Welcome to the latest SEND Newsletter
Stockport publishes a monthly SEND newsletter for all children, young people, families and professionals working with special educational needs and disabilities, including statutory and voluntary agencies across education, health and social care. Click the link below to receive the latest information and updates on SEND in Stockport.
Subscribe here
Missed an issue?
You can find every issue of the SEND newsletter here
We welcome all feedback on the send newsletter. If you would like to make any comments or suggestions, please email us at send-ip@Stockport.gov.uk or complete our online survey . You can also email us with suggestions for articles in future editions.
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Jill Breden PGCE (primary) MA (Autism) Msc (Psychology)
Hello, I am a qualified primary school teacher with over 20 years professional experience in teaching and working with lots of wonderful children with SEND in many specialist and mainstream settings. I have taught children from age 3 through to 19. I also have a triplet sister with additional complex needs, she is my inspiration and perhaps the reason I do what I do!
Contact: jill.breden@stockport.gov.uk
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Anna Hopwood, BEd (Hons) secondary PE and science. MA SEN and Inclusive Education.
I originally began my career teaching in secondary schools, where I developed an affinity for supporting pupils with additional needs. My passion for SEND led me to spend many highly rewarding years teaching children with complex needs, autism and epilepsy, aged 11-19, in a residential specialist school. I am now in the privileged position of supporting an array of wonderful children, parents and schools across Stockport.
Contact: Anna.hopwood@stockport.gov.uk
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Tina Russell-Cruise BA English/Drama, MA Inclusive Education, University Certificate ASC
I was a mainstream Secondary SENCO in London for some years before specialising in teaching young people with SEMH and Looked After Children. When my son was diagnosed with Autism I studied for an additional qualification in this area. I joined Stockport Inclusion Team in 2007.
Contact: Tina.cruise@Stockport.gov.uk
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What do we do?
We support children with complex additional needs in;
- Private, Voluntary and state maintained nurseries
- Primary schools
- Secondary schools
- Specialist settings
Children and young people who benefit most from our support usually;
- Have an Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
- Are eligible for a high needs level of support within mainstream settings
- Are accessing one or more therapy service
How can we help?
Stockport Inclusion Team:
Provide specialist support and advice to school staff - This may be through observation, consultation or modelling best practice to staff in the classroom.
Work with the multi- agency teams within the Local Authority to support pupils.
Support the parents and carers of this group of pupils.
Deliver training to school staff throughout the local Authority. Training is delivered both centrally and to individual schools by arrangement.
CCG Recovery Planning
Stockport CCG is planning their response to Covid affecting their services and looking at ways to re-start on Covid services.
They have asked for SEND families to get involved and email their thoughts and experiences on the 3 questions below:
- Let us know what’s changed for you and your family in accessing health services during COVID and the lockdown?
- What do you feel has worked well in accessing health services during this period and what could be improved?
- What matters most to you over the next few months?
Please email:
stockportccg.communications@nhs.net
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Review of Healthy Young Minds
In January 2020 the Coroner at Heywood highlighted concerns from a family of a child who was open to Healthy Young Minds Oldham prior to her passing September 2018. The family were confused as to why the name was changed from Child and Mental Health Service to Healthy Young Minds.
For this reason, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust have agreed to do a consultation with young people, services users, families and other professionals.
Have your say on Healthy Young Mind's name change here
SEND Week of Action 16-20th November- Get involved
We have plans to raise awareness of SEND during the 16th-20th November. We are planning a range of webinars, drop-ins, quizzes, facts and other ways to create awareness.
Please get involved! Email us at send-ip@Stockport.gov.uk or submit your plans / ideas using our short survey.
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PACTS Inspection impact survey, Sept 2020
Stockport Council and Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group were inspected in September 2018 for the quality of services and support for children and young people 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Stockport since the Children & Families Act 2014 became law.
As a result, Stockport was asked to make improvements to services and support for these families.
PACTS ran a survey in November 2019 asking parents and carers how things had changed for children and young people with SEND who lived in or received services in Stockport between September 2018 and October 2019.
This survey asks you for your experiences and opinions of services and support between November 2019 and August 2020.
This survey will close on the 9th October.
Link to the survey is here
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Children returning back to school
For most parents/carers and pupils, returning to school has been long awaited and is an important step on the path towards normal life resuming.
However, we know that parents/carers and pupils also have some concerns and questions about the return to school. The guidance in the link below Is intended to answer some of those questions.
A quick guide about attendance and Covid-19
We have also created some Frequently Asked Questions for parents/carers who may have concerns about their child returning to school. You can read these here
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SEND Holiday Activity Offer
Stockport MBC would like to offer support with school holiday activities for families who have children with additional SEND needs and low-income families.
We would welcome your knowledge in the area that you work/live in so we can pull together an overview of what activities are in place for SEND children and young people during half term, Christmas and Easter breaks. We will publish the information on our Local Offer before each holiday.
Please email us at send-ip@stockport.gov.uk
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Preparing for Adulthood: Survival Guide
From reviewing our Local Offer we know that information about growing up and preparing for adulthood in Stockport isn’t as up to date as it needs to be. A group of us, including parent carers and young people, are now looking into the content so we can improve it for families. In the meantime here are some really valuable links. Some of the content may be a little out of date but we are working on it as quickly as possible.
You can find information about how to help young people and their families prepare for becoming an adult on the Local Offer Let us know what you think would help by feeding back to send-ip@stockport.gov.uk
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Our SEND Hub is here to help!
Children & young people with SEND and their families may be facing additional challenges right now. Our SEND Hub provides support for 0-18 year olds with SEND (and 18-25 if they have an EHCP). If you, or someone you know needs help or support, please contact our SEND Hub on 0161 217 6028, choose Option 2.
The Hub was launched in May 2020 and is open to anyone, including parents/carers and professionals. It is part of the Council’s ‘early help’ support structure.
Once families have shared their concerns, the SEND Hub team will work with them to provide support or signpost them to the best support options, guidance and available information. For more information, visit the Stockport SEND Local Offer.
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Did you know that you can follow updates on SEND in Stockport on Facebook and Twitter.
We are on Facebook and Twitter! Come join us and find out messages around SEND on a frequent basis.
Link to Facebook
Link to Twitter
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Did you know about our network of SEND Champions?
The SEND champions is a network of friendly, passionate people, made up of parents, carers, and a variety of professionals who all have one thing in common- improving SEND services! We discuss our lived experiences, both good and bad, and use these discussions to think about how we make things better!
The champions' are currenting holding fortnightly meeting- you can come along to as many as you can :) Visit the champions page on our Local Offer for more details about what the champions are up to.
If you would like to get involved, please email us at send-ip@stockport.gov.uk
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Did you know about the Stockport SEND Local Offer?
The Stockport SEND Local Offer is a website that has brought together a range of support services and information for children and young people aged 0-25, with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
You can view the website here
You can also tell us what you think about the site and about information you would like to find by emailing SENDLocalOffer@stockport.gov.uk.
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Did you know about the SEND e-learning course?
We have created a SEND e-Learning course which is aimed at everyone who works with children and young people aged 0-25. It can also be completed by anybody who has an interest in developing their knowledge and understanding of special educational needs and disabilities - SEND.
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Did you know there is a group for SEND young people to meet up regularly?
Stockport Action Youth Speakers (SAYS)
What we do
We're a group of like-minded children and young people between 13-25 years who have special educational needs and disabilities. We live or receive services in Stockport and want to ensure that services and provision meet the needs of children and young people. We offer a safe place for young people to share their views and experiences of services to strategic leaders.
Our role is to ensure their views/experiences are listened to and fed into the design, development, delivery and review of Stockport Services. We work in partnership with Stockport’s Education, Health, Social care and local SEND organisations.
If you want to join us, please email us
If you want to join us, please email us at info@stockportsays.co.uk.
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Thank you Jennie Neill
Jennie Neill has worked within the Children and Education Directorate for 8 years and has been a crucial player in the SEND improvement programme. Jennie is moving on to becoming the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development at Stockport Council.
Good luck Jennie! Thank you so much for your contribution within the Children and Education services, you will be missed :)
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Thank you Phillip Griffiths
Phillip Griffiths is a School Age Plus Worker at Stockport Council.
On the 22nd September, Phillipa emailed over 500 members of staff to ask if anyone could donate a bike for an 8 year old girl, whose father is terminally ill. The little girl rally enjoys bike riding but her current bike was broken.
A bike was kindly donated by the Ceracycloan Bike Shop in Higher Hillgate, Stockport on the 24th September- how lovely is that!
Thank you so much to the owners of Ceracyloan Bike shop and for Phillip for instigating the search.
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