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SEND News
This newsletter is about changes and developments to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Sheffield.
It is for professionals, parents, carers, and anyone with an interest in SEND in Sheffield.
Please encourage others to sign up too.
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Transitions
It’s the time of the year when transition planning and activity is underway to support children and young people moving to their next phase of education.
- The transfer of data, attainment/progress levels, SEND support and grid levels, and existing support plans is invaluable.
- It is also important to share information about the child or young person’s readiness for their next phase of education. Their wishes and feeling, their likes and dislikes, and any support they have received in preparation for the transition.
The Director of Education shared information about transitions in his email bulletin on 14 May. This included:
- Considerations in the approach to transitions.
- Sheffield EYFS Transition Record and school readiness transition booklet
- A What’s Next booklet for Y11s
- Contact details for additional transition support or advice.
Contact Kate Hughes to receive another copy of this information.
Parents and carers: If you are worried about your child’s transition, you can speak to someone in our Inclusion and Attendance service. Please contact us about this.
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Transitions for children and young people with Autism
The Autism Education Team focusses on supporting transitions this half term and the first term of the new school year. It has sent resource packs to all nursery settings and schools in Sheffield to support teachers, TAs, and parents help their children and young people prepare for the change.
The packs include Social Stories and resources to collect the child or young person’s voice and their important likes and dislikes.
Anyone interested in the packs should contact the SENCO at their setting.
Parents and professionals can also contact the Autism Education Team during term time by:
The team also recommends new resource materials and advice from the Autism Education Trust (AET) including for Post 16 pupils.
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Whole School SEND webinar: Supporting Successful Transitions from Primary to Secondary School
Monday 24 June, 2.00 - 3.30pm
Webinar exploring key strategies that support effective transitions from Year 6 to Year 7 for pupils with SEND.
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SEND Training and Events
Annual SEND conference, Fusion SEND Hub, 8 July, 9am – 4pm
This year’s focus is ‘the Hidden Depths of SEND.’ Keynote speakers are:
- Professor Barry Carpenter – Barry Carpenter Education
- Nick Whittaker - HMI, Ofsted, Specialist Adviser for SEND
- Dr Robert Jason Grant - Autplay Therapy Clinic
- Dr Valerie Muter – Clinical and Research Psychologist - “The Depths of Dyslexia”
Find out more and book
Preparing for Adulthood from the Earliest Years, 8 June, 4pm-6pm
Whole School SEND webinar about how schools can arrange provision to prepare children and young people to make choices throughout their life.
Suitable for practitioners from all settings and phases
Sign up
LearningShared podcast - Evidence for Learning and EfL SEND Community
New episode about engagement and its application to vulnerable children with different learning needs.
Listen here
Fusion and Inclusion Taskforce Training for 2021/22
The 2021/22 training schedule will soon be available on the Learn Sheffield website. It will include:
- Further training on the Birmingham Toolkit, trauma informed approach and SCERTS
- New courses: Train the Staff - Planning and Writing outcomes, and Preparation for adulthood
- New to being a SENCO training
Wave 2 speech and language interventions
The Speech and Language Therapy Service is planning training on the wave 2 language intervention programmes on:
- LEAP training - 14th September
- VIP training - 28th September
- NIP training - 5th October
Ten places are available on each course. Please contact your therapist for further information and an application form.
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Updated MyPlan template and guidance notes
Slight changes have been made to the MyPlan template to clarify and clearly show how the school or setting has followed a graduated approach. (People are now asked to note if a child has been discussed at locality panels and if they have received high needs element 3 funding). The support plan has also been updated to more clearly show progress towards outcomes.
The updated MyPlan and MyPlan guidance is on the Learn Sheffield website.
They should be used from the Autumn term 2021. SENCOs should continue to use the existing template for children who already have a MyPlan. But they are advised to copy and paste the new sections to give details about locality panels and funding.
SENCOs should also use the updated support plan and support plan guidance as plans are being created for the next academic year.
More information will be shared at the June SENCO briefings.
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Reflections from the first year of new integrated resources
Three new Integrated Resources opened this year at Beck, Hucklow and Whiteways primary schools, run by the Cascade MAT. Lisa Whitehead, Inclusion Lead, talks about the first year.
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Provision update
We are increasing provision to meet the needs of children and young people in Sheffield.
- We are increasing specialist support in mainstream schools by providing advice, support and training to SENCOs and city wide training initiatives to build the capacity of mainstream schools.
- 30 new Integrated Resource places were created in 2020/21 and a further 40 are being planned over the next 18 months.
- An extra 100 special school places were created in September 2020, and a further 122 are being created for September 2021.
- Two new special schools are planned for 2022 and 2023. These will cater for children with ASD and SEMH needs and will provide a further 160 places.
- Over the next five years, further places will be needed to meet forecast demand. The developments outlined above are part of this plan to provide extra places.
- Schools interested in finding out more about developing an Integrated Resource should contact SENDcommissioning@sheffield.gov.uk
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Children’s University Festival of Fun
The Children’s University Festival of Fun is taking place again this summer.
The programme of FREE summer holiday activities will include sports, outdoor activities, arts and crafts, dance and drama, and board games.
Activities will be run Covid-securely, following all national restrictions and guidelines at the time. They will run across the city.
The team will provide opportunities for all children, including those with a range of special educational needs. Parents of children with SEND are encouraged to contact the team when the programme is released to discuss their child’s needs and the activities.
All activities are free. They are for children who attend a Sheffield school and have a Chidlren’s University Passport to Learning. If you don’t have one you can:
- Buy one online for £4.50 (inc. postage to your home address).
- Buy one from your local library for £3.50
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Support for parents
- See Sheffield Parenting’s ‘What’s On Guide’ for parenting groups and programmes. This includes specially designed programmes for parents and carers of children with SEND.
- Find out about SEND support groups in Sheffield
Useful links
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Learn Sheffield. Information and guidance for SENCOs in Sheffield.
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Local Offer. Information about support and services for children and young people with SEND.
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Sheffield Parent Carer Forum. A parent-led charity that provides support, shares information and influences policy and practice
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SSENDIAS. Impartial, confidential information, advice and support to families
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