access this vital support.
Have you downloaded the NHS App yet? The NHS App gives you a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services. You can:
- order repeat prescriptions
- book and manage appointments
- view your GP health record
- use NHS 111 online to get instant advice
- and much more!
To access the NHS App you will need to set up an NHS login and prove who you are. Your NHS App then securely connects to information from your GP surgery.
Find out more by clicking here. Head to the App store or Google Play to download the app to your smartphone.
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We run a range of courses for parents and guardians who would like to have a little extra support, information and advice when it comes to bringing up children and young people, including children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). All are run by support workers who are trained to deliver Solihull courses and Triple P programmes. The timetable for Spring 2025 courses is available here.
There are also online courses available which you can complete in your own time and at your own pace.
The Solihull Approach online courses include:
- Understanding your pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby
- Understanding your baby
- Understanding your child (and your child with additional needs)
- Understanding your teenager’s brain
- Understanding your brain (for teenagers only)
- Understanding your child’s feelings
- Understanding your child’s mental health and wellbeing
- Understanding your relationships
To sign up, visit www.inourplace.co.uk and register in the top right hand corner using the access code APPLEHERE.
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Do you have a child with SEND and want to know how to access school-aged immunisations and flu vaccinations?
Has your child missed a school-aged immunisation? Do you want to arrange their flu vaccination?
You can book an appointment at one of the local clinics by calling the Herefordshire Vaccination Team directly on 01432 663085.
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ECHO is an amazing charity based in Leominster, providing education, learning and social activities for disabled people.
ECHO is excited to announce they are launching a new digital media project, looking particularly at all aspects of what goes into video making, for social media, presentations, podcasts and as stand-alone quality videos.
It will be a ‘hands on’ project, where you will learn about digital video recording and editing, sound recording, audio editing, creating music, and soundtracks, photography, taking images and more!
ECHO has funding to start with a small group from January 2025 to run a pilot scheme for three months to start with, which they are calling ECHO TV, after which it is hoped the project will become part of ECHO’s menu of activities running every week.
ECHO usually works with people aged 18 and above but for this project will consider place for anyone 16 or older.
So, if you have an interest in video, IT and media production or would like to learn about any of those things, ECHO TV could be for you. Places are very limited and there has been a lot of interest already, so if you would like to find out more you can by ringing the ECHO office on 01568 620307 or email Nick Baker: nick.baker@echoherefordshire.co.uk who is the project leader for ECHO TV.
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3Degreez Allstarz CIC are expanding their parent and tots sessions to include a specialist session for families with little ones with additional learning needs (SEND).
This session is designed to include and welcome every young child to enjoy dancing, movement with props, sensory play, equipment exploring and a chance to be together in a sociable, happy and welcoming space.
Classes are starting this January 2025, with sessions held at Hinton Community Centre, Hereford on Tuesdays, 10.00-10:45am, costing £5.00 (reduced rate block booking available).
This will be a SEND families only session, allowing your little one to access fun inclusive activities in their unique way, with like minded families. Free and accessible parking at the centre. Disabled toilets and baby change facilities available.
Get in touch:
Email: 3degreezallstarz@gmail.com
Call: 07792254217
Visit: www.3degreezallstarz.com
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Join The Courtyard for a fun-filled day inspired by the farm! Tuesday 18th February 2025, 10:30.
Enjoy a variety of arts activities, have fun and make friends. All practitioners and staff are experienced in working with young people who may have special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Click here to find out more: Welcome to the Farm! Inclusive Workshop - The Courtyard
To book a place, please contact Rebecca Cook at rebecca.cook@courtyard.org.uk or call 01432 346511
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If you would like to contribute to the next edition of the SEND Newsletter, please get in touch by Friday 7th February 2025. We value your feedback and would love to hear what you think of the newsletter. To submit future content or share your views on this newsletter, please contact us by email: localoffer@herefordshire.gov.uk
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