Welcome to your Torbay SEND Newsletter

Torbay Council sent this bulletin at 20-02-2023 01:07 PM GMT

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Monday 20 February 2023

Welcome!

In this Torbay SEND newsletter, we will be sharing with you the ways we are continuing to improve how we deliver as a partnership, services for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and their families. 

We will be taking a focus on the theme of preparing for adulthood - this has been an area of development for the service and hearing from parents and carers has played an integral part in shaping the way forward.

Earlier this month, we hosted a warmly received virtual drop-in session around the theme of transitioning into adulthood. We know that many families will be starting to look ahead and talking about plans for the future, and we would like to share some of the useful information that parents and carers found to be helpful.

We understand the importance of planning being ‘person-centred’ when considering education and training provision for your young person, such as employment, independent living, good health and community participation.

Throughout the transition process and beyond, we are constantly mindful of young people’s strengths and capabilities when considering options.

This strength-based approach is designed to protect the individual’s independence and ability to make informed choices. It will be the ‘golden thread’ that runs through the interactions between the health and social care teams and the people that they support.

Our "Preparing for Adulthood Pathway" video helps to explain what to expect and what additional support may be available for young people from Year 9 onwards.

Click the play button to watch this video.

Why is it a good idea to start planning in Year 9?

Starting to plan at Year 9 allows plenty of time to research options for future education, training or careers, and to plan the most appropriate path. It is at this time in the final years of school that support can be focused to help your young person develop successfully in the future.

If your young person has an EHCP (Education Health and Care Plan) the Year 9 annual review of your young person’s EHCP is very important as this begins the preparation for adulthood. This is the time to start thinking about further education, future jobs, where they will live, and consider ongoing health or welfare needs.

Click here to read more Year 9 | Torbay FIS Directory

Year 10 - considering post-16 options

For those with an EHCP, your young person’s annual review will revisit the ideas first made in the Year 9 Preparing for Adulthood plan.

This is the time to start exploring the options open to your young person to help them reach their goals. This could mean visiting colleges, researching apprenticeships, going to open days, looking on college websites and getting copies of prospectuses or brochures. The school may also have open evenings with a focus on post 16 options.

Click here to read more Year 10 | Torbay FIS Directory

Year 11 - a very important year for your young person

This a time for decision making built on the research started in Year 10. Your young person will now need to think about the type of course they want to follow and how that links to their future career path.

The school may have a choice of prospectuses or brochures which list course information and open evenings for colleges and sixth forms to help with this.

If your young person has a learning difficulty and/or disability and will be leaving school to enter college or a work-based learning programme, the school’s careers advisor will complete a plan, which records the young person’s goals for after 16 options.

Click here to read more Year 11 | Torbay FIS Directory

Age 16 – 18 Transition from Children’s to Adult Services

By taking a partnership approach and working alongside families, we are in a stronger position to create positive and impactful change. A referral can be made to the appropriate health and social care team for all young people moving into Adult Services.

Staff from Children’s and Adult Services will work together, sharing information about young people aged between 14 and 18 who are supported by Children’s Services.

From the age of 16, and subject to a Social Care needs assessments for Adults, Adult Services will work with the young person, their family and supporters to progress their transition.

Click here read more Age 16-18 | Torbay FIS Directory

Useful information and links related to Preparing for Adulthood:

For more information on preparing for adulthood visit Preparing for Adulthood | Torbay FIS Directory

New Graduated Response toolkits

Join us to take a look at our new Graduated Response toolkits.

Graduated Response is method used to support a concern about a child or young person’s possible special educational needs or identified needs.

In these virtual events parents and carers will have a chance to view the new toolkits for each type of need. We would then like parents and carers to feedback on the toolkits and help us coproduce the final toolkits which will be launched later in the year.

Please sign up for one or more events in the area of need with which you have an interest.

Torbay SEND Graduated Response - Cognition & Learning needs

Thursday 23 February, 6-7pm

Click here to register for this event

Torbay SEND Graduated Response - Physical & Sensory needs

Wednesday 1 March, 6-7pm

Click here to register for this event

Torbay SEND Graduated Response - Social, Emotional & Mental Health needs

Tuesday 7 March, 6-7pm

Click here to register for this event

Torbay SEND Graduated Response - Neurodiversity needs

Thursday 16 March, 6-7pm

Click here to register for this event

Torbay SEND Graduated Response – Speech, Language & Communication needs

Wednesday 22 March, 6-7pm

Click here to register for this event

Torbay SEND Events

Monthly, virtual drop-in sessions with the Torbay SEND Team

We will be sharing with you the ways we are continuing to improve how we deliver as a partnership, services for children and young people with SEND, and their families.

These sessions are also a place to share your views with us. We welcome you to share information about this event with any parents or carers who you feel might find these informal drop-in sessions useful to know about.

These sessions will take place on the first Tuesday of each month between 6– 7pm.

Please be mindful that as this is a group event, we will be unable to discuss individual children/young people.

Due to our request for parents/carers to attend our Graduated Response events, there will be no March drop in next month,

Click here to register for the next drop in session on Tuesday 4 April

EHCP - A moment in time

An Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) is an assessment of a moment in time, its is not static and reflects just part of a young person's journey. As children and young people grow and develop, their needs and goals may change, so it's crucial that the EHCP changes with time to and celebrates children and young people as they move towards their outcomes.

Once children and young people are given the provision to thrive and achieve their outcomes, it's important to reflect on whether they still need provision in line with a plan through the Annual Review process. As parents/carers, you know your child/young person best, so ask yourself if they are still receiving what was identified in the plan or if they have moved towards independence and met their outcomes.

As a partnership we should celebrate the achievements of our children and young people. Helping them to reach their goals and become more independent is a huge accomplishment and it may result in cessation of their EHCP. Let's take a moment to celebrate the hard work that our children and young people have put in and the progress they have made towards achieving their aspirations.

Family Hubs lead the way in Torbay

Torbay Council has been chosen by the government as one of 14 trailblazer local authorities to lead the way in delivering ambitious service improvements for families.

As one of the next steps on Torbay’s Children’s Services improvement journey, the Council will be a national leader for the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme and will help establish best practice.

With a Family Hub based in each of Torbay’s three towns, they will support families by bringing together services into one place.

The Hubs will provide support to families from conception through to age 19 or up to 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), with a great Start for Life offer at their core.

Click here to read more

Torbay Hearing Support Service

The Hearing Support Team organise a variety of opportunities for deaf/hearing impaired children, young people and their families throughout the year.

The team has recently organised an after-school Forest School club for younger primary aged children and their parents. The next groups on offer are:

Playgroup

For families with children aged 0-5, this group provides support for both the children and parents.

Where? - Paignton Baptist Church, Winner Street.

When? - Tuesday 10-11.30am 7 March. Further dates to be announced.

Contact katy.peverill@torbay.gov.uk for further information.

Youth Club

For deaf/hearing impaired young people who use English or BSL, aged 14-21. Join us for skittles, pool, table tennis and socialising.

Where? - Torbay Deaf Club, Torquay.

When? – 4:00 – 5:30 pm on 6^th March and 24^th April

Contact lee.fullwood@torbay.gov.uk for further information.

The Spires Club

For deaf/hearing impaired young people who use English or BSL, aged 9 - 14. Join us for a games night (social games such as UNO, draughts and many more!)

Where? – The Spires College, Torquay.

When? – 3:30 – 5:00 on 21^st March and 2^nd May

SENDIASS Torbay provides information and support on matters relating to children and young people with SEND between 0-25 years.

If you feel you need more in-depth support, if things are complicated, or if you feel like you need to talk things through with someone, you can talk to a SENDIASS officer.

Trained staff can give you legally-based information, advice and support on education, health and social care matters relating to SEND.

SENDIASS offers a ‘self-referral’ process, however, on occasions it may be considered appropriate for a professional to make contact with the service on behalf of the parents/carers or young person. The service will act upon such requests only when consent is given.

The SENDIASS telephone helpline is available Monday-Friday 10am-2pm. Outside these hours and answer phone is available to leave a message for a call back.

Call 01803 210 371

Email sendiass@torbaycdt.co.uk

Upcoming Torbay Family Events

Brand-new four-day food and music event coming to Torquay this May

The English Riviera Food & Music Festival is a brand-new four-day food and music event taking place on Friday 26 to Monday 29 May 2023, in the heart of Torbay at Torre Abbey Meadows.

Over four days guests will be able to enjoy an eclectic mix of the region’s finest food, restaurants, and chefs, alongside an amazing line-up of the UK’s best music acts.

Click here to read more

The English Riviera Airshow is back!

The English Riviera Airshow will take flight from Saturday 3 to Sunday 4 June with breath-taking displays over the stunning South Devon Bay. World class aerial action, classic seaside fun and a packed events village make for a fantastic weekend for aviation enthusiasts of all ages.

Click here to read more Soaring into 2023: the English Riviera Airshow to take flight this June - Torbay Council

Could you be a SEND Family Voice volunteer?

We are still keen to hear from families so that we can continue to co-produce the necessary improvements to SEND services in Torbay.

SEND Family Voice Torbay is a newly formed and independent Parent Carer Forum recognised by the Department for Education and supported by the National Network of Parent Carer Forums and Contact.  

All participating parents and carers are volunteers. The group is co-chaired by Rebecca Box and Karen Roofe, who works alongside the steering group. 

We are always looking for parents and carer to share their views and experiences and become part of the change we want to see.

Express an interest

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