|
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 special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
 Photos by Steve Smyth
Book your tickets for Local Offer Live!
Local Offer Live is back for 2026. Hosted by SEND Voices Wokingham, this free event is for all families in Wokingham Borough with children or young people with special educational needs or disabilities, aged 0 to 25.
Come along to:
- Find out about local support
- Talk directly to organisations and services
- Enjoy free refreshments and fun activities for children, including circus skills, face painting and meeting reptiles
Event details:
- Saturday 10 October
- 10.30am to 12.30pm or 1pm to 3pm
- St Crispin's School Sports Hub, Wokingham, RG40 1SR
 SEND Service leadership update
In case you missed it in the last newsletter, there have been some changes to leadership roles in the SEND Service.
-
Jamie Conran is now Acting Service Director for SEND. Jamie is leading the SEND Reform Plan and the Priority Action Plan following the Area SEND Inspection.
-
Sam Philo is now Acting Head of SEND, overseeing the SEND Service and working with education, health and social care partners to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
-
Julie Monahan is now Acting SEND Practice Manager, leading the day-to-day work of the statutory SEND Team and overseeing Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) duties.
You can find out more about SEND Service teams and roles on the SEND Local Offer. We will also continue to provide updates on any staffing developments in these newsletters.
 Help with moving to secondary school
We've worked together with Special Educational Needs Coordinators and families to create a booklet about moving to secondary school.
The guide has been developed to support families through the transition and includes information about:
- Choosing a school
- School admissions, with and without an EHCP
- Support available in secondary settings
- Practical strategies to help your child prepare for the move
 Drop-ins for families this term
SENDIASS and SEND Voices Wokingham coffee mornings
A chance to chat with other parents over a tea or coffee. You can also get individual advice and support from a SENDIASS advisor:
- 12 noon to 2pm
- Tuesday 6 and Tuesday 20 October
- FBC Centre, Finchampstead, RG40 4ES
Find future dates and more information.
Meet the SEND Service drop-in
Come along and meet managers from the SEND Team. You can ask questions, get advice and support, and find out about services available to your child or young person.
- 9.30am to 11.30am
- Thursday 26 November
- Brambles Best Start Family Hub, Wokingham, RG40 1PX
 Supporting your child with language development
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust offers free, online workshops for parents and carers. The workshops can help you support your child's communication and language skills.
Workshops for parents of pre-school children
Book an early language development workshop.
Workshops for parents of school-aged children
Book a school age language development workshop.
Speech and language advice line for pre-school children
You can call your local early years speech and language therapy team for advice and support about your child's communication and language development.
The advice line is available to:
- Parents and carers
- Family members
- School and nursery staff
Telephone: 0118 904 3700
Open: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9am to 3.30pm.
 Help with exploring post-16 options
The Preparing for Adulthood section of the SEND Local Offer has lots of information for young people aged 14 to 25 to plan for the future.
Find out about:
- Sixth form, college and supported learning courses
- Supported internships for young people with an EHCP
- Travel training to help young people learn to use buses and trains
- Moving to adult social care and adult health services
- Clubs and activities for teens and young adults
 Online training courses this term
There are lots of free, online courses this term to help you support your child or young person.
SENDIASS and SEND Voices Wokingham
- Education, Health and Care Plans: a parent's guide
- Preparing for adultood
- SEND support in school: a parents guide
Find more details and booking information.
Parenting Special Children
- Understanding ADHD
- Understanding symptom overlap: trauma, attachment, autism and ADHD
- Understanding and managing OCD
- Trauma and attachment informed parenting and caregiving
Find more details and booking information.
 Plans to expand SEND provision
Between 2026 and 2029, we aim to create more than 600 new SEND spaces through new and expanded specialist schools, dedicated provision within mainstream schools, and hubs for young people over 16.
Find out more about plans to expand SEND provision.
Are you signed up to the CAN Network newsletter?
Sent every half term, the CAN (Children with Additional Needs) Network newsletter has lots of accessible activities, clubs, events and support for families.
Sign up now in time to recieve the October edition, packed with ideas and activities for the half-term break.
Sign up for the CAN Network newsletter.
|
