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SEND News

Welcome to your update on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Sheffield.  For parents, carers, professionals, and everyone interested in SEND.

Encourage others to sign up to SEND News.

If you have any difficulties with the sign up page then please e-mail localoffer@sheffield.gov.uk.  

Join the Sheffield SEND Facebook Group

Get updates and be involved in all things special educational needs and disabilities from the 0-25 SEND Service in Sheffield City Council.

We encourage you to join today!  The page is for anyone with an interest in SEND – from young people and parents through to those who work in SEND.

Community Youth Information and Guidance Service Survey - win £25!

The Community Youth Information and Guidance Service want the views of young people aged 14-19. Ask your young person to complete this short survey (7 questions) and be entered into a £25 prize.

Questions are about Sheffield City Council's Community Youth Information & Guidance service and where young people may look for career’s advice and information.

Good luck!

Updated Short Breaks Statement

Sheffield City Council have updated their Short Breaks statement. The statement will provide information about:

• what short breaks are and who they are for
• the types of short breaks available
• the Special Needs Inclusion Playcare Service
• how to apply for a short break
• who to contact

Sheffield Hearing Impairment Service You Tube Channel

The Sheffield Hearing Impaired Service have created a You Tube channel to support children, families, nursery and school settings across Sheffield. Their aim is to make sign language more accessible and for it to be used confidently with Deaf children in Sheffield.

New videos will be added frequently to cover a wide range of topics taught across schools.

Holiday Activities

An advice page has been created on the Local Offer webpages (part of the Sheffield Directory) that sign posts you to some of the places that offer holiday activities. 

If you know of any clubs that would be good to feature then please e-mail localoffer@sheffield.gov.uk.

You can also search for other clubs and activities and holiday clubs on the Sheffield Directory. Use the filters at the left-hand side of the page to narrow the search results.

Masking at school

The Autism and Social Communication team in the Sheffield SEND Service have put together some advice and guidance on masking in school:

• about what that can mean for children and young people
• outlining some strategies that could help them

More special schools and Integrated Resources planned for Sheffield

In Sheffield, as in the rest of the UK, demand for specialist placements continues to increase.

Since 2018, seven new integrated resources (IRs) and 300 new special school places have been created in the city. This includes the new Discovery special school, which opened on the Norfolk Park estate in September 2022.

The local authority is looking to create more school places for children with special educational needs across both mainstream and special schools.

Sleep problems

In a quick poll on the SEND Facebook group, 75% of parents/carers who responded said that their young person had sleep difficulties which impacted on their school day.

Around 80% of the referrals that come into the Sheffield SEND Service involve young people who have problems with their sleep.

The Sheffield Autism and Social Communication and Educational Psychology Services have put together a couple of help sheets that you may find useful.

Download the Autism and Social Communication sleep help sheet

Download the Educational Psychology Service sleep help sheet

Annual Health Checks Support

People with a learning disability often have poorer physical health and mental health than other people. This does not have to be the case.

It is important that everyone over the age of 14 who is on their doctor's learning disability register has an annual health check.

Sheffield Mencap and Gateway are partnering with GP surgeries across Sheffield to support people get their Annual Health Check.

Telephone them on 01142 767757 to find out more or e-mail them.

Introduction to Autism

The Sheffield Parent Carer Forum are offering a free 2 hour Autism information session for parents who are just starting out on the journey. No diagnosis needed to attend.

When: 10:00am - 12:00pm Tuesday 13th Jun 2023

Where: Quaker Meeting House,10 St James Street, Sheffield, S1 2EW

0-5 SEND Support Service – Parent and Early Years Providers Surveys

The 0-5 SEND Team would like to hear your views about Portage, Early Years Inclusion Teachers and Assistants and SEND Early Years Learning Centre/UCan. 

This feedback will be used by managers to help refine and shape the 0-5 SEND Support Service. There is one survey for Early Years settings and one for parents. To complete the surveys, click on the buttons below.

The surveys will close on 16th June.

ADHD and ASD drop-ins for parents

These drop-ins provide an opportunity to chat to other parents of children with similar needs and meet staff from Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Ryegate, Sheffield City Council, Family Action and Sheffield Parent Carer Forum.

Please note, the sessions are for adults only. A diagnosis is not required.

Preparation for Adulthood

Have you and your child/young person been thinking about the 4 areas of Preparation for Adulthood?  

1. Education, Employment and Training
2. Independence
3. Community and friendships
4. Health

It's important to start planning from the earliest years.

The National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) have a webpage with lots of tools and resources.  These are designed to help children and young people with SEND develop the skills needed for a happy, successful life.

Sheffield Children’s Foundation Trust Information Resource Library

Sheffield Children’s Information Resource Library has lots of health information for you to look at and read.  There is advice on autism, speech and language, epilepsy, hearing and sleep to name but a few. 

Check it out by clicking on the below button.

Parents information sessions

Sheffield SENDIAS (Sheffield SEND Information and Advice Service) offer free online information sessions.  These are for parents and carers of young people aged 0-25 with SEND.   The sessions answer some of the most frequently asked questions.

There are 3 sessions available, which run in both the daytime and evenings:

- Book What is an EHC Needs Assessment

- Book SEN Support in Schools

- Book Checking a Draft EHC Plan

Useful links

Parenting support

Sheffield’s Parent Hub runs seminars, discussion groups and programmes to give parents practical help and advice. Some have been specifically developed for families of children and young people with SEND.

1. Learn Sheffield. Information and guidance for SENCOs in Sheffield.
2. Local Offer. Information about support and services for children and young people with SEND. 
3. Sheffield Parent Carer Forum. A parent-led charity that provides support, shares information and influences policy and practice.
4. SSENDIAS. Impartial, confidential information, advice and support to families.
5. Sheffield Children’s Hospital – patients and parents information.