February (winter edition) 2022 

Changes to your SEND News

Introducing… Kelly Webb  Hello. My name is Kelly Webb. I am a Senior Partnership Commissioner in the Public Health Team working on acute and community paediatric pathways across Medway and Swale.  I work alongside Programme Lead, Julia Cox and closely with colleagues in Kent and Medway CCG.  Currently I’m working on a nationally funded project to develop GP-led integrated models of care across Medway and Swale. The project aims to improve health outcomes for children and young people with specific risk factors. If you are interested in learning more about the project, please get in touch via email - kelly.webb@medway.gov.uk Public Health and Children and Young People are new focus areas for me, which I’m excited to work on. Before joining Medway Council, I was a Contract Manager for a national advocacy charity and prior to that I worked at Kent County Council in Adults Commissioning and Contracting, and Performance Management. My first job in health and social care was as an Apprentice Administration Assistant within a Community Learning Disability Team.  I really enjoyed working as part of a multidisciplinary team and with this client group.  The role gave me frontline experience and insight into the lives and challenges experienced by people with a learning disability and the foundation learning for future roles.  In my role I hope to make a difference to service pathways for children and young people across Medway.

An update on SEN support in schools and other settings According to the SEN Code of Practice, schools should make sure that a child with SEND gets the support they need. They should do this by regularly reviewing each child’s progress, identifying needs early and adapting teaching to meet individual needs. If your child is not making expected progress, the school should decide if they need additional support. This is called SEN support. Our ordinarily available provision document outlines the resources and support we expect to be available for children and young people with SEND in mainstream education settings. This information is for parents and carers of children with SEND and professionals who work with them. You can read it by clicking the link or find it in the Education section of the Local Offer.

Health and wellbeing update

Friday, 11 March is Nutrition and Hydration Day, so we have outlined seven top tips from The NHS for keeping you and your family healthy and hydrated:

1. Eat at least five portions of fruit and veg a day. This doesn’t just have to be fresh fruit and veg: it can be frozen, dried, or tinned as well.
2. When choosing what to cook, base meals around starchy foods such as pasta, rice, bread or potatoes, and then add other food groups. Try wholegrain rice, pasta and bread for more fibre, and eat potatoes with the skin on to get all the vitamins.
3. Dairy foods, such as milk and cheese, and dairy alternatives, such as soya, are a good source of protein and calcium.
4. Eggs, fish, pulses (like baked beans, lentils, or chickpeas) and meat are another good source of protein as well as vitamins and minerals. If you eat meat, try to avoid processed meats such as sausages and bacon, and opt for lean cuts with less fat instead.
5. Avoid eating too much saturated fat, sugar, and salt. Too much saturated fat can increase the amount of cholesterol in the blood which increases risk of heart disease. Too much sugar can cause weight gain, lead to obesity and damage your teeth. Too much salt can increase blood pressure, which can increase the risk of having a stroke.
6. Drink six to eight glasses of water a day. Drinking water helps to reduce tiredness and stress levels. It also increases your energy levels and keeps you more alert. The brain is mostly made up of water, so drinking it helps you to think, focus and concentrate better, while it's also helps support a healthy digestive system 
7. Water is best for staying hydrated, but low-fat milk, tea and coffee (with no sugar) are also good fluids to drink.

The NHS Eatwell Guide has lots of information on how to stay healthy and keep your child healthy.

A Better Medway provide a range of healthy weight programmes to help you feel great and stay healthy. Take a look - it's easy to join one of their free sessions.

Child Health Conference

This year's Child Health Conference from A Better Medway will take place at Chatham Historic Dockyard and focuses on improving the health and wellbeing outcomes for Medway’s school-aged children and young people

The event will be held on Wednesday, 30 March, running from 9am-4pm. 

There are some fantastic keynote speakers, workshops and a special announcement of several exciting programmes launching this year.

To reserve your place at the conference, please complete the booking form via the attached link , selecting your preferred option for the morning and afternoon sessions. While we will endeavour to allocate you your first choice workshops, it may be necessary to contact you and provide another option (depending on capacity).

Your booking confirmation will be sent to you within two weeks and you will receive a programme guide ahead of the event.  Any queries? Please email childhealth@medway.gov.uk 

Vaccinations for clinically vulnerable children – your questions answered We understand that some parents and carers have concerns about vaccinating their children. The NHS has listened carefully to their worries and has sought to provide reassurance and clarification in this document: Vaccinations for clinically vulnerable children and young people– your questions answered.

Activities and clubs

School’s Mental Health Service webinars  Medway Partnership Commissioning are holding a series of Mental Health webinars in the next term for schools to come and talk to various Mental Health services at lunchtime (12-1pm). Each session will host different services to give a brief overview of what they do, who the services are for and how to access. Dates are as follows; Monday, 28 February Monday, 28 March To register attendance, fill out the online form

Discover Medway Youth Services Medway Youth Service are delivering a range of fun activities for your child this summer. These FREE sessions include park activities and bookable sessions including sports, video game designing, music and our Big Camp. Interested? Take a look at the website

Wellbeing Jam – Paramount Foundation Does your child love music? Would they enjoy hanging out in a real recording studio, learning to sing or play an instrument? At the Wellbeing Jam, drop-in lessons are being provided for free by music students from MidKent college and youth workers from The Paramount Foundation. There will be a music and wellbeing therapist to set the vibe for openness and cohesion amongst the attendees. They provide musical instruments and a safe space to socialise and relax. Plus, you don't need any experience to attend, with all skill levels welcome (for ages 12 and above). The Wellbeing Jam takes place every Tuesday at 4pm at The Sunlight Centre (105 Richmond Road, Gillingham). This programme has been sponsored by Sunlight Centre, Mid Kent College, The Paramount Foundation and Child- Friendly Medway. Email info@theparamountfoundation.org for more information.

The Music Man Project UK

The Music Man Project (Kent/Medway) is part of the award-winning Music Man Project UK - an accessible music education service specifically for people with learning disabilities. 

The Medway Project began in September 2017 after Sarah Mann, an SEN teacher, visited the Music Man Project in Essex. Inspired by what she saw, Sarah made the radical decision to leave her full-time teaching job and set up the project locally. She was quickly joined by colleagues, fellow musicians and teachers, Andy Millest and Sue King to set up the Music Man Project Kent/Medway.

The project offers inspirational opportunities for all abilities,  to learn, sing, play and perform together. The Medway project is no exception: At their recent Christmas Concert at Medway’s GlassBox Theatre, they were joined by The City of Rochester Symphony Orchestra who accompanied their Christmas programme.    

As well as taking part in concerts and community events locally, The Music Man Project has performed twice at the London Palladium, and, in April 2019, forty-six of the Medway based performers travelled to the Royal Albert Hall, where they joined over 200 students from MMP centres across the UK to perform in the largest ever celebration of accessible music-making in front of over 3000 people.

The Medway Project aims to:  

• Provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities to sing, play and perform.
• Promote community for people that are often socially excluded.
• Challenge misconceptions by demonstrating what people with disabilities can do.
• Inspire and encourage a sense of achievement, confidence & self-worth.
• Give opportunities to enjoy making music together and have lots of fun!

Heather has a son who attends the project: “When I first introduced Nick to the project, I had no idea what a huge impact it would have on him. He has grown in confidence and made new friends, which for an isolated young man is enormously important.”  

Sian, mum to Ellen added: “From the start my daughter was warmly welcomed and loved it. She is autistic, along with having developmental delay, epilepsy and ADHD… none of her difficulties has been a barrier to her engaging fully with the sessions. The atmosphere is always relaxed and so inclusive.”  

The project is always happy to welcome new members.  For more information and to book a taster session, visit themusicmanproject.com or email mmpkent@gmail.com

Bemix - Supported Employment information sessions Bemix are hosting information sessions for young people  who may be interested in joining one of their supported employment programmes next academic year (2022/2023). The sessions will be an opportunity to learn more about supported employment, meet the Bemix team and see some of their classroom spaces. The sessions are for young people aged 16-24 who have an EHCP and live in Canterbury, Gravesham, Medway or Swale. Taking place this April. Contact Bemix for more details and to reserve a place. Email referrals@bemix.org or phone 01227 374285

Medway Lottery update

Raise funds for your local PTA or good cause charity

Did you know that your local PTA or good cause could raise much needed funds by linking in with the Medway Lottery? Launched last year, the Medway Lottery raises money for local good causes who have their own webpage on the Medway Lottery website.

50p in every pound spent on the Lottery goes to local good causes with an additional 10p going to a fund to support other good causes locally.

It’s free to sign up and you can encourage local people to support you through the Lottery. The draw takes place every Saturday night and with 50 tickets a week, a local good cause could raise more than £1,300 each year.

Useful links

Medway Young Person’s Wellbeing service

Medway Youth services

Medway Parent and Carer’s Forum

Medway SENDIAS Family Action

Moodspark

Kooth

medway.gov.uk

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