Welcome to our May E-Bulletin
We are still operational and offering information, advice and support in line with government instruction about staying safe whilst working.
We have collated resources and information that we hope you will find useful at this time. Visit Our Useful Resources to support families during lockdown.
At present, the easiest way to contact us is to email ias.service@wolverhampton.gov.uk or via our social media channels on Facebook and Twitter @wolvesIASS. We have limited access to our phones so if you do call and leave a message, it may take us longer to get back to you than usual.
We wish you and your family well at this time.
The IASS Team
BREAKING NEWS
Changes to the law on Education, Health and Care needs assessments and plans due to coronavirus
The Government has issued guidance on temporary changes to education, health and care legislation during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
What does this mean for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disability?
From 1 May to 31 May local authorities (for special educational provision and social care) or health commissioning bodies (for health care provision) have a duty to use ‘reasonable endeavours’ to secure or arrange provision in an EHC plan. This means that local authorities and health bodies must consider for each child and young person with an EHC plan what they can reasonably provide in the circumstances during this notice period.
From 1 May to 25 September 2020 (inclusive) the Regulations which provide most of the statutory timescales for the EHC needs assessments and plans processes will be modified. This means where it is not reasonably practicable or impractical to conclude an action within the statutory timescale.
Key elements of the processes over EHC needs assessments and plans are unchanged. Notably this includes that a local authority must still consider requests for a new EHC needs assessment, must still secure all of the required advice and information in order to be able to issue a plan, and must have regard to the views and wishes of a child, the child’s parents or a young person when carrying out its SEND functions under the Children and Families Act 2014.
For any EHC needs assessment processes that should have been completed before 1 May these changes do not apply.
The full guidance can be read here.
If you have any questions or would like further advice and information please contact us via email ias.service@wolverhampton.gov.uk. You can leave a message on our answer phone 01902 556945 although we are working remotely so the quickest way of contact at present is via email or messaging us via social media.
|
Information, Advice and Support Programme (IASP)
Wolverhampton IASS is pleased to enter into another contract period with the Council for Disabled Children. The Information, Advice and Support Programme commenced in June 2018 and has now been extended to run until March 2021.
The programme seeks to ensure that in every local authority area, children and young people with SEND and their parents have access to impartial and free information, advice and support covering SEND issues through local statutory Information, Advice and Support Services. In Wolverhampton, this is provided through us.
Our focus for this next year is on three areas:
- Improving the service offer to children and young people who have special educational needs and/or a disability. Please see our magazine for progress on this area of work with children and young people .
- Expanding our SEN and disability legal training offer to parents, carers, young people and colleagues across different service areas. It’s so important that families are knowledgeable about what support is available. Keep an eye on our events page for forthcoming training. Please note, some of our planned sessions will be delivered differently during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Increasing capacity within the Information, Advice and Support Service in order to meet local need. The IASS has seen an unprecedented rise in new referrals. We want to make sure we can continue to provide an impartial, high quality service to local families when they need it.
We will keep you posted on progress.
|
Our Summer 2020 Magazine is here
Our Summer 2020 magazine is full of information and articles on special educational needs and disabilities. We hope you find it an interesting read.
Please download here
|
IASS New Logo
We hope you like our new logo. In response to comments we have received from some of the young people we have been working with we have decided it is time for a new look.
|
|
 |
Summer Workshops 2020
Regrettably we have taken the decision to postpone "The Graduated Approach - SEN Support workshop" on 15th May.
At this current time we do not know what measures will be in place by then.
We are currently working on bringing our workshops and masterclasses to you via webinars. We will keep you informed on our E-Bulletins and our Facebook and Twitter pages.
|
Can You Help Us Please?
We have really enjoyed seeing the beautiful rainbows that seem to have become the positive symbol of hope, appreciation & kindness at this difficult time.
Please share your family's rainbow designs with us and we hope to do something special with them.
You can email your pictures to ias.service@wolverhampton.gov.uk
|
Reception Class School Admissions
We have received a number of queries regarding school admissions to Reception class. Parents continue to have the right to appeal any school admission decisions. The Government has made regulatory changes that came into force on 24 April 2020.
Please follow this link for more information
|
Confused about social distancing measures and your child's needs?
If you are concerned about the restrictions of social distancing measures during this time, you might be able to get a letter supporting your need to make exceptional journeys in relation to your child's additional needs. For example:
- Perhaps your child needs to exercise more than once each day or to have that outdoor exercise in a particular place.
- Perhaps you need to purchase more supplies than allowed.
- Perhaps you need to buy special food or supplies for your child from a particular place.
If so, a letter can be produced to evidence that these things are required. Please contact your child's Paediatrician or lead health professional.
|
Parent/Carer Consultation Service
Support for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities during the Coronavirus school closures.
The Inclusion Support Service and Outreach Service is offering a free remote consultation service to parents/carers living in Wolverhampton, and also to parents/ carers of children or young people in the care of Wolverhampton but living in another local authority. Visit the Education Psychology website for further details and to request a consultation. You may also contact IASS by email ias.service@wolverhampton.gov.uk and we can complete the referral on your behalf.
|
Health and Wellbeing survey
The current situation with Covid-19 has led to many far-reaching impacts. The City of Wolverhampton Council would like to understand the impact on health and wellbeing across our communities. The results will inform the council’s approach to supporting children, young people and families in good health and wellbeing. There are two surveys, one for children and young people and one for parents/carers. The Council is asking questions on how people are coping over the last few weeks of lockdown. This survey should take about 5-10 minutes to complete. As a thank you for your time, you have the chance to be entered into a prize draw for a £50 Amazon voucher.
The survey links are
Parents - https://consultation.wolverhampton.gov.uk/cyp/wolverhampton-wellbeing-parents/
CYP - https://consultation.wolverhampton.gov.uk/cyp/wolverhampton-wellbeing-cyp/
|
New App - free information from NHS Doctors and Clinicians about Coronavirus
The COVID-19 Care Assistant is a new app that has been developed by the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and Babylon Health.
The NHS - COVID-19 Care Assistant, has been designed by doctors using the latest guidance by taking the user through up to four steps as required.
It can be used by people who are concerned that they, or someone they know, may have symptoms of coronavirus and need further guidance on what to do next. It also has tips on how to self-isolate and safely care for someone with coronavirus.
|
The Refugee and Migrant Centre
The Refugee and Migrant Centre is relaxing some of the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) laws and people will be able to complete a form which might allow them to get some financial support. The centre will help people to complete the form if they are eligible.
Please find more information on the link below
The Refugee and Migrant Centre
|
Mindheart Covibook
Manuela Molina has written this lovely ‘Covibook’ to support and reassure children from ages 2-7 in different languages about Coronavirus. Please click on the link below.
Mindheart Covibook
|
Working even better together
through co-production
Co-production happens when people come together to find shared solutions. It involves people who use services and their parents and carers, being recognised by organisations as equal partners and having influence over decisions made. This might be in discussions and decisions about improving their own health and wellbeing as well as working with others to design the offer of support and services available for others within the community.
Wolverhampton’s Children and Families Co-production Charter hopes to strengthen this way of working. The Charter is at heart a set of values and ways of working that the city council, health and other partners have signed up to. It recognises that young people and their families are best placed to shape the services and support they receive.
There are some excellent examples of co-production, but for others it is a new way of working. To support this we are developing resources that hope to explain what co-production is and how to do it. I am delighted that Wolverhampton Information, Advice and Support Service has agreed to support me in producing a series of case studies that will demonstrate best practice using examples of their work with families and other partners. The service is highly regarded in recognising and championing co-production and the value that this approach has in improving the lives and outcomes of children, young people and their families. The case studies will be published on Wolverhampton Local Offer for SEND where you can find out more information about ‘Working together through co-production’.
If you have a story you would like to share to highlight how you are working together with young people and families to improve the services and support that is available to them. Please contact alison.baggs2@wolverhampton.gov.uk or download a template to template to complete and return.
 Why not take a look at this lovely Meaningful May calendar from Action For Happiness with daily ideas to help support our emotional wellbeing.
Please view the calendar here.
Mental Health Awareness Week
Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Awareness Week will take place from 18-24 May 2020. The theme is kindness.
MHF want to use the week to celebrate the thousands of acts of kindness that are so important to our mental health.
For more information please visit the website.
|
Please help us to increase our Social Media following
We post lots of information and advice on our Facebook and Twitter Pages to keep you aware and informed of upcoming events, activities, useful resources and other information.
If you don't already please follow is on Facebook and Twitter
 |
|
@wolvesiass |
 |
|
@WolvesIASS |
Share your news
We are always happy to share information on our e-bulletins which help to promote a relevant and appropriate service which will be informative and of interest to our readers.
We aim to add short and punchy stories, facts and information. Please add web-links wherever possible & any necessary documents in PDF.
Please e-mail your information to ias.service@wolverhampton.gov.uk
We send out the e-bulletin monthly around the first Monday of the month, so we would appreciate this being sent to us by the middle of the previous week.
Our next e-bulletin will be sent out around 1st June so please send any inserts by 27th May.
|
|
