CAN Network news - February half term
Welcome to your latest CAN Network newsletter.
We have lots of accessible activities for this upcoming half term and beyond with useful information including:
- Get bouncing - local SEND trampolining sessions and more
- Inclusive sport - ASD Family Help multisport club, Sport Together event and SEND climbing
- Gaming, games and bricks - upcoming events for those 'hard to get out of the house' Lego and game fans
- Coffee and support - upcoming SEND Voices and SENDIASS joint coffee morning and advice sessions
- Activities for half term and beyond - our regular round up of what's on locally
- Accessible travel - a special feature on help available, including support for those ready to start making independent journeys.
As always you'll find our useful contacts list at the bottom of the newsletter, along with our contact details.
We'd love to hear you feedback and ideas for future issues:
- Are there any activities or special interests you would like to see featured?
- Are there any activities you are finding it hard to access?
 Get bouncing!
Three local trampoline parks are continuing to run their quieter weekly SEN sessions through half term:
All three of the above accept the CAN Card as proof for free carer ticket.
Does your child seek out movement opportunities such as jumping, swinging or spinning?
You can learn more about sensory seeking behaviour on the National Autistic Society website and at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust who run Sensory processing online workshops.
Parenting Special Children also run online Sensory Processing & Interoception Workshops.
 Inclusive sport
ASD Family Help are opening up some spaces in their multi sports sessions.
Enjoy fun weekly games session for children aged 5 to 18, with special educational needs (such as autism, dyslexia, anxiety, OCD, ADHD or learning difficulties). No diagnosis required.
No serious sporting skills required and there are often no winners or losers! The aim is to encourage having fun and being physically active together
Staff are experienced working with children and young people with additional needs and the environment is supportive and welcoming.
Apply for a space using their online booking application.
Thursday 19 February from 10am to 1pm at The Avenue School, Reading.
Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just looking to have some fun, this festival has something for everyone.
With a wide range of sports activities and games, you can try your hand at Boccia, Cricket , Football, New Age Curling, Basketball and much more. The festival is designed to be accessible to all.
The facilities are fully equipped to accommodate people of all abilities, making sure that everyone can participate and enjoy the day.
Tickets are £10 per participant (no cost for supporting family/carer). Book your ticket online.
Comfortably-paced climbing sessions at Dinton Activity Centre. Designed for individuals with additional needs. Upcoming dates:
- Thursday 12 February, 2pm to 5pm
- Saturday 14 February, 10am to 11am
- Saturday 21 February, 10am to 11am
- Thursday 26 February, 2pm to 5pm
- Saturday 28 February, 10am to 11am
 Gaming, games and bricks...
Enjoy your favourite board games at Wokingham Town Hall on Saturday 7 February from 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 5pm.
Eclectic Games will be leading demonstrations to help you understand how some of the games work.
Tickets are £4 for adults and £3 under 18s.
This arcade in Bracknell hold monthly SEN sessions – with the next on Sunday 15 February from 10 to 11am.
A calmer way to enjoy the modern and retro arcade games with:
- Reduced machine volume
- Main lights kept on
- Fewer players in the session
Inclusive gaming cafe
Rocket Propelled Games, an inclusive gamine cafe in Newbury are joining with ASD Family Help for an afternoon of board game fun on Monday 16 February from 2pm to 3pm.
Tickets are £5 (carers free).
More details are on ASD Family Help's Facebook page
25 and 26 April from 10am to 5pm at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre.
The Reading Brick Show is one of the largest LEGO® shows in the UK, with models made by the most talented builders, alongside games and activities for visitors of all ages.
The show has wide access entrances and flat floors to allow for wheelchair access. There are ramps outside the front of the building and within the main reception area.
All exhibits are on the ground floor. There is disabled parking directly outside the entrance. There will be seating in the robot arena area if you need to take a break and relax.
For those visitors who struggle in crowded or noisy rooms we recommend buying a Sunday ticket and visiting in the afternoon as it is normally the quietest time.
Book your tickets.
 Coffee and support
SEND Voices are holding SEND Coffee Mornings alongside the fortnightly SENDIASS' drop-in sessions at Wokingham Youth Centre, 35 Reading Road, Wokingham RG41 1EG.
Open to all Wokingham Borough parents and carers of children and young people 0-25 with any special educational need and/or disability. No diagnosis required. Join for:
- A hot drink and a friendly chat
- Support, signposting and information
- The chance to connect with other families
- One to one support from a SENDIASS advisor - first come, first served, sessions usually last around 20 minutes
Upcoming dates:
- Tuesday 10 February 10.30am to 12.30pm
- Friday 27 February 10.30am to 12.30pm
Find more drop in dates here.
Training and advice
SENDIASS provide free, confidential, impartial advice, guidance and support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
Upcoming free online training courses for Wokingham Borough parent carers include:
- SEND Support in School - A Parent’s Guide SENDIASS - Wednesday 11 February 7pm to 8.30pm
- EHCPs - A Parent's Guide SENDIASS (for those going through the EHCP process for the first time) - Tuesday 17 March 7pm to 8.30pm
Find details, booking info, and more upcoming courses here.
 Activities for half term and beyond
Please use the links below to find out more about facilities, registering, and booking:
 Accessible travel
There's lots of help and advice available to help your child or young person get out and about.
From a disability bus pass, to support learning to travel independently we have compiled a list of useful links below:
Disability buss pass
Did you know that if your child qualifies for a disability bus pass you can apply as soon as they are eligible to pay fees? Companion bus passes may also be available in some circumstances. Wokingham Borough residents can find out more about eligibility and how to apply here.
Travelling independently
Visit Wokingham Borough's local offer to find out about SEND travel assistance to school and college. Those with an EHCP may be able to get help to learn how to travel to school or college by public transport. Find out more here.
My Journey Wokingham have lots of helpful information on disabled travel on buses in Wokingham and Reading including route maps, wheelchair and scooter access info, and the 'Safe Journey' card.
Although primarily aimed at adults Mencap have really useful general information about transport for people with a learning disability
Motability scheme
If your child is 3 or over, you may qualify for help via the Motability scheme.
There is a useful checklist of help you may be eligible to apply for at Mobility | My Family Our Needs.
Useful contacts
ASSIST (Autism Spectrum Service for Information Support and Training) is a family support service from Wokingham Borough Council, for those in the borough with a child or young person under 18 with an autism diagnosis or waiting for an assessment. Help with information, advice, guidance and signposting.
Berkshire ASD Family Help - open to all autistic individuals or those with associated conditions. No diagnosis required. Regular parent and carer drop-in sessions. Fun activities for children and teenagers, social groups for adults and outings for the whole family. Practical help and advice.
FIRST - The Family Intervention Resources and Support Team (FIRST) provides information, workshops and courses around sleep and distressed behaviour.
National Deaf Children's Society are sharing tips and advice for school holidays and activities. You can also book a free, friendly appointment for advice and support from Berkshire's local Community Connector, Rania Sammour, here.
Parenting Special Children - set up to help other parents/carers navigate the world of SEND. Empowering families whose children/young people are neurodivergent and/or have special needs and/or disabilities including early life trauma.
Promise Inclusion - a local charity that supports people with learning disabilities and their carers. Weekly, term-time Youth Club for young people aged 13 to 19 with learning disabilities and/or autism. Activity clubs for siblings aged 8-13 years old. Family liaison team offering emotional and practical support to carers; from support in meetings, to advice and information on benefits, form filling, housing, supported living, transition, education, mental capacity, power of attorney, deputyship and more. Monthly carers coffee/lunches, carers respite trips and information events.
SEND Voices Wokingham - an independent parent carer forum. Set up to ensure that families and carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and disabilities in the Wokingham Borough, can have a voice and participate fully in the development of services.
Wokingham Carers Partnership - A partnership of three commissioned local charities: Age UK Berkshire, Berkshire Youth and Promise Inclusion. Offering information, advice, and support to people throughout the borough who are caring for a child or adult family member, partner or friend.
Wokingham SENDIASS - free, confidential, impartial information, advice and support relating to all aspects of SEN and disabilities, including health, social care and personal budgets.
What is the CAN Network?
The CAN (Children with Additional Needs) Network provides an information and support service for families and carers of children and young people (aged up to 25) with additional needs and disabilities.
The CAN Network also maintains Wokingham Borough Council’s Children with Disabilities Register and CAN Card.
The Children with Disabilities Register is a voluntary, confidential list of information about children with diagnosed disabilities in Wokingham Borough.
The information shared with us is used anonymously to help plan and improve future services to meet the needs of local disabled children and young people.
Those eligible to join the Children with Disabilities Register can receive a free CAN card.
The CAN card is a photo ID card which can be used as proof of diagnosed disability. It's accepted by many local attractions as proof for concessions or free carer tickets.
Find out more about signing up to the register and receiving a CAN card here.
Get in touch
For support using our online application or for any other enquiries please email.
Disclaimer
By sharing information with you the CAN information network is not providing a recommendation or endorsement of a service/organisation.
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