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Latest developments in the High Needs Block/SEND consultation.
The consultation on High Needs Block/SEND was due to end on Monday 9 December 2019. Thank you to those who have responded. Your views are valued and are currently being collated for presentation in the final report.
The Council sought advice on the proposals from Schools Forum on Wednesday 11 December 2019. A request for the Schools Forum to have an extended deadline to their next meeting (Wednesday 15 January 2020) feedback to the Council was agreed. The proposals will now be presented to Cabinet later in Spring 2020. Waltham Forest Council has decided to extend the consultation in line with the request from Schools Forum. The new deadline for the end of consultation is Thursday 9 January 2020 at 9am.
The SEND vision is forming with input across the partnership and this will be available for sharing in January 2020. The vision is a recorded reflection of all the workstreams already in progress and in response to key findings/views and recommendations to improve the SEND service. It will outline the direction of travel for the next three years and a strategic plan will then provide the details for the service delivery against the set outcomes.
New SEND Team Email
We have a new email address for receiving communications. This will replace all other email boxes; all existing email will be re-directed to the new inbox and will provide an automatic response that will refer you the new inbox.
Home to school transport- Sharing the driving - HCT group
HCT Group is proposing a new system of allocating drivers to school bus routes to improve and strengthen our safeguarding approach to transport delivery, consistency and service reliability, two drivers instead of one will share responsibility for driving each school bus route. As well as managing unforeseen circumstances, this will allow children and young people to be more familiar with assigned drivers.
Plans are being made with HCT and the parents Carers Forum to pilot this idea across another route from January 2020. Parents and children on the selected route will be updated directly by HCT group.
For enquiries, please contact Mark Fransener (HCT group) on 020 8509 149 | Mobile: 07422 972641 or Eva Gunkova, SEND Assistant Director on 0208 496 6548.
Partner agencies in Waltham Forest have been working together to identify ways of improving services for children and young people experiencing mental distress to find ways to support them and their families to have good mental health.
Our vision is to be able to reach children who need help earlier and to be able to provide the most effective and efficient evidenced based intervention available.
NELFT has been commissioned “Getting Help”, an accessible mental health service pilot for children and young people in schools and other community settings. It will provide individual and group support, guidance and talking therapy to help deal with issues such as anxiety, depression, stress and managing feelings and emotions.
The service will
- work jointly with school staff to support the implementation of the Mental Health Charter and the PHSE programme to promote exercise and good nutrition.
- redirect children and young people with complex mental health needs, requiring interventions from a range of different clinicians, specialist CAMHS,
There has also been significant investment into specialist CAMHS to address extensive waiting times caused by insufficient resources. The aim is to reduce waiting times to a few days in an emergency, and a maximum of 18 weeks for routine referrals. This then increases the capacity of the specialist service and ensures only those that need the service are referred through the creation of the new school and community-based service.
There will be 12 clusters across early years, primary and secondary, post 16 and special schools.
Through conversations with schools, we have agreed how we will work together. To provide a clear guidance of delivery, a memorandum of understanding has been developed. This document will ensure that it is clear on how we arrange reviews and attend co-production meetings.
We will be informing our staff about which cluster they will be operating in from week commencing Monday 16 December 2019. Then in January 2020, we will let parent/carers know who their new officer will be.
The Twilight Sessions are for parents to come and talk to the service about any concerns that they have about the EHCP (education health and care plan) process, annual reviews or their child’s progress in the school, or any aspects of the service they do not understand.
Sessions will be held on the first Thursday of every month from 5.00pm to 6.30pm at Wood Street Health Centre, 6 Linford Rd, Walthamstow, London E17 3LA.
Parents/carers can book a 15-minute appointment via the Business Support Officer on: 0208 496 6503. Please call in advance, providing the following information about your child so that we can be prepared for the meeting:
- Your child’s name
- Their date of birth
- The concern that you wish to discuss
If you are unable to attend the session in person, parents/carers can discuss their case by telephone from 5:30 on 0208 496 6503. This will be available until 6.30 on the first Thursday of the month.
Ben joined Project SEARCH in 2014 and completed three successful placements in patient dining, patient transport and as a Ward Host. Even before he had finished his placements, he had been nominated as a Barts Hero Award.
Ben told us, “The best thing about Project SEARCH was learning new skills and meeting new people. This has been a life changing experience for me. I have had to learn to become flexible and work different shift patterns. I was nominated for a Barts Hero Award for displaying the Barts Health Visions and Values for outstanding Customer service.
Since starting Project SEARCH I’ve passed my driving test, got my driver’s licence, my own car, and a flat in Finchley.
In June 2019 I went to London Zoo and I went down on one knee outside the tiger enclosure and proposed to my now fiancé Chloe.
It is an exciting time, as I am now arranging my wedding plans for May 2021.”
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Waltham Forest Parent Forum is a group of parents and carers of children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Waltham Forest. Our aim is to provide opportunities for parents and carers to influence the decisions that affect their families, and to contribute, through participation, developing services that meet their families’ needs. We also aim to support families by sharing experiences and building networks at our support groups and training sessions.
Are you looking for support to help you and your child? Would you like to meet other parents in your situation? Come along and meet other parents, share experiences, get advice, share tried & tested strategies as well as find mutual support.
Upcoming events
We will be moving venue in January 2020, to 99 Leyton Green Road (new respite centre) so the venues for our support groups may change in the short term.
ASD Support Group - Monday 13 January 2020 9.45am- Venue TBC
Dads’ Group-Parent/ carers only. No booking required Wednesday 12 February 2020 7pm, The Salvation Army Forest Road E17
Training events
Becoming a Sensory Detective - Friday 24 January 2020
Understanding ADHD, a Formula for Success - Friday 14 February 2020
If you are a parent or carer of a child or young person with special educational needs and disabilities and want better services for them......
JOIN US
You can join via the online membership form on our website or by emailing us.
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Waltham Forest SENDIASS needs volunteers to support parents/carers with children or young people of special educational needs. SENDIASS may help parents/carers/young people with:
- Completing forms
- Preparing for school meetings and helping them to express their concerns during the meetings
- Explaining the SEN processes and procedures, the structures and roles of professionals and any confusing terminology
- Signposting to any relevant literature or other organisations that may be able to help
All volunteers complete a free training course, so no experience is necessary.
For more information about becoming a SENDIASS Volunteer:
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