Subject: SEND Newsletter September 2024

Welcome to your latest SEND Newsletter

Welcome to the latest edition of the SEND Newsletter bringing you the latest updates from across Northumberland about the support available for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and their families.

In this edition

SEND Survey 2024 is closing soon
Explore your new SEND Local Offer website
Looking for early years education and childcare in Northumberland?
Join the Autism Family Drop-ins at Northumberland Family Hubs
Spotlight on: Education Health & Care Plans (EHCPs)
School where pupils are ‘valued and nurtured’ praised by Ofsted
Northumberland expands Supported Internships

SEND Survey 2024 is closing soon

Have you taken part in the SEND Survey 2024?

It takes just a few minutes to complete and will help us set our priorities for the next three years.

We would like to learn what is working well and what needs to change.

This survey has been developed with Northumberland Parent Carer Forum and a group of parents and carers who are working with Northumberland County Council and NHS commissioners.

Following the survey, we will write a report telling you what we have found out and what we will do in response to the feedback.

Please contact Healthwatch Northumberland on 03332 408 468 option 3 (local call rate), or text 07413 385275 for a callback service if you require support completing this survey.

The closing date for this survey is Friday September 20 2024.

Complete the SEND survey here

Explore the new SEND Local Offer website

We were excited to launch our new Northumberland SEND Local Offer website at the end of last term and hope it is making it easier for you to find the information you need.

The Local Offer brings together services across education, health and social care into one place.

It also includes information on leisure activities and support to help young people and their family or carers plan for the future and prepare for adulthood.

The website has been planned and produced with parents, carers, services across the council and health, schools, colleges and early years settings and voluntary sector colleagues.

We've worked closely with the Northumberland Parent Carer Forum (PCF) to ensure the content is useful and accessible to families.

Listen to Northumberland PCF Claire North explain how she hopes it will make a difference.

How can the Local Offer make a difference?

Visit the Northumberland SEND Local Offer here

Looking for early years education and childcare in Northumberland?

From September, hundreds of thousands of eligible working parents of children from nine-months-old will begin to access 15 hours of government-funded early education per week.

All Early Years and childcare settings must make provision for children with additional needs. Children with additional needs have the greatest need for high quality provision and are entitled to support from adults who enable them to achieve and enjoy their time in Early Years.

We want to equip parents, carers and families with an understanding of what they can expect from their Early Years and childcare setting, and from the council.

As well as our new Local Offer website - we also have a new Family Services Directory, full of support for finding the right childcare for you.

Find out more here

Join Northumberland's Autism Family Drop-ins

Meet Autism Family Support Workers, Adelle Hicks and Robyn Robinson, who are a part of the Autism Support Team at Northumberland County Council.

Adelle and Robyn run Autism Family Drop-ins across the county. The two-hour long sessions are free and are an opportunity to come along to meet the team and other parents for an informal chat over a cuppa. No diagnosis needed.

There is no set agenda for the drop-ins. It is a chance to seek support and advice from the team and other parents, however there is no expectation to talk about your child if you don’t want to.

Any parent/carer or family members are welcome to attend any session and you do not need to attend the session for the area that you live in.

If you have any questions, please contact your local Family Hub or email robyn.robinson@northumberland.gov.uk or adelle.hicks@northumberland.gov.uk

FAQS:

Do I need to book?

No, just turn up on the day.

Do I need to stay for the two hours?

No, you can drop in at any time that is convenient for you.

Can I bring my child with me?

We normally advise parents/carers not to bring their children if they can, as this allows you to speak freely. However, if childcare is preventing you from attending then please bring them along. Please be aware that other parents may want to discuss sensitive topics.

What happens if I can’t attend?

We try and alternate days and times of the drop ins at each location so hopefully the next session will be more convenient for you. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer advice via email or telephone due to our capacity. However, please bring any questions or queries along to the drop in session. We look forward to seeing you!

Join us at every half term at:

Ashington Family Hub

Morpeth Library

The Community Hub at Cramlington

Hexham Family Hub

Haltwhistle Family Hub

Alnwick Family Hub

Berwick Family Hub

Next drop in dates:

Wednesday 2 October

1-3pm

Haltwhistle Family Hub

Haltwhistle Primary Academy, Park Avenue, NE49 9BA

Thursday 10 October

10am-noon

Cramlington Community Hub

Forum Way, Manor Walks Shopping Centre, NE23 6YB (Next to Concordia)

Wednesday 16 October

10am-noon at Berwick Family Hub

Ladywell Place, Tweedmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 2AE

Tuesday 22 October

10am-noon

Morpeth Library

Morpeth Sports and Leisure Centre, Gas House Lane, NE61 1SR

Find out more about Family Hubs here

Spotlight on: Education Health & Care Plans (EHCPs)

The Education, Health and Care needs assessment may result in an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan being issued. The plan says what kind of support that child or young person needs, and how that support will be provided.

It is a legal document that lays out the child's specific needs, as each child and young person is different. The plan will say where the child will receive their education, and what extra support they will receive to help them learn. The plan will also list any health and social care that can be provided to help with their SEND.

We've created a new area on our Local Offer website to answer any questions you may have. This section aims to explain the role of EHCPs so that parents and carers know what to expect from this legal document and understand how it can support their child.

Find out more here

School where pupils are ‘valued and nurtured’ praised by Ofsted

Pupils, staff and pets joined the celebrations after their school was rated ‘Good’ in all areas by Ofsted.

Inspectors praised the “rapidly improved” Emily Wilding Davison School in Ponteland commenting on the “high expectations for pupils’ behaviour and achievement” and how pupils are “valued and nurtured.”