Extra Mental Health Support for Pupils and Teachers

by BeckiNo Comments
The Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care have announced online resources and charity grants. These are to help schools and colleges respond to the impact of coronavirus on mental health and wellbeing. For the full press release, click here. There will be a variety of videos, webinars and teaching materials produced in partnership with charities. These shoul help children and young people discuss their anxieties and other emotions around the pandemic. Grants worth more than £750,00 for the Diana Award, the Anti-Bullying Alliance and the Anne Frank Trust have been announced. There is also a £95,000 pilot project in partnership with the Education Support Partnership to focus on teachers' and leaders' mental health and wellbeing. This will encourage more resiliency of school staff. Furthermore, mental health and wellbeing will become a compulsory part of pupils' education in primary and secondary education through the Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum from September....
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STOMP/STAMP Campaign: “Stopping Over Medication of People”

by BeckiNo Comments
STOMP stands for stopping over medication of people with a learning disability, autism or both with psychotropic medicines. It is a national project involving many different organisations which are helping to stop the over use of these medicines. STOMP is about helping people to stay well and have a good quality of life.NHS England: Full article here The overall aims of STOMP are: encourage people to have regular check-ups about their medicinesmake sure doctors and other health professionals involve people, families and support staff in decisions about medicinesinform everyone about non-drug therapies and practical ways of supporting people so they are less likely to need as much medicine, if any. NHS England also created the STOMP/STAMP Campaign, looking at paediatric care of children and young peopole. STAMP stands for Supporting Treatment and Appropriate Medication in Paediatrics. The overall aims are to: make the lives of children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both who are prescribed psychotropic medications better.make sure that...
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Mental Health Awareness Week

by BeckiNo Comments
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week which is organised by the Mental Health Foundation, and the theme they have chosen this year is Kindness. We have chosen kindness because of its singular ability to unlock our shared humanity. Kindness strengthens relationships, develops community and deepens solidarity. It is a cornerstone of our individual and collective mental health. Wisdom from every culture across history recognises that kindness is something that all human beings need to experience and practise to be fully alive.Mark Rowland, Chief Executive, Mental Health FoundationFor more, go to their article here. What can you do? Reflect on an act of kindness. Share your stories and pictures (with permission) of kindness during the week using #KindnessMatters and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeekUse the Mental Health Foundation resources in your family, school, workplace and community to join with thousands in practising acts of kindness to yourself and others during the week Share your ideas on how you think we could build a kinder society that would...
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SYSTEM FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN ENGLAND ‘RIDDLED WITH INEQUALITIES’

by BeckiNo Comments
Damning report by MPs finds many pupils miss out on support and end up being excluded from education. Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are being failed by a system “riddled with unexplained inequalities”, according to a damning parliamentary report. The report says many of the 1.3 million pupils in England with SEND are not getting the support they need and end up being excluded from school, damaging their education, wellbeing and future life chances. You can read more in the Guardian or TES. What do you think about these findings?...
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Council for Disabled Children: COVID 19 FAQs (Part 2)

by BeckiNo Comments
On the 18th April we shared the Council for Disabled Children's first FAQ document. They have now released Part Two, which you can access by following the link below. https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/field/attachemnt/FAQs%202%20-%20Covid-19%20-%20Final_1.pdf Some of the questions/topics covered are: What to do if you are supporting an adult with specific needs - can you go outside together for things such as shopping?Changes to employer expectations on staff attending work - especially when you have a child with SENDChanges to benefits and how to apply during coronavirus lockdownDealing with residential settings - particularly considering the changes to the lawWhat expectations parents/carers should have on schools regarding differentiated tasks and activities for children with EHCPs (or with SEN support)The impact on social care (such as respite). The impact on health services for those with learning difficulties and disabilitiesMany questions about how to effectively shield whilst still dealing with personal care and social distancing.Issues around risk assessments and how these will be handled....
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Disabled Children: A Legal Handbook (Council for Disabled Children)

by BeckiNo Comments
Disabled Children: A Legal Handbook (3rd Edition) is available from the Council for Disabled Children for free. Disabled Children: a legal handbook is an authoritative yet accessible guide to the legal rights of disabled children and their families in England. The authors expertly navigate the many, often overlapping, sources of law, explaining the difference between what public bodies must do to support disabled children and that which they may do. Every chapter is available as a PDF download at the bottom of the page. This is a great resource that can back up your understanding of your rights (and your childs). You can get in touch with us if you have questions or require more information. We understand that the world of SEN/D and the legal frameworks can be very overwhelming, and it is our job to support you in a manageable fashion....
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