Welcome to the latest edition of Shropshire’s Covid-19 SEND newsletter, co-produced by Shropshire Council, Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group and PACC.  The newsletter aims to provide easy access to key information for SEND families during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as an opportunity for parent carers to hear from each other about their experiences.

This edition has a health focus, but also includes lots of other SEND related information to support children, young people and their parent carers.

Our thanks go to the parent carers who have shared their stories and wonderful photographs of their young people. 

Please do continue to provide feedback on this newsletter, we want this to work for you and we are keen to hear what you think of it. You can email us at local.offer@shropshire.gov.uk

The health and safety of children, families and staff is our top priority and as the impact of Covid-19 continues to be felt across the UK. The Community Children and Young people’s Health Services have a brief overview of their current community children and young people’s health services and the different ways they are working to keep everyone safe and promote the psychological well-being of children and young people. This update includes information on the following services:-

• Immunisation and Vaccination Service
• Community Children’s Nursing Team and Paediatric Diabetes Nursing Team
• Children’s Community Audiology
• Children’s Therapies and Child Development Services
• Child Development Centres
• Children’s Occupational Therapy
• Children’s Physiotherapy
• Children’s Speech and Language Therapy
• Community Paediatric Service
• 0-19 Service – Leading on the Healthy Child Programme
• The Wheelchair and Posture Service
• The Paediatric Psychology Service

Find out more about how these services are operating

Winter is coming, and at-risk groups entitled to a free flu vaccination this year include children, carers, people with learning disabilities and adults with long-term health and medical conditions.

The Health lead at Contact for Families with Disabled Children  has put together some questions and answers about getting a flu vaccination, which address some of the concerns parents have raised on their Facebook page recently. You can read that article here.  

GP practices are safe and providing a variety of different appointments to meet patient needs, including those with SEND.

During the pandemic, practices across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin have been adapting to news ways of working to prevent both patients and staff being put at risk.

While online consultations, phone and video calls are being used in the first instance, if a patient needs to be seen face-to-face by a healthcare professional, they will be offered an appointment when clinically appropriate.

Find out more about how GP practices are staying safe and adapting to meet patient’s needs

Annual health checks are for adults and young people aged 14 or over with a learning disability.

An annual health check gives people time to talk about anything that is worrying them and means they can get used to going to visit the doctor.

People with a learning disability often have poorer physical and mental health. Therefore, an annual health check is important – even if the person does not feel unwell.

This is all you need to know about Annual Health Checks.

From 1 April 2021, the Actio consortium, made up of Energize Shropshire Telford and Wrekin (STW), Shropshire Parent and Carer Council (PACC) and Ignition CIC, will be responsible for commissioning the All-in Short Breaks programme for children with disabilities in Shropshire.

Shropshire Council will remain responsible for All In activities until 31^st March 2021 and will continue to remain responsible for the All In registration process throughout the duration of the contract with Actio.

Due to this change it is necessary for all existing members of All In to re-register so that we have up to date information; so that we meet the requirements around data protection and we have the necessary consent to share information with Actio. 

Parent carers of existing All In members should have now received a letter asking them to complete a new application form before the deadline of Wednesday 25^th November 2020. The task of re-registering everyone will take place over the coming months and will be completed before 1^st April 2021. 

The application form can be found on this website

If you have any queries, please email ShortBreaks@Shropshire.gov.uk or call 01743 254400. 

The Gov.UK information on higher education student finance can provide you with help regarding the support you may need in higher education they will also provide guidance and information on how you can make an application for The Disabled Students Allowance (DSA).

The disabled students allowance (DSA) may be available to help you with the extra costs you may incur. Applications for DSA should be made at least six months before the start of the academic year in which you commence your placement, or as soon as the student finance application service opens; this can vary each year. 

To enable your well-planned transition to higher education it's important that you apply as early as possible.

Many changes have taken place to the way education was delivered as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions.  During lockdown online platforms such as Zoom and Teams become the ‘New Normal’ for the delivery of learning.

In September 2020 the majority of students returned to their post 16 educational setting, social distancing, set seating plans, staggered timetables and bubbles being in place. Students have also faced many personal challenges.  

We asked post 16 colleges students to share their experiences. Despite the challenges, it’s inspiring to read how quickly students have adapted to changing ways of working whether they were returning or starting college for the first time.

A M 2^nd year student

Lockdown was hard because my brother died in lockdown, but it was nice that college sent me work and people rang from college to see if I was ok and my mum. I didn't like being at home because it was boring and sad, and I wanted to see my mates.

I talked to my teacher, college mentor and my LSA. My LSA emailed me and I did all my work. I liked doing work at home but it's best in college.  In lockdown I just wanted to be in college, but I did read my history books and did my work.

C S 2^nd year student

I was fed up in lockdown but did like contact with college and work they give me. My LSA rang me every week to see if I was ok and help me but it's not like being in college where I have my friends and someone to talk to. I got very tired and slept a lot but it's good to be back. I didn't like lockdown. I did come in at times because mum is a carer and that helped me but there was only a few in college and they weren't my friends.

H R  3^rd year Student

I was bored in lockdown because there was nothing much to do but it was good having some work from college and my LSA ringing me. I liked to speak to staff from college and playing on my PlayStation because I felt I was in college when I talked to you. Being off college made me realize how much I like it because being at home made my legs hurt, I wasn't walking around and at college I do. I did miss my friends, but it was ok. I like coming to college and want to do art next year.

T D 2^nd year student

Lockdown was hard because I only had a few bits to finish for the year I love doing my work, so I was up to date and had done extra. It was nice to talk to the staff who contacted me and to do the extra work online, but I got very board. It was ok though. College spoke to me every week and that was good because I knew another week had gone by. When I was stuck with things there was always a teacher to talk to or contact to help so that was good.

I am glad to be back in college I work best in college. 

Maisy 1^st year

I really like college, I'm very happy here. My favourite session is art but in HH (Hospitality and Housekeeping) I like the bakery best. College is just as good as I thought it would be.

Courtney

 ‘We have to wear gloves at times, social distance, wash hands regularly and sanitise. We keep to our bubble in college, which is fine too.’ 

Lucy

Throughout lockdown I continue to attend college; in which I was supported academically and emotionally.

There was a great team of support staff/ other members of staff which helped me throughout; and I was very grateful for.

An update on Life at College during a Pandemic

I visited Owen at his residential college in Wales on the 21^st October, after a difficult few weeks which has included both his support staff and him testing positive for Covid 19. We had heard 11 days previously that Owen had tested positive, which not unsurprisingly scared us to death. Luckily, he has been asymptomatic, no temperature or cough, but that didnt stop us ringing to check his temperature every day! Coleg Elydir were great however, they kept us up to date on what was happening and never once sounded fed-up with our regular calls. The hardest part has been Owen and the other young people he lives with, having to cope with spending most of each day isolating in their rooms. Owen was bored and occasionally frustrated, so we chatted regularly over 'WhatsApp' and did lots of video calls. In fact, the positive from this experience has been seeing just how well he can communicate with us when he hasn't got better things to do!!

He finished his isolation period on the 20^th October, and we started to feel that we could breathe again, when the Welsh Government announced a lock down starting on Friday 23^rd October. I had been promising Owen that I would visit him as soon as I could, so I spoke to the Coleg Head, who agreed that I could visit before the lock down started, because he recognised that it was important for Owen's wellbeing (not to mention mine). The Coleg site was still in lockdown to protect residents, so I picked him up at lunch time and we had lunch together off site.

It was such a relief to see him in person and to see how happy and well he was.  We are so grateful for how well he was looked after by the support staff at Coleg Elydir and the care and understanding they showed towards us.  Inevitably we have questioned our decision about Owen returning to Coleg, but as they say hindsight is a great thing.  It has however been valuable for us to see that we can trust others to care for Owen, even when things don’t quite go to plan.