SEND
Welcome to our SEND page (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities).
Please take some time to read this letter from Vicky Ford MP and to fill in this survey to help gather the views of families of children with SEND during lockdown:
Special Educational Needs and Disability Family Survey 2 (surveymonkey.co.uk)
Yoga Sessions Online
This can be a very worrying and stressful time for children, with lots of change happening all the time. It is extremely important that we nurture and care for the children’s mental health and well-being. Yoga has been proven to decrease stress levels, reduce anxiety and help with relaxation. Here are some website links to online Yoga sessions that your child could do at home. They are aimed at primary school children, and there are different lessons to choose from. We have used them in school before so your child may be familiar with them.
Yoga at School | Engaging all Children in Yoga | Primary School Yoga
During the Coronavirus pandemic, SpeechLink Multi-Media have offered support for parents.
Our Parent Portal is now live!
Visit https://speechandlanguage.info/parents for lots of speech and language resources, advice and tips for parents working at home with their children who have SLCN.
Public Health England launches new Every Mind Matters campaign
Most families have experienced upheaval in their daily lives during the pandemic. With children and young people now back at school or college, the new Public Health England (PHE)Better Health –Every Mind Matters campaign provides NHS-endorsed tips and advice to help children and young people’s mental wellbeing, and equip parents and carers with the knowledge to support them. The new advice available on the Every Mind Matters website has been developed in partnership with leading children and young people’s mental health charities, including Young Minds,The Mix,Place2BeandThe Anna Freud Centre.
It is designed to help parents and carers spot the signs that children may be struggling with their mental health and support them, and also provides advice that can help maintain good mental wellbeing. The site also provides tools to help young people build resilience and equips them to look after their mental wellbeing. The new Better Health –Every Mind Matters campaign will be supported through social media, radio and press activity, helping to reach audiences including parents and carers of children and young people (aged 5 to 18) and young people (aged 13 to 18).Search Every Mind Matters for expert tips and advice to support children and young people with their mental wellbeing
In 2015 a new Code of Practice was produced which sets out clear guidelines for young people with SEND, their families and the professionals who work with them.
At St Thomas More First School, we aim to work closely with our SEND pupils and their families to ensure they reach their full potential. Our SENDCO (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-Ordinator) is Mrs J Hicking:
There are 4 main areas of need although some children may have difficulties in more than one area:
1. Cognition and learning
2. Communication and interaction
3. Social, emotional and mental health
4. Sensory/physical needs.
If your child is placed on the SEND Register it is because they need some additional support. This may be for a short time or may indeed be long-term, depending on the child’s needs.
How would I know if my child is on the Register?
1. The class teacher will have spoken with you regarding concerns.
2. Following discussions with the SENDCO and observations some agreed strategies will be put into place.
3. A Personalised Learning Plan (PLP) will be drawn up.
4. A letter will then be sent to parents inviting you to meet with the class teacher (and SENDCO if you wish) to discuss the PLP.
5. Each term the PLP will be revised and a new one drawn up.
6. Each term parents will be invited to meet with the teacher and review the PLP and discuss the new one.
7. Any changes would be formally discussed with you in order to keep you as up to date as possible and to show you how you can help your child at home.
There is a link below to Worcestershire’s Local Offer;
www.worcestershire.gov.uk/sendlocaloffer
This provides information about what support and services families can expect to be available across education, health and social care in Worcestershire.
If you need impartial information ,advice and support on matters relating to children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities(SEND) , then here are the contact details:
Find on Facebook ‘SENDIASS Worcestershire’
www.SENDworcestershire.co.uk
01905 768153