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Thursday 13 July 2023
Welcome
As this academic year draws to a close, SEND Family Voice Torbay (SFVT) and the Head of SEND and Inclusion would like to thank all the parents and carers in Torbay for their support this year. SFVT has been actively sharing your voice with all SEND partners across the Bay and helping to instigate the change we all want to see for our children and young people.
Thank you to all the parents and carers, as well as children and young people, who took the time to complete the annual SEND participation survey which recently closed. The responses are now being reviewed. It was good to hear aspects of SEND provision that are working well for families in Torbay, as well as the things that need improving.
All SEND services - in education, health and social care - recognise that whilst a lot of work has been done, there is still much to do and they are keen to respond and act on the messages received in the survey. It’s still early days, so we will share more information with you in future newsletters.
If you did not have chance to complete the survey, we would still like to hear from you. Please get in touch through either our website or Facebook page. There is a busy year ahead to embed all the activity and ensure the impact is felt for our children, young people and their families.
The SEND Family Voice Community Forum at the end of June was very well attended by parents and carers and supported by the Educational Psychologist service, Paul Williams, Senior Educational Psychologist, Katie Harris, Participation Officer and Hannah Baker, Project Manager for the post inspection action plan. These informal forums are fantastic opportunities to meet with SEND professionals and share your experiences. The next forum is in September and will continue the theme of education. Following feedback from parents and carers, it will be both in person during the day and online in the evening.
The Fair Play Day planned for August is not far away now. Tickets are still available on Eventbrite. If promises to be a fantastic event. We are keeping our fingers crossed the weather is kind to us that day.
Finally, we would like to wish all our SEND families and colleagues a wonderful summer break and look forward to seeing many of you in the new academic year.
Rebecca Box and Karen Roofe - Co-Chairs SEND Family Voice Torbay with Hannah Spencer Head of SEND and Inclusion
Fair Play Day - have you got your tickets yet?
Fair Play Day 2023 returns to Torre Abbey Meadows on Wednesday 17 August.
This free event is aimed at families of young people with SEND, young carers and care experienced young people. There are still a few tickets left so be sure to secure some if you live in the Torbay area.
 Graduated Response
If you do visit Fair Play Day, you may notice our new SEND bus, which we’re unveiling at the fair.
The bus will visit all Torbay schools, colleges, early years settings and alternative provisions from September onwards as part of our Graduated Response roadshow.
Graduated Response ensures children and young people have their needs met in the right place, with the right support, at the right time.
To help parents understand what help is available, we’ve created five toolkits under these areas of need:
- Cognition and learning
- Speech, language and communication
- Social, emotional and mental health
- Physical and sensory
- Neurodiversity
There will be a special edition of this newsletter in September devoted to the Graduated Response.
Parent childcare consultation 2023
This survey is to find out from Torbay parents and carers what your experiences and needs are in relation to childcare.
When we refer to childcare, we mean any type of provision caring for children. This includes early years childcare for 0–5-year-olds and childcare for school-aged children like before and after school care and holiday clubs.
The information you provide will help us make sure there are enough high-quality childcare places at the times and in the areas that families need them. The survey should take between five and 10 minutes to complete and all answers are confidential.
The survey closes on Sunday 23 July.
 Could you help with a research project?
Researchers at the University of York are looking for families of pupils aged 14-17 years old with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), for a study on camouflaging.
Camouflaging (or masking) describes behaviours a young person does that disguise their language needs and may make it difficult to spot that they have DLD.
Camouflaging may also impact on a young person's mental health (research suggests this is the case in autism).
Further details and a family-friendly information video can be viewed here. If your family would like to support this project, contact Dr Hannah Hobson, Hannah.hobson@york.ac.uk or Kate Kempton, kate.kempton@york.ac.uk.
Mum’s resources for other parents
Newbold Hope has free and paid-for resources for parents and carers on issues ranging from meltdowns, screen time, toilet training and violent behaviour.
Mum Yvonne Newbold, the founder of Newbold Hope, is an expert by experience in learning disabilities and autism thanks to her son.
Newbold Hope provides help, support and training to parents and professionals who care for SEND children and young people who behave in difficult and dangerous ways.
Online events
Dispelling the myths about mainstream secondary school
Are you a parent or carer of a child with SEND who is about to start secondary school this September, September 2024 or September 2025?
Secondary SENCOs with members of the SEND partnership from educational psychology and SEND officers are holding an informal question and answer session so you can ask for advice on how to manage your child’s transition and what to expect from their secondary school.
Register your interest in this session on Wednesday 13 September at 4:30pm
Dispelling the myths about mainstream primary school
Similar to the above, but for parents and carers of children starting primary school this September, next September or September 2025. There are two times for this session.
Register your interest in this session on Monday 18 September at 10am
Register your interest in this session on Monday 18 September at 7pm
 In-person events
Every Thursday, 12:30pm – 1:30pm: The public health nursing team offers SEND support for parents. Open sessions so you can ask questions and get advice. Beehive, Paignton Enterprise Centre, Bishops Place, Paignton, TQ3 3DZ.
What's on this summer?
Have you tried the Healthy Selfie Trail yet?
This free, year-long walking treasure hunt is ideal for families looking for something to do during the summer holidays and there are some great prizes to be won.
The routes, which are all between two and three miles long, take you to some great local arts, heritage, and historical sites and beauty spots. For every monthly trail you complete, you’ll gain entry into our grand prize draw to win watersports, cycling and camping prizes up to the value of £1200.
A new route is released at the start of each month and takes walkers to photogenic places across Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. At three spots along each route, you need to take a photo of yourself and submit it to the Healthy Selfie website. You’ll also need to answer a quiz question to be entered into the prize draw.
Wherever possible, the routes have been designed to be accessible. Please check the Healthy Selfie website for accessibility before you set off.
Recommendations for getting to the start of each of the walks by public transport are also provided.
Four walks – the Torre Abbey Circular, the Berry Head Figure of Eight, Oldway Mansion and Victoria Park, and the Watcombe Circular – are now available to download.
There will also be a bonus Children's Week Walk on Wednesday 16 August, which will be a circular walk around Paignton Green from 10am. There will be badges for the first 100 people to complete the walk.
Keep an eye on the Healthy Selfie and Children's Week websites closer to the time for more info.
 Healthy Holidays are back
Have you signed up your child up for our popular holiday clubs programme for 5–16-year-olds?
Children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals or who are electively home educated have the chance to take part.
Healthy Holidays clubs prevent holiday hunger and help young people learn new skills and take part in activities including sport, music, dance, drama, art, cooking and gardening.
Families have been contacted by schools and there’s also information on our website.
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