Leicester City Council: Young People Participation Survey

Leicester City Council has produced Social Care and Education Participation Approach, a draft strategy which looks at how they can provide young people with unique opportunities to participate in decision making and service development processes. They would like to hear views on the draft strategy and how it can be improved or amended to further increase participation opportunies for young people. To take part, please follow the link here. ...
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£8.1m scheme to create hundreds of new SEND school places

Leicester City Council has announced that £8.1 million will be invested in scheme which will create hundreds of new school places and provisions for children with special educational needs. The proposals include: 3 of the Leicester Special Schools would provide extra facilitiesDesignated Specialist Provision (DSP) and Specialist Units would be created at 10 further schools across the city. Total of 228 permanent new school places would be provided for children with extra needs. Schools included are the Leicester Partnership School in Knighton (extra 40 places), Ellesmere College (extra 60-70 places) and Netherhall Special School (extra 30 places). They will all also receive various new or renovated facilities. Some of the proposed DSPs are: Sandfield Close Primary SchoolRushey Mead Primary SchoolKestrel Mead Primary SchoolWill Brook MeadFullhurst Community CollegeOrchard MeadMellor Primary SchoolBraunstone Primary School Read more at the Leicester Mercury. ...
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“Third of young people left without mental health support during lockdown” survey finds

Nina Jacobs at Children & Young People Now has reported on survey findings of the impact on children & young people access to mental health support during Covid-19. Key findings include: 31% of young people were no longer able to access support despite still needing help from specialist services (a rise of 5% since the start of the lockdown)Many young people felt unable to access help at home due to concerns around privacy and confidentiality or a lack of access to technology80% said that pandemic had made their mental health worse - of which, 41% said it made things "much worse"Nearly 90% said they had felt lonely or isolated71% had been able to stay in touch with friends11% felt that their mental health had improved since the lockdown Young Minds Statistics ...
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Resources for Children on COVID-19

As we all start preparing for children to return to school in September, you might find some of these resources useful: "While We Can't Hug" by Faber and FaberHedgehog and Tortoise want to give each other a great big hug, but they're not allowed to touch. From the creators of the internationally adored The Hug, Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar, they are thrilled to bring you a new story: While We Can't Hug."Dave the Dog is Worried about Coronavirus" This book aims to open up the conversation about coronavirus and some of the things they might be hearing about it and provide truthful information in a reassuring and child friendly manner."COVIBook" A short book to support and reassure children, under the age of 7, regarding the COVID-19. This book is an invitation for families to discuss the full range of emotions arising from the current situation. It is available in 16 languages, including: English, Polish, Arabic, Chinese and Japanese."My Story About Pandemics...
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Health & Wellbeing Conversation for Young People ages 11 to 18 (SEND up to 25 years)

The Big Barnardo’s Conversation is aimed at highlighting the impact of Covid-19 on children and young people across the UK. This survey has been adapted by the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Children Partnerships and Young Peoples Advisory Group with kind permission from Barnardo’s to allow us to focus on Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland young people. If you are a young person (or a parent who can support your child or young person), please answer this survey here. The Survey closes on the 28th June, so there is not long left! ...
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Extra Mental Health Support for Pupils and Teachers

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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Supporting a Bereaved Child

Child Bereavement UK have produced a reasource to empower teachers and professionals to support children. Follow the link here. Supporting a bereaved pupil is a source of support and information, with practical guidance, to empower education professionals to support pupils bereaved of someone important to them. Most grieving pupils do not need a ‘bereavement expert’, they need the support of familiar adults in a secure environment. Schools, just by carrying on with their usual day-to-day activities, while acknowledging the bereavement, can do a huge amount to support a grieving pupil. Bereaved young people tell us that the way their school responds at such a difficult time is something they never forget. ...
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STOMP/STAMP Campaign: “Stopping Over Medication of People”

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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