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Friday 15 December 2023

Welcome

As we approach the end of the year, we'd like to thank all the parents who've been attending our SEND roadshows. And also, of course, a big thank you to all the schools who have hosted us.

In January, after 15 years of working at Torbay Council, we will be saying goodbye to Hannah Spencer, our SEND and Inclusion Head of Service. As a parent carer forum, we would like to thank Hannah for her dedication and commitment to instigating positive change for SEND children and young people across Torbay. We wish her every luck in the next chapter of her career. 

We will inform parents and carers of Hannah’s replacement as soon as we have news. 

We would like to wish all families, a very happy Christmas and peaceful New Year. We hope you will celebrate in the way that works for you, whatever that may look like and most of all do what makes you and your child happy.

Karen Roofe and Rebecca Box, SEND Family Voice Torbay

The SEND Pledge

It’s been more than a year since we signed our SEND pledge, a co-produced vision for how SEND services should look within Torbay.

This was co-produced by children and young people, parents and carers, the NHS, SEND Family Voice Torbay and Torbay Council.

Our vision is that:

• SEND is everybody’s business
• We identify and respond to needs early
• We deliver in the right place at the right time

We’ve worked hard over the past few months to bring this to life. We’ve carried out our participation survey (we’re still going through the results) and we’ll feedback in the new year.

We’ve also been taking our graduated response roadshows into schools, explaining the support that’s available if you don’t have an education health and care plan in place (more about this below).

And we’ve been hard at work on our Co-production Charter which pledges our commitment to work together so that every child has the best opportunities now and in the future.

Graduated Response roadshows

We’ve completed 34 roadshows this autumn, held four coffee mornings, handed out more than 5,000 of our bookmarks with links to our Graduated Response toolkits and spoken to more than 1,000 parents and carers.

At many of our events, we’ve had parents queuing to speak to us.

We’ve also trained SENDCOs and held nine staff briefings so they are equipped to answer parents’ common questions.

One parent who visited said: “Until I visited the SEND van, I didn’t realise you could receive support without a plan.”

Special mention goes to Torbay Council’s Hannah Baker, who has organised the roadshows.

You may see our SEND van at other community events in the new year and we will be continuing with more roadshows in the spring term.

Community forum

Thanks to all who attended our recent community forum.

A big thank you goes to educational psychologist Harry Morse, who led a discussion on anxiety in school and offered useful tips for parents and carers whose children are facing this.

Funding of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

The way Torbay fund EHCPs has changed. We previously used a system called Activity Led Funding (ALF) which needed reviewing.

It didn’t calculate group intervention and worked on an individual basis. Schools fed back that they didn't feel the current allocation was consistent or predictable.

The funding allocation for EHCPs also ‘rolls over’ and isn’t reviewed until Phase Transfer. This means that even if outcomes are met or increase, funding stays the same.

A pilot was carried out to ensure a formula was agreed that was more equitable and consistent.

A new Torbay SEND matrix has been developed by the SEND team and after consultation with SEND Family Voice, this was placed on our local offer for parental feedback.

Following this, the matrix is now in use in Torbay. We hope it’s clear and simple for parents/carers and schools/colleges.

Christmas support

Healthy Holidays are back for Christmas 2023!

There are still some places available on our Healthy Holidays Christmas holiday club programme.

The scheme is for 5–16-year-olds who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals or who are electively home educated.

Healthy Holidays ensure they have access to a healthy meal and get to take part in a range of activities.

Our providers include local voluntary and community groups, childcare settings and local businesses in Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.

Book your child’s place

Autism resources

The Christmas period can be a very exciting but often stressful time for many autistic people. It can be a time with lots of change, social interaction and expectations.

We've put together a brief list of resources that may prove helpful in making this festive period as special and stress free as possible for autistic people. 

Here are a variety of resources that give guidance, advice and ideas:

Preparing for Christmas - National Autistic Society

Its website features a range of advice on preparing for Christmas, including some real-life stories and tips from autistic people and their families.

Coping with anxiety at Christmas - Emma Louise Bridge

In this blog, author Emma Louise Bridge offers advice on how best to cope with anxiety at Christmas.

An autistic person’s guide to an autism-friendly Christmas – AutisticNotWeird

Chris Bonnello recommends not conforming to other people’s expectations of what should happen at Christmas. Chris also has advice on handling the sensory overload and changes in routine that may occur during the festive period.

Christmas Sensory Survival Kit - Sensory Integration Education

Sensory Integration Education (SIE) has put together a useful guide for preparing for and experiencing Christmas. It has been created using advice and experiences from autistic individuals, parents and carers and professionals.

Autism and Christmas (Neuroclastic) – Emma

In this blog, Emma explains why Christmas can be an overwhelming sensory experience for some autistic people, shares some tips on how to reduce sensory overwhelm, and advice on creating autism-friendly traditions.

Youth Hub Torbay

Children and young people told us that their preferred way to communicate was through social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram.

That’s why we’ve created new accounts so that we have a place specifically to inform and reach out to young people to let them know what’s going on in the Bay and how to get involved.

They can find out about what participation, support and activity groups are running and how they can join to help make a difference.

They can also discover the projects that other young people in Torbay are currently working on with the council’s Children's Services teams and the activities they can be part of.

It’s also an opportunity for parents, carers and professionals to be kept updated about what we’re doing to improve the ways we work with children and families across Torbay.

SEND Youth Forum

This is another great way for young people to get involved. If you know someone aged 12-25 years old who’s got something to say about SEND services and how they can be improved, they may be interested in joining the forum.

Participants will be able to:

• share experiences
• talk about support available
• work to improve services
• talk to professionals to create change

Email pointofyou@torbay.gov.uk to get involved.

Health news

Ongoing supply issues with ADHD medicines

If your child is prescribed medication to help manage symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you are no doubt aware there’s currently a national shortage of these medicines. This is due to manufacturing issues and increased demand.

If medication is making a positive difference for your child, then the thought of not being able to get it will cause a lot of anxiety and have an impact on how your child is able to cope at school and their general well-being.

Disruptions to supply were expected to last until this month, but it could now be April 2024 for some medicines (dates and availability can vary for different medicines and different strengths of the same medicine).

The Children and Family Health Devon website has more information about this for parents and carers.

First Steps Child Development app launches

This app is full of tips from parents and professionals on how to describe and support need in all children, neurodiverse or otherwise. 

The app is aimed at parents of children of primary school age and younger in Torbay and South Devon.

If you have some tips to offer, or spot anything you think needs improving, please feedback to Alex.woolaway@nhs.net 

HANDI app

This free app, available to download onto any Apple or Android device, was launched specifically with children in mind and is loaded with expert advice, support and guidance for parents with concerns about their children.

It covers a range of common conditions such as high temperatures, chestiness, abdominal pain, headaches and rashes, which can cause concern to a parent or carer if they’re not sure what to do.

Training and courses for parents

Autism

Do you have an autistic child? Would you like to meet others in the same situation, share tips and focus on your own wellbeing too?

If the answer is yes, then you may be interested in a free six-session self-management online course starting on April 16.

Sessions are released weekly and available 24/7 on any device, so you can learn at a time and pace that suits you.

You’ll be supported by trained facilitators and there’s an option to remain anonymous.

SENDIASS

Please make a note of the new contact details for SENDIASS:

Email: sendiass@torbay.gov.uk

Phone: 01803 207 884

Join us!

Would you like to be part of Torbay's parent carer forum, SEND Family Voice Torbay? We work in a co-productive way with our SEND area partners in education, health and social care, to improve services for children, young people, parents and carers. 

As a forum, we also want to be leaders of change for SEND, with an agenda set by you, Torbay parents and carers. 

If you would like to have a chat about what we do and how you could help, please email us.

Thank you!

Karen and Becky