Wokingham Borough Connect
Hello and welcome to the third issue of our SEND Local Offer newsletter!
Alongside our SEND Local Offer webpages and our Local Offer Directory, this half-termly newsletter brings news and updates about what's on offer locally for children and young people with additional needs and disabilities, directly to your inbox.
This issue includes:
- An opportunity for children and young people to take part in a Local Offer logo competition
- Details about a 'preparing for adulthood' event for young people aged 13+ and their families
- Information about upcoming activities, events and participation opportunities in the local area
 Local Offer logo competition for children and young people!
We are excited to be launching a Local Offer logo competition, open to all children and young people aged up to 25, who live or go to school in Wokingham Borough.
The winning logo will be used widely across our SEND Local Offer information and promotional material. Children and young people can get involved in the competition via their school or take part at home.
The competition deadline is Monday 10 June. For more details, please see the flyer and entry form.
We can’t wait to see the ideas that young people come up with!
 'Preparing for adulthood' event
We would like to invite young people aged 13 and up and their families to attend a free, market stall event, on the theme of 'preparing for adulthood.'
This in-person event will bring together a range of information and local support services, to support young people with SEND to explore their post-16 options.
It will take place at Woodley Airfield Centre on Thursday 13 June across two sessions: 3:30 to 5:30pm and 5:30 to 7:30pm.
More details and the link to book can be found on Ticket Source.
 Online session for children moving schools
If your child has an EHCP and will be moving into Reception or Year 7 in September 2025, we would like to invite you to an online information and Q&A session.
The session will provide a step by step guide to the Phase Transfer process, so that you feel well-informed about your child’s move to a new phase of education.
The sessions will take place on Thursday 20 June and there is a choice of times, 10 to 11am or 7 to 8pm.
More details and the link to book can be found on Ticket Source.
 Courage and heart for Addington pupils
A huge well done to Addington School students, who recently put on two fantastic performances of The Wizard of Oz. All students throughout the school were represented in the shows, either during the evening performances or through videos which showed students taking part in activities inspired the story.
Over the past few months, students have been busy developing their creative skills through singing, dancing and acting, as well as creating props ahead of the evening shows.
It was clear to see how hard everyone involved had worked and the students' creativity and confidence really shone through!
 A brilliant turn out for Chiltern Way's pop-up cafe in aid of charity
Chiltern Way Academy recently held a coffee morning to raise money for Abby's Heroes, a charity which supports children and their families receiving cancer treatment.
Ahead of the event, students prepared and baked a delicious range of cakes and sausage rolls, which they served alongside teas and coffees at the Bradbury Centre in Wokingham.
There was an excellent turn out for the event, and it was a great opportunity for students to gain confidence and develop their communication and hospitality skills.
Chiltern Way run a coffee morning each half term, allowing cafe-goers to enjoy a treat while also raising money for charity.
 New specialist sensory club
Chance to Dance Stars have launched a new sensory club in partnership with Wokingham charity Building for the Future.
Chance to Dance Stars are a local dance school that specialise in supporting children and young people with SEND.
The new sensory club is open to all children and young people in Wokingham Borough aged five and above, allowing young people to explore lights, movement, music, crafts and all things sensory.
The sessions take place from 10am to 2pm, every first and third Sunday of the month at Our House, an accessible play centre in Wokingham.
Further details and booking information can be found on the Chance to Dance Stars Facebook page.
 SEND Voices Wokingham: upcoming events
SEND Voices Wokingham is the independent parent carer forum for Wokingham Borough. It gives families and carers of children and young people with SEND a voice and opportunities to participate fully in the development of services.
Over the summer term, they are running a number of free events for parents and carers including:
- Drop-ins with Wokingham Borough Council's SEND Team
- A zoom update with Wokingham Borough Council and Health on SEND improvements
- A zoom session with Wokingham Borough Council's Early Years Team, for those with children aged under five years, with a focus on transition to school.
- SENDIASS training courses on the EHCP process, EHCP annual reviews and preparing for adulthood
- A parent carer participation group, to help shape priorities and SEND services in Wokingham Borough
More details about these events can be found on the SEND Voices Wokingham website.
To book on any of the above, email: info@sendvoiceswokingham.org.uk
 Health engagement event
Berkshire Healthcare West ICB are hosting an in-person event for parent and carers of children and young people aged up to 18 with SEND, living across the Wokingham, Reading and West Berkshire Boroughs.
Parents and carers will be able to visit information stalls and find out about healthcare services available to children and young people without a diagnosis or referral.
It will also be an opportunity for families to provide feedback about their experiences of SEND healthcare services.
The event will take place at Lagoona Park, Reading on Thursday 6 June, from 10am to 2:30pm.
More details and booking information can be found on Ticket Source.
 Free mental health app
Tellmi is a mental health app available to all 11 to 17 year olds who live or go to school in Wokingham Borough.
Children and young people can make an anonymous post about whatever is on their mind. Other users can then reply to offer support, advice and empathy. All posts and replies are checked by trained moderators before they can go live.
Children and young people can also access solution focused therapy. This is a text based service delivered via the Tellmi app, provided by specialist trained therapists.
The Tellmi app is available to download from the Apple or Google Play store. More information about Tellmi, including a parents' FAQs page, can be found on Tellmi's website.
 Online talk: Young autistic people and the importance of self-understanding
The University of Reading's Centre for Autism Wellbeing Hub is hosting a free online talk. The guest speaker will be Nic King, who will explore the topic of young autistic people and the importance of self-understanding. The talk will cover ideas such as:
- Young autistic people feeling safe to be their authentic selves
- Giving autistic young people the knowledge and vocabulary for understanding their autistic identity
The online talk will take place on Thursday 16 May, from 7 to 8:30pm. More details and the link to register can be found on the University of Reading's website.
 SEND sports and activities across the borough
There are lots of activities on offer tailored to those with additional needs. These are run by Places Leisure, which has managed the borough’s six leisure centres since 2018.
A three-storey soft play area for children up to the age of 12 with additional needs runs at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre on Sundays from 8.30am to 10am.
Disability swim sessions run weekly at Wokingham (Mondays and Fridays, 2pm to 3pm), Loddon Valley in Lower Earley (Tuesdays 11am to 12 noon) and Bulmershe in Woodley (Wednesdays, 1pm to 2pm). These are open to juniors and adults and allow you to swim in a calm and quiet environment.
Bulmershe Leisure Centre also hosts a free weekly cricket session for young people aged 12 to 25 with physical and/or learning disabilities. These run on Wednesdays from 5pm to 6pm and are in partnership with Berkshire Cricket.
Arborfield Green Leisure Centre hosts a SEND Active Play and Bounce session on Fridays from 5pm to 6pm. This features an obstacle course, play equipment for early years and soft matting. Capacity is deliberately reduced and it costs £4.50 per session. There is also a SEND gym session at this leisure centre on Fridays from 4pm to 5pm, adapted for individuals with additional needs. This is £4.50 for non-member and free for members.
For over 18s
If you want to get moving with specialist boxing equipment, visit the BXGFit gym in Wokingham on Fridays from 11am to 12 noon. Box for Health is designed for adults with long-term health conditions or disabilities and is free for members or £5.20 to non-members.
A weekly multi-sports session is delivered with CLASP at Wokingham Leisure Centre. The Happy & Healthy Club runs on Wednesdays from 10.30am to 11.30am and it costs £2 to take part.
Prices vary for some sessions depending on age and membership type. Visit the Places Leisure website to find out more and to book.
New manager for SENDIASS
Katharine Linford has been appointed as the new manager of Wokingham Borough's Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS).
SENDIASS provide free, confidential and impartial advice and support to parents and carers of children with SEND, and young people with SEND aged up to 25.
Katharine works for SENDIASS currently, and so will be bringing her extensive knowledge and skills to her new role as manager.
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