September 2022 IASS E- Bulletin

Welcome to our
September 2022 E- Bulletin

IASS Community Outreach Events

A member of the IASS will be at the following sessions. Do join us for a cuppa and a chat.

Tuesday 27^th September 9.30am - 11.30am -
Voice4Parents coffee morning:
Low Hill Strengthening Families Hub 26-28 Fourth Avenue, Wolverhampton, WV10 9LZ

Tuesday 18^th October 9.30am - 11.30am -
Walsall Wolverhampton Parent Carer Support Group:
Low Hill Community Centre Kempthorne Avenue, Wolverhampton, WV10 9JJ

If you have a community event that supports children and young people with SEND and their families and you would like IASS to attend please do get in touch at ias.service@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Important information for parents and guardians of children with an Education, Health and Care plan:

Please note, the EHC Hub, which is used to help develop and record a child's Education, Health and Care plan in Wolverhampton, is to be closed down. This does not mean that your child’s EHCP is being closed down. It means the EHC Hub is no longer being used. A new system is currently being identified.

The council has taken this decision for two reasons – firstly, because the current contract to provide the Hub comes to an end in October, and secondly, but more importantly, because families and professionals have said they have faced significant challenges when trying to access or use the existing system.

Over the coming months, Wolverhampton Council will work to find a new solution that will better meet families' needs, and that of the professionals who work with them and their child SENSTART will continue to update families, schools and professionals during the assessment.

Please note that nothing else in the EHC process is changing, and that parents/carers need not do anything at this time. As the system prepares to close down parents/carers are asked to refrain from logging onto the system.

If you require an electronic copy of your child’s EHCP because you do not already have one please contact your child’s school or the SENSTART Team senstart@wolverhampton.gov.uk who can arrange for this to be sent to you.

New Suspension and Permanent Exclusion Guidance 

The Department for Education has issued updated exclusion guidance for maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units to follow rom 1^st September.

Read the Suspension and Permanent Exclusion from maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units in England, including pupil movement (publishing.service.gov.uk)

The exclusion page of our website explains the facts and the process for suspension and permanent exclusion as well as what happens next.   

EHCP Booklet Review 

Do you have experience of the Education Health and Care needs assessment process?

Does your child have an EHCP?

We are looking for volunteers to help us review our current EHCP booklet. It’s looking a little dated and we want to ensure we capture everything that people who have used our service feel is important to know about EHCPs and the assessment process.

We have planned an initial meeting to discuss the current booklet, what needs to be included and how it can be improved on Wednesday 21^st September.

If you are interested and would like to offer your support or you want to know more then please email Elaine.Westwood@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Wolverhampton Council:
Support with the
Cost of Living Crisis

Wolverhampton Council is offering support to its residents struggling with the Cost of Living Crisis. The Household Support Fund financial aid is available for food, gas, electric and water bills, as well as access to household items and bedding, food banks and community stores.

Find out more about the support available here. Visit the Wolverhampton Homes Grants and Support to check your eligibility and available financial aid. 

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre: 
2022 Accessible Performances 

Treat yourself to the magic of musical with the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre's accessible performances upcoming for the remainder of 2022. 

Blood Brothers:
Thursday 15 Sept 7.30pm- BSL Interpreted
Saturday 15 September 2.30pm- Audio Described

The Commitments:
Saturday 15 October 2.30pm- Captioned Performance

The Cher Show:
Thursday 20 October 7.30pm- BSL Interpreted
Saturday 22 October 2.30pm- Audio Described

Aladdin:
Saturday 10 December 11.00am- Relaxed Performance
Wednesday 14 December 2.30pm- BSL Interpreted
Wednesday 14 December 2.30pm- Audio Described
Wednesday 14 December- BSL Interpreted

Click here to book your tickets.

Wolverhampton Educational Psychology Service: 
Parent Consultation Service

The Wolverhampton Educational Psychology Service is offering a free consultation service to parents/carers.

The initial 30 minute consultation aims to support parents who are experiencing difficulties with their child/ young person within their home or educational setting to provide a professional insight and tailored advice. 

Find out more and apply here. 

Wolverhampton Educational Psychology Service:
Resources for education professionals

Are you a teacher or teaching assistant supporting pupils with additional needs?

The Wolverhampton Educational Psychology Service has a library of free webinars you can watch back to give you guidance on adaptations to support pupil learning.

Topics include ADHD, Autism, anxiety, anger, bereavement, restorative conversations and SEMH. 

Schools and colleges can also request bespoke training courses to be delivered to your staff team.

Find out more here.

Commonwealth Games
Sports Equipment Giveaway

Is your school, sports club or community group in need of new sports equipment?

Following the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, Sports England are giving away hundreds of sporting items which were used during the games; including bikes, martial arts mats, basketballs, netballs, boxing gloves and rugby equipment.

Application deadline is 19 September. Find out more and apply now 

Birmingam PoliNations:
Touch tours for the blind and visually impaired 

PoliNations exhibition at Birmingham's Chamberlain square allows you to be transported to natures paradise to explore the immersive sights and sounds.

Blind or partially sighted people are invited to attend its touch tour taking place Sunday 11 to Tuesday 13 September. A tour led by trained specialists, allowing you to explore and experience the PoliNations super garden to its fullest by using texture, sound and other senses. Find out more here. 

Council For Disabled Children: 
Decision Making Toolkit 

The Council for Disabled Children offers its Decision Making Toolkit as a practical guide for any professional new to working with SEND children.

The guide can be used to support young people in making their own decisions and to participate as fully as possible in decisions made on their behalf.
View the guide here.

SWAN
(Syndrome without a name) Survey

Does your child have a syndrome without a name?

SWAN UK are asking for your help in understanding the challenges such families face and the additional help required to support your child's needs.

Complete the survey here.

Share your news

We aim to share uplifting stories and good news events from around our wonderful Wolverhampton area! 

If you run services or activities for children with a Special Educational Need or Disability or support their families, we would love to hear from you! 

Also, if you have a happy news story or wish to celebrate the great work of an organisation, please email ias.service@wolverhampton.gov.uk. Please attach a photo or videos and a short blurb to feature. 

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 shared on on 3 October so please send any inserts by 29 September.