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The latest news and updates for parents/carers
and children and young people 0-25 years with special educational needs
and disabilities (SEND) in the Manchester City Council area
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Theme: Preparing for Adulthood
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We no longer have a dedicated car park as previously advertised
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Go in by the main college entrance as shown on the map
Our next drop in is on Wednesday 25th February, 10am-12pm, at The Manchester College, Openshaw Campus, Ashton Old Road M11 2WH. As well as the usual stalls, there will be support and information around Preparing for Adulthood (PfA).
Future drop ins, 10am-12pm
Wednesday 18th March, Manchester Youth Zone, Harpurhey
Wednesday 22nd April, Lifestyle Centre, Wythenshawe
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SEND COMMUNITY OFFER
Relaxed cinema
(Depends on film) As part of the SEND Community Offer, the next showing of the Relaxed Cinema with Manchester Parent Carer Forum is on Saturday 7th March 11am-1pm at Cultplex (part of GRUB), 50 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, M4 4HF. Help choose the movie by answering this poll. Closes tomorrow at noon, Wednesday 25th February. The cinema is free to families living in the Manchester City Council area, including siblings without SEND. Popcorn included. Please book using this link.
OTHER STUFF TO DO
More Limitless cycling
(12+) The National Cycling Centre has new monthly Limitless Track Sessions welcoming disabled people aged 12+ into an inclusive, supportive, and fun environment to discover (or rediscover!) the joy of cycling. They’re every month on the following Saturdays, 12-2pm: 21st March, 18th April (unconfirmed), 23rd May, 20th June, 18th July, 22nd August. Qualified coach, bike or cycle, helmet, shoes, and pilots all provided. Book via the Better UK app or speak to a member of the reception team (no more than 28 days in advance). Find the session, and others, on the Limitless webpage.
(7+) These are in addition to the centre’s new Limitless BMX session on Sundays 4pm to 5pm, open to riders aged 7 and above with physical or learning disabilities and additional needs. It provides a fun and supportive environment to build confidence and thrive on the track. Bookings can be made through BMX Indoor & Outdoor | Manchester | National Cycling Centre or by downloading the Better app.
If you need help with bookings, contact the Centre on cyclingcentre@gll.org or 0161 233 2244.
PLUS - International Women's Day event, Sunday 8th March
(Various ages) Activities for girls and women, including a Limitless solo, tandem and trike session. See the event day information.
Quiet mornings
(All ages) Quiet Mornings are free creative play sessions at Whitworth Art Gallery, running from 10.30am to 12.30pm. No need to book, just drop in. The next session is on Sunday 29th March. They are specially designed by The Sensory Toolkit for families with additional needs who may prefer a quieter, calmer environment. Children lead the way and move around in their own time and at their own pace. Find out more from The Whitworth.
World Book Day
(Under 4s) World Book Day on Thursday 5th March is about celebrating books and changing lives through a love of books and reading. Most local libraries have a Storytime during the first week in March where under 4's can pick up a World Book Day £1 book voucher and receive a free book at the session. Find out about Storytimes at your local library.
Find more stuff to do in our Local Offer SEND Information Hub
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Schools White Paper
The Schools White Paper has been published. It includes proposals for reforming the SEND system in England, along with a public consultation lasting 12 weeks.
The publication of the White Paper does not change existing SEND law. Your child’s legal rights to support remain in place.
Highlights are:
- All schools will have to create an Individual Support Plan (ISP) for every child with SEND that clearly set out the help a child will receive.
- Extra funding will make services like speech and language therapy and small group teaching easier to access.
- The government will offer a wider legal entitlement beyond the ISP. This will see education, health and care (EHC) plans detail more intensive or complex support than schools can routinely provide.
The charity Contact has a dedicated webpage on the White Paper and SEND reforms. Manchester Parent Carer Forum also has information on their website. We will be keeping you up to date in the newsletter and sharing how you can have a say.
Coffee morning - this Thursday!
There’s a Social Communication Pathway (SCP) Coffee Morning on Thursday 26th February, 10am-12pm at the North Star Centre in Ardwick, M12 4JD. It’s a relaxed opportunity to speak with Manchester Parent Carer Forum and the autism navigator teams, sharing what you want from the SCP's needs-led service. There will be a craft activity running in the background - candle decorating - for those who would like a little bit of self-care. No need to book. Drop in any time. Find out more.
FREE WORKSHOPS: Upcoming SCP workshops for parents/carers of children who are on the waiting list for an autism assessment with Manchester SCP or have had a formal diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
Preparing for Adulthood guide
In the last newsletter, we told you about a fantastic new resource - 'Parent Carer's Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) Journey Guide'. Created by parent carer Solange Timms, with the support of fellow carers and professionals, it shares what her family are learning. There was an issue with the link, so we are sharing the guide in a different way. Go to this Local Offer webpage where you can access a fully-designed web version or download a simpler pdf.
0-5 workshops
Contact is offering more of their Brighter Beginnings workshops, for families of children with SEND age 0-5, in England. If you want to keep updated on Contact's range of workshops, sign up for their workshops newsletter.
Legal webinar
‘Decision making and accessing a Child Trust Fund for a disabled child’ is a recent webinar from Contact, hosted by Renaissance Legal and Contact. It covers: assessing mental capacity and what happens if a person doesn’t have it, the Court of Protection process, and the potential issues and solutions around accessing Child Trust Funds/Junior ISAs. Get more information from Contact on wills and trusts.
Ramadan guidance
Ramadan began on Wednesday 18th February. Here is a blog from Action for Children about celebrating Ramadan with an autistic child. Ramadan Mubarek to all Muslim families in Manchester.
Universal Credit news
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has published new regulations that should increase the number of people who receive higher Universal Credit health element payments when rules change in April. Universal Credit is a benefit for people of working age to help with living costs. You might be able to claim Universal Credit to top up your earnings, or if you’re out of or unable to work.
The charity Contact’s recent Facebook Q&A is about when it’s possible to claim Universal Credit for a young disabled person who is still in education.
Nominate carers
Carers Manchester are accepting nominations for their Carers Celebration Evening on Saturday 13th June from 7pm, at The Sheridan. Attendees will enjoy a three-course meal, entertainment, and be recognised for their hard work and dedication. Nominate a carer to attend this special event using this form. (If you are a carer, you can nominate yourself.) Carers must be aged 18 and over and live or care for someone who lives in the Manchester City Council area. Deadline: Friday 27th March.
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Free help from AbilityNet
AbilityNet is offering free personalised support for parent carers who would like help using their smartphone, tablet or laptop. Whether you want to make text easier to read, adjust touchscreen settings, discover useful free apps, or make your device more accessible for you or your child, AbilityNet can guide you step by step. Arrange a free check-in by completing this online form. (Please note: This service has been shared by the charity Contact as part of the Digital Services Consortium.) If you need help filling it in, call 0300 180 0028 for support.
Digital courses
More things are being digitised – from shopping, banking to contacting essential services. In April, Manchester Adult Education Service (MAES) has a range of digital, IT and computing courses in six of the adult learning centres across Manchester which can fill your knowledge gaps.
Council support
Do you have Internet access and devices at home but need more skills and confidence to use them? The Digital Inclusion team at Manchester City Council can direct you to services. To get in touch, text 07860064128 with your query and the team will get back to you. Alternatively, you can email digitalinclusion@manchester.gov.uk or visit Let's Get Digital.
Landlines change
By January 2027, the old telephone network will be completely switched off, replaced by new digital landlines which work using broadband. These changes will affect everyone who has a landline they’d like to keep using. If you have a family member or friend with additional needs, BT has put together a Conversation Toolkit to help you talk through what the switch means and how you can support them. Find the guide at the bottom of the Connected Together webpage.
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SEND healthcare survey
Share your thoughts on SEND healthcare in Manchester
There have been a lot of service changes across health in response to the changing needs of children and young people in Manchester.
Greater Manchester NHS Integrated Care Board wants to make sure these changes are working for SEND families in the Manchester City Council area. They invite parents/carers of children and young people aged 0-25 to answer a few questions. Here’s the short survey. Thank you for your time. Closing date: Friday 27th March.
Cared for children
Manchester Children's Service would like to hear from all their cared for children and Care Leavers. Do they feel supported to be happy, healthy, safe and successful? Every child or young person who completes it will be entered into a prize draw for £50 VEX vouchers. Here's the survey - plus a simpler version. Open until Saturday 28th February.
Screen research
Parents/carers are invited to complete a survey around the role of screen-based media in the lives of their autistic children and young people. It’ll take about 20 minutes, with a chance to win one of 10 £25 Amazon vouchers. Take the survey.
Access to MCR Active
MCR Active wants to make their services more accessible to disabled residents. This short survey asks how people feel about physical activity and what helps to make things more accessible. There is an Easyread version plus other formats available.
Call for carers free travel
From 1st March, older and disabled people in Greater Manchester will benefit from free round-the-clock travel on Bee Network buses. Carers Manchester want free transport to be offered to carers too. They encourage carers to complete Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) consultation survey. While there aren't specific questions about carers, there are text boxes where you can write comments.
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Work and training opportunities
Futures For All
(14-19) Futures For All offers 14-19-year-old students access to free work experience across a variety of sectors. Placements vary, with a mix of in-person, remote, and hybrid Insight Days and multi-days. Young people can browse and apply for upcoming placements using this Futures For All link.
Career Connect
(16-18/25) The Career Connect team help young people in Manchester to explore jobs, education and training. This support is aimed at 16-18 year olds (or up to 25 if a care leaver or with an EHCP) who are not in education, employment or training. You will receive one-to-one support from a careers adviser who will get to know you so they can provide the right advice and support. Contact the team at manchester@careerconnect.org.uk or call 0161 232 7863.
King's Trust courses
(16-30) The King’s Trust has so many great courses for young people to get involved in. They are all free and offer 16-30s the tools to build their confidence, find a job or start their own business. Here’s the latest newsletter. Use the sign up link towards the end to get copies directly into your inbox.
Taking steps
(18-24) STEPs offer courses around preparing for adulthood to young people aged 18–24 in receipt of an Education, Health and Care plan. It’s tailored learning with small group classes or one-to-one high-needs support, encouraging real-world skills and enrichment activities. Find out more. Part of Manchester Adult Education Service.
Ambition Manchester
(18+) If you are in work but looking to move into a better paid job, Ambition Manchester can help. Their one to one support is led by what you want to focus on, whether that’s writing applications, interview skills or gaining more confidence. They can look at what’s holding you back – if you need reasonable adjustments for interviews or to do some training. Whatever your disability or neurodivergence, the team will gear things to your needs, communicating in ways that you prefer. You can also have a family member or support worker with you. Find out more about Ambition Manchester. If you need support with the online assessment or have any questions, get in touch with Karen Fisher - 07773 932 832, Karen.Fisher@manchester.gov.uk.
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