|
It was wonderful to see some of you at our Kinship Families Partnership Group meeting in April. Thank you to those who joined us and shared their valuable thoughts and experiences.
Our next Kinship Families partnership meeting is on 17 June at 6pm and we would love for you to be part of the conversation. An invitation with a Teams link will be sent out closer to the time, so please do look out for it.
During our next meeting we will be providing updates with regards to the new Kinship Local Offer. These meetings are a great opportunity for us to come together, connect, and shape the exciting future of kinship support within Wokingham Borough.
We’re also pleased to share that our Kinship newsletter is now available on our website, alongside a refreshed layout and updates that will continue to grow over time.
You can visit the Guide to kinship care to find resources, learn more about the assessment process and access guidance designed to help you through both the rewarding and more challenging times.
We are incredibly fortunate to work alongside a range of wonderful organisations, charities and support groups who are here to support you every step of your kinship journey.
Thank you for everything you do - your care, commitment and dedication truly make a difference.
Kinship participation event
We would love to invite our kinship carers and their children to an event with the Participation and Kinship teams on Wednesday 26 August, 10am to 1pm at Thames Valley Adventure Playground, Bath Rd, Taplow, Maidenhead SL6 0PR.
Children 16 and under will be able to enjoy the accessible outdoor playground, sensory room, and imaginative play. We’ll chat with them to hear their views.
Carers will also have the opportunity to share their thoughts with the Kinship team while enjoying a picnic lunch together (provided).
Places are limited so sign up by the 30 July to let us know that you are coming.
 Positive Relationships Week
From 29 June to 3 July, we are focusing on Positive Relationships Week and running two opportunities for children we care for to celebrate the positive relationships in their lives.
Positive Relationships Awards
Our first opportunity is an awards evening celebrating those who have made a positive difference through supportive and trusting relationships. Young people are invited to nominate a professional who has gone above and beyond for them. Nominations are now open.
Please support young people to complete the nomination form, sharing what makes that relationship special and meaningful to them.
Positive Relationships Art Exhibition
The Participation Team are also hosting an art exhibition showcasing work created by children we care for and care leavers.
Young people are invited to create an artwork that represents what positive relationships mean to them. This can be through painting, drawing, photography, or any other creative medium.
- Email a photo of the artwork to jo.dixon@wokingham.gov.uk
- Deadline: 15 June
- We will arrange to collect the physical artwork for the exhibition
- Young people who submit artwork or make a nomination will be invited to the exhibition and awards evening held at Cantley House Hotel on Thursday 2 July
- £10 voucher for every child or young person who takes part
The Virtual School’s non-statutory role was extended in September 2024 to include a strategic responsibility for children in kinship care.
Research has shown that children who grow up in kinship care have better outcomes than children who grow up in other types of non-parental care, however their outcomes still fall behind those children with no social worker involvement. This is an exciting development to our work as it will allow us to support a wider group of young people to meet their full potential.
Ways in which we can support with Kinship Care:
Advice and guidance (on request)
- Individual advice to kinship carers with SGOs or CAOs
- Advice to schools working with kinship children (with carer consent)
- Support around school concerns, attendance, engagement, and progress
Promoting better educational outcomes
- Championing attendance, attainment, and progress of children in kinship care
- Raising school awareness of the impact of trauma, attachment, and family disruption
- Promoting trauma‑informed and inclusive practice in education settings
School partnership working
- Supporting schools to understand the needs of children in different kinship arrangements
- Encouraging strong relationships between carers and schools
- Advising on transitions, exclusions, and engagement where needed
If you would like to have a discussion with the Virtual School about kinship care, please contact Helen Belas at VirtualSchool.Admin@wokingham.gov.uk.
Parenting Special Children (PSC) is a Berkshire based charity providing specialist support to families of children with special needs, with or without diagnoses, and including early life trauma.
From helpline to training workshops, parent/carer support groups, children's group and professional training, PSC provides holistic support that comes from professional and lived experience.
Most services are either free or have a small cost. To find out more, please visit the parenting special children website.
Parenting Special Children run a free monthly group for children living with kinship/connected carers, aged 5 to 12.
Children engage with music and art therapists while carers can share their experiences with others who are in similar position. The remaining sessions for this term are on Saturday mornings, 13 June and 18 July, 10am to 12pm. Sessions are held at: The Lower Earley Baptist Church, Maiden Place, Earley, Reading RG6 3HE.
Please call 07557 102623 or email to find out more: tas@parentingspecialchildren.co.uk
The SENDIASS service is a statutory service role and provides free, confidential, impartial advice, guidance and support to parents/carers of children with special educational needs. This can take the form of direct advice, or by signposting to third sector groups, support groups and other organisations who have more in-depth knowledge and experience in relevant areas.
SENDIASS, the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service run regular training sessions for families, on apply for an Education Health Care Plan, Annual Reviews, SEN Support in Schools and Preparing for Adulthood, which can be booked via SEND Voices Wokingham.
We also run regular term time fortnightly drop in sessions at the Wokingham Youth Centre. The drop-in runs from 10.30am to 12.30pm and we offer a slot of 20 minutes. There is no need to book, just come along.
If you want to get in touch or have any ideas for future editions of this newsletter, email the kinship team at kinshipcare@wokingham.gov.uk
|
