SEND review ‘steering group’ appointed to push through reforms

by BeckiNo Comments
Children's minister defends delays to landmark review and warns Covid has 'intensified' issues Children's Minister: Will Quince The government has named 23 members of a steering group set up to help push through its much-delayed SEND review, as a minister warned Covid had “intensified” issues. In an open letter to parents of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, children’s minister Will Quince said improvements to the system were “needed, and overdue”. The steering group will “help us move forward” with the review, he added. The SEND review was first promised in September 2019. The government has now missed three of its own deadlines to publish it, with Covid cited as a major contributor to the delays. Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said last week that he was hoping to have it out “in the first quarter of next year” so it can “dovetail” with a planned schools white paper. In his letter, Quince said the pandemic had “intensified some of the issues in the system, and...
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Survey: Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Carer Strategy Refresh

by BeckiNo Comments
A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, substance misuse or a mental health need or an addiction cannot manage without their support. The carer strategy is a plan that includes things that we think should happen in Leicester to make life better for carers. The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) carers strategy is due to be updated. It can be found on here. The original strategy was put together before COVID19. The past 18 months has therefore impacted on many things, and the LLR are looking at what needs to be updated to account for the needs of Leicester City carers. LLR Statement: "The information you provide in your answers will be collated alongside information we have already collected in our conversations with carers, the work we have done together with carers and from local and national information. All of this will be used to develop the LLR Carers Strategy 2022-2025....
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Education Secretary Backs Home Education Register

by BeckiNo Comments
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has reiterated his support for the introduction of a home education register. Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi was giving evidence to the Education Select Committee. Image: Parliament TV Speaking at a Parliamentary hearing this morning (Wednesday), Zahawi said he was “absolutely committed” to the creation of a register of elective home-educated (EHE) children, which would be maintained by local authorities. The measure was a key proposal in the Children Not in School consultation paper published in April 2019 alongside a planned duty on parents to register their child as being home schooled and for councils to provide additional support for EHE children. The government has yet to publish its response to the consultation, which was criticised by members of the Education Select Committee who were questioning Zahawi. Caroline Johnson, Conservative MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, said: “I am unsure why it is taking so long? This is a safeguarding issue…we know that some people are not doing a good job [home...
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Parent/Carer views on how Health services prepare Young People with SEND to transition to Adult Health Services

by BeckiNo Comments
Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group are looking for your views as a parent/carer of a child/young person with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities. We are asking for your help to understand how well all health services in the City are preparing Young People with SEND for their transition to adult services. We also want to know if we have communicated well with you about a recent development that all partners across health and education are part of called the SEND Joint Commissioning strategy. This survey will help to improve and shape the service that is provided to children and young people as they transition into adult care. You can access the survey here. ...
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Responding to Emotional Wellbeing & Mental Health Needs of CYP: Event

by BeckiNo Comments
Join the National Children's Bureau as they present information about strategic responses to the emotional wellbeing and mental health needs of children and young people. You can view the full advert below: Image Depicts: The Lottery Community Fund logo on the left, and on the right states "Delivered by" with the National Children's Bureau logo. Responding to emotional wellbeing and mental health needs of children and young people: learning from HeadStart partnerships Please join us to hear about strategic responses to the emotional wellbeing and mental health needs of children and young people. Wednesday 20th October 2021 1-4pm. Please register here This event is delivered by the National Children’s Bureau in collaboration with the HeadStart Partnerships. Evidence shows that children and young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health is worsening.1 As the current pandemic continues, local areas are considering how best to identify need, address vulnerabilities and increase access to support and treatment quickly and effectively. This is an opportunity to hear...
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Nadhim Zahawi replaces Gavin Williamson as Education Secretary

Nadhim Zahawi replaces Gavin Williamson as Education Secretary

by BeckiNo Comments
Yesterday, we shared on our social media that it had been confirmed that Gavin Williamson has been replaced as the Education Secretary. We know that this may create a mix emotions in the professionals, parents, carers, young people and children that we support. It has now been announced that Williamson has been replaced by Nadhim Zahawi who has most recently been the Vaccines Minister, and previously worked as a children's minister between 2018 and 2019. Further changes in the Department for Education saw Nick Gibb removed as schools minister after nine years in the role. Michelle Donnelan remains as universities minister, however, no announcement has been made about the future of Vicky Ford as children's minister. ...
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Coronavirus Vaccine Parents Perceptions Survey

by Martine CunninghamNo Comments
Coronavirus Vaccine Parents Perceptions Survey At present the JCVI advises that children and young people aged 12 years and over with specific underlying health conditions that put them at risk of serious COVID-19, should be offered COVID-19 vaccination, as well as children and young people aged 12 years and over who are household contacts of persons (adults or children) who are immunosuppressed. Young people aged 16 and 17 are recommended to have the first dose of the vaccine. The Public Health Health Improvement Team would like to hear the views of parents on the vaccine. They also want to hear about where you are getting your information from to help you make a choice about your children having or not having the vaccination. https://surveys.leics.gov.uk/snapwebhost/s.asp?k=162694062795 ...
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Employ Autism: Resource Hub

Employ Autism: Resource Hub

by BeckiNo Comments
Are you an autistic young person?Are you a parent of an autistic young person? Are you worried about employability?Ambitious About Autism have designed a collection of toolkits to help more autistic young people access sustainable and meaningful employment opportunities.  The resources will help employers to develop their awareness and understanding of autism. They will support the hiring and retaining of talented autistic young people. These resources are also relevant for autistic young people, their parents/carers, teachers, and other relevant professionals to support a young person to make informed choices about their future employment opportunities. The resource has been co-produced in partnership with Ambitious about Autism Youth Patrons as experts by experience and expert partners Creased Puddle, utilising best practice and up-to-date research, the Autism Education Trust, and the Department of Education. Click the button below to access the hub. Employ Autism ...
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Lessons Learned Through Lockdown – Council for Disabled Children

Lessons Learned Through Lockdown – Council for Disabled Children

by BeckiNo Comments
Between February and March 2021, as part of the Making Participation Work programme which is funded by the Department for Education and jointly delivered by Council for Disabled Children and KIDS, the Council for Disabled Children commissioned Kaizen to deliver an England wide consultation with children and young people with SEND. The consultation was co-designed between Kaizen, CDC and the FLARE young advisory group, and is based on the feedback of children and young people participating in CDC and KIDS led youth groups. The full report can be downloaded here: Lessons-Learnt-From-LockdownDownload ...
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