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Inside this issue:
Rachel Clark: Parent Partnership Officer Mon-Fri
Denis Tully: Deputy Partnership Officer/Training Manager Mon-Fri
Carol Greaves: Helpline Advisor Mon-Fri
Edwina Cosgrove: Volunteer Support Worker Mon-Fri
Frances Coleman: Partnership Development Worker Mon, Tues, Thurs
Noreen Shiekh: Asian Support Worker Mon-Thurs
Nicola McGrath: Senior Admin Assistant Mon-Fri
Clare Trusswell: Admin Assistant Mon-Weds
Nottingham Office: 0115 9482888
Hucknall Office: tbc
E-mail: ppsnotts@hotmail.com
Editorial
Hello every one and welcome to the first edition of Partnership Matters for 2004. We hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year and can still fit into your clothes. I am having trouble fitting into mine, but for a very good reason. I’m looking forward to the birth of my second child in June. So this will be my last editorial until I return in November. However, the service will be left in Denis’ capable hands, so I’ve no doubt that it will be business as usual whilst I am off.
As usual, nothing is standing still at Parent Partnership. We will be closing the Mansfield office on March 1st and moving into Hucknall International Clothing Centre and hope as many of you as possible will visit us there. For further details please see page 14.
Also in this edition, there are details of up coming training events and our annual conference, which will be focussing on the Green Paper, Every Child Matters, which will affect all parents, children and those who work with parents and children.
As part of her work reaching out to the community Frances has also arranged a number of drop in coffee mornings around the County. This will provide an opportunity for parents to find out about our service and us, and also to ask any questions regarding their child’s SEN.
We have also included details of the governments new SEN Action Plan, which was launched on February 11th. A number of you took part in a consultation event around this in May, and will see some of your views clearly reflected in the legislation.
We hope you enjoy this edition of Partnership Matters, if you have any comments or would like something including in future editions, please contact us at the Nottingham office on 0115 9482888.
Rachel Clark, Parent Partnership Officer
New Government Strategy for SEN
On February 11th, the government launched its new strategy for SEN. Building on Every Child Matters, the strategy focuses on 4 key areas, early intervention, removing barriers to learning, raising expectations and achievements and strengthening partnerships
So what does the government want to see happening and how?
Early Intervention
The government wants to see schools with skills and resources to act promptly and staff more able to spend time on early intervention. It believes that this can be achieved by further delegation of funds to schools and reducing bureaucracy around SEN.
Removing barriers to learning
The government wants to see schools that are confident in supporting children with SEN, schools working together to support inclusion and parents having confidence in local mainstream schools. It also sees a clear role for special schools.
In order to make this happen, it is introducing an Inclusion Development Programme, which will look at ASD, EBD, Speech, Language and Communication difficulties and moderate learning difficulties.
It is also proposing to focus on the education of children with severe EBD. In addition to this, it is looking for better planning on an East Midlands level to meet less common needs. It will also be looking for minimum standards for SEN Advisory and Support Services and guidance on the most effective use of residential placements.
In terms of special schools, it sees them educating children with the most severe and complex needs and wants schools top focus on the quality of their provision. It also sees special schools working in close partnership with mainstream schools.
Raising expectations and achievements
The government wants to see skilled, confident teachers with proper support to help all children reach their potential. It also wants young people to become much more involved in decisions about their education, particularly at post –16 level.
It wants to see more scope for education that recognises the needs of children with SEN and creates a programme to suit their individual needs, rather than a one size fits all model. It also wants schools and LEAs to take a strategic approach to staff training and skills and wants to extend the use of P Scales.
It is also looking at changing performance tables to more accurately reflect pupil progress and wants to work with Connexions and the LSC to improve transition planning.
Strengthening Partnerships
The government wants to see schools and authorities strengthen their monitoring and review systems and the integration of health, education and social care, as well as parents with greater confidence.
It wants to promote better LEA monitoring of school performance on SEN, and standards will be set of LEA monitoring of resources.
It also wants authorities to share best practice of supporting parents and being accountable to parents.
This is a very brief over view of what the strategy is proposing and gives you a taste of what should be happening. If you would like to find out more, a full copy of the strategy is available on the Web at www.dfes.gov.uk or contact us here at PPS. We’ll be keeping you updated with any local changes that happen as a result of the strategy. Similarly, we would like to hear from you about any differences or improvements you have noticed as a result of the strategy.
Asian Fathers
The Parent Partnership Service has been working closely with Nottinghamshire County Council Social Services department and Nottingham Health Service for over two years to establish better ways of supporting Asian parents and carers who have children with disabilities.
Over the last two years, they have successfully held two conferences which have addressed some of the major issues affecting there children’s lives. This work could not have been possible without the support of the community and the ongoing work and commitment of the agencies involved.
At present there is a further conference planned for 2004 and there is an expectation that this conference will continue to deliver the information the community needs to assist them in there pursuit to care for there children/young people.
One of the issues that has become apparent as a result of our work over the last few years has been the lack of fathers involvement in their children’s lives. Due to this we wanted to establish positive ways of supporting Asian fathers, and after consulting with fathers, we are proud to say that we have established a fathers group.
Some fathers has now been meeting for a few months to discuss their experiences and feelings, exchanging ideas and looking at positive ways of supporting themselves and their families. They also have the opportunity to ask questions to professionals such as heath practitioners, social workers, children’s doctors and staff from the education system.
The group meets bi-monthly and the next meeting is planned for Wednesday 11 March 2004 6. 30-9pm enclosed is an invitation. Should you require any further information then please feel free to contact Noreen Sheikh, Parent Partnership Service - 9482888, Jaspal Virdi Children’s Centre, City Hospital - 9627658 or Nadeem Salim, Social Services - 9151400.
Disability Discrimination Act in Education Update
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), relating to Education (Part 4), has been in force since Sept 02. A case has been brought to SENDIST Tribunal recently regarding a child who was attending a school in one of the London Borough’s. The child has learning difficulties and the child was not allowed to join in the Christmas activities; he was often excluded from other activities such as assembly, singing, and many more. The class had a class photograph taken and the child was asked not to come into school to join in the photograph. He was the only child not allowed to go on a school trip.
There was full-time support in place for him, but school was unable to find anybody suitable to take on this role, so he was only allowed into school when mum attended with him or when another Teaching Assistant was available.
The Disability Rights Commission supported mum in taking the school to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST). The Tribunal upheld that the school had discriminated against the child by treating him ‘Less Favourably’ due to his disability. In its judgement, the tribunal commented on the fact that the school had been given funding for a Teaching Assistant, but had failed to fill the post for over a year. It ruled that this was discriminatory in itself.
The child is now in another school in his local area where he is fully included and took part in the recent Christmas Play.
For more information on the above case or the work of the Disability Rights Commission, visit their web site www.drc-gb.org.
Drop-In Advice for Parents
Here at the Parent Partnership Service we sometimes seem to be a victim of our own success! No matter how many volunteers we recruit to support parents experiencing difficulties around their child’s special educational needs, we are always scrambling to keep pace with demand. Parents phone in after a friend had support and found it useful, schools sometimes advise parents to contact us, and we also get referrals from LEA officers who find it helpful to suggest support for parents. One way and another word gets round if a service is useful, and more people want a slice; quite rightly too, that’s one of the things we are here to offer.
However, this ever-increasing demand means that we are constantly seeking ways to expand the service we offer. We are now trialling a series of low-key training sessions for parents, aimed at providing information on the kind of topics that come up so often in contacts to PPS.
Examples of these are :
The list is almost endless!
The plan is as follows. We have set up a series of possible dates and topics to offer to parents who contact us asking for support. These dates and topics can be adjusted if we suddenly have a few parents asking for support around a different issue, as the idea is to simply sit down and talk it through in a small group rather than have a more formal workshop/seminar session. The expectation is that for many parents, a bit of specific advice around their issue will be enough to give them the confidence to go ahead themselves without immediate support from a volunteer; where parents do not feel able to manage without the support of a volunteer, we would make every effort to do this for them. The sessions have been planned to take place in the Nottingham Office but if necessary we could have them elsewhere.
The next date is : Thursday March 4th 10.00am in Nottingham - looking at proposed statements.
Further dates are :
Thursday April 1st
Wednesday May 5th
Friday June 11th
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all at 10.00am in the Nottingham Office. No topics have been set for these dates, as we would like to respond to requests from parents.
Not On Your Own
A chance to meet other parents and the Parent Partnership Service
Drop in to the Mansfield Leisure Centre on Rosemary Street on Thursday 18th March between 9.30-12.30 in the bar/lounge.
If you need directions or more information, please phone Frances Coleman on 01623 422223 or e-mail ppsfrances@hotmail.com. There is free parking next to the leisure centre and overflow parking at the pay and display next door. Sports facilities eg. tabletennis, squash, pool table, badminton available to book at the leisure centre. Phone 01623 463800.
Training opportunities with Parent Partnership Service for Parents, School and Voluntary Sector staff and anyone concerned about children with additional needs in education.
The aim of the Parent Partnership Service training programme is to support parents by offering events to them that provide information and ‘know how’ on subjects to do with special educational needs. Unless indicated otherwise, all training events are open to school staff, Local Education Authority officers and people from voluntary sector organisations. This is to encourage shared learning and the building of positive relationships which is to the advantage of the child.
If you wish to register for any of the training events, please fill in and return the form provided. You will be sent further details nearer the date of the event.
Supporting Parents
The Parent Partnership Service supports parents and schools in a variety of was. This workshop will give participants information about what the service does and how parents can use it. There will be information about how parents are supported and the opportunities many people use to volunteer to support other parents.
Date: 12th March 2004 Venue: Bassetlaw CVS
Time: 10am to 12.30pm
I am a person not a label - creating positive experiences for young people in education
Sometimes the LEA makes a decision that is difficult to make sense of. The social model of inclusion informs many of the decisions the LEA make about children with SEN. This event will introduce the social model of disability and provide the opportunity for discussing, exploring its implications and the possibilities for children and young people to reach their potential.
Date: 17th March 2004 Venue: Lakeside Conference Centre
Time: 10am to 3pm
Independent Parent Support for Parents
This course gives insight into the SEN Code of Practice and how to support parents. Participants will learn about the SEN Code of Practice, the role of Parent Partnership Service and the Independent Parental Supporter and the skills and qualities required supporting parents. This course is accredited by the Open College Network. Those who complete the accredited course are able to apply to be an IPS volunteer with Parent Partnership Service. The course runs for 12 sessions.
Date: The course runs on Wednesdays from 24th March to 30th June (not including Easter and half-term holidays) Venue: Sherwood Community Centre, Nottingham
Time: 10am to 12.30pm
Ask a Parent
How can schools develop positive working relationships with parents? This workshop is for parents, school governors and staff, and will provide ideas about encouraging parents to engage with their school about their child’s education and taking stock of what a school might do to encourage positive relationships with parents.
Date: 31st March 2004 Venue: The Old Spot, Nottingham
Time: 7pm to 9.30pm
Your Child Matters—Parent Partnership Service Conference. Please see the conference hand-out.
Educational Psychology Service
The aim of this event is to provide information about the educational psychology service so participants are better informed about how the service works to support children with special educational needs.
This training event will provide:
Date: 18th May 2004 Venue: International Clothing Centre, Hucknall. Time: 10am to 2.30pm
My Child's Individual Education Plan
The IEP is key to helping the child, parent and school staff have an overview of progress and is the means by which targets are set to help the progress of the child. The parent has a key role in shaping the IEP. This workshop will outline how parents can fulfil this role and will give some hands-on practice at writing an IEP.
Date: 27th May 2004 Venue: International Clothing Centre, Hucknall
Time: 10am to 2.30pm
How parents can put their views in writing
Date: 16th June 2004 Venue: International Clothing Centre, Hucknall. Time: 10am to 12.30pm
SEN and Disability Act
Since 2001, schools must act in accordance with the SEN and Disability Act. This includes the requirement on the Local Education Authority and schools to make ‘reasonable adjustment’ for pupils requiring additional support. This training event will make clear exactly what schools and the LEA are each responsible for and how this is working out in practice.
Date: 8th June 2004 Venue: International Clothing Centre, Hucknall. Time: 10am to 2.30pm
What's in a Statement?
Different Local Educational Authorities have different ways of using the statement process to support children and young people with additional needs in schools. This often leads to parents being confused about how the child can be supported. In the vast majority of cases, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire children are supported when no statement is in place, even to the extent of the child receiving more support that in another authority where a statement is in place. This workshop will provide information for parents about how children in school receive additional support and how this support is funded.
Date: 8th July 2004 Venue: International Clothing Centre, Hucknall. Time: 10am to 12.30pm
On the Move
When a child receives additional support and is moving from one school to another, or when a young person is leaving school, a Transition Plan will be put in place to plan for the child or young persons move to a new school or into adulthood. A number of agencies are involved in the plan. This workshop will outline the role of the different agencies involved and what they do. It will highlight the role of the parent, child or young person and Connexions.
Date: 14th July 2004 Venue: International Clothing Centre, Hucknall. Time: 10am to 12.30pm.
When is Exclusion not Exclusion?
‘Fixed Period Exclusion’, ‘Permanent Exclusion’ - what’s the difference? Under what circumstances can a child be excluded? How should a parent respond if their child is excluded? This event will provide participants with the opportunity to explore the issues surrounding exclusions; provide factual description of when exclusion is exclusion, what must happen and how parents can respond.
Date: 14th July 2004 Venue: International Clothing Centre, Hucknall. Time: 10am to 2.30pm
Registration for Training
I wish to register for the following training event/s:
Title of training Date of training:
Name
Address
Post Code
Telephone
Do you know of any support Parent Partnership Service could provide to enable you to participate in the training events?
Return to Denis Tully, Parent Partnership Service, Suite 5 Clarendon Chambers, Clarendon Street, Nottingham NG1 5LN
Annual Conference “Your Child Matters”
We are holding our Annual Conference on Tuesday 27th April 2004. The conference will be focused on the green paper, ‘Every Child Matters’. The keynote speaker will be Meg Munn MP, the Parliamentary Private Secretary for the Department of Education and Skills.
The conference is for parents who have a child with Special Educational Needs or a disability and for people working with their children.
There will be numerous workshops (please see enclosed leaflet). If you want further information, please contact Denis Tully on 0115 9482888.
We're moving!!!
As of 1st March, we will be moving to Hucknall International Clothing Centre. The Mansfield office will close at the end of February and we hope to move the whole service there as soon as space becomes available.
Hucknall International Clothing Centre offers a number of things that our current premises do not. It is fully accessible, has more car parking, meeting rooms as well as training and conference facilities. The money saved on rent will be reinvested in taking our services out into the communities where you live. So, in the next year, expect to see a lot more of us in your area, be it a drop-in session at your local school or at a local community centre. Being in Hucknall will also make it much easier for us to get out to your different communities.
For those of you who are able to come to Hucknall, the Clothing Centre is easily accessible from the A611. Regular buses also run past the Centre. We would like as many of you as possible to visit us at our new place and are sure that you will like it.
The address of the new premises is the International Clothing Centre, Annesley Road, Hucknall, Nottingham NG15 8AY. We are waiting for NTL to give us a phone number, so please contact the Nottingham office number if you have any enquiries on 0115 9482888.
Rutland House School for Parents
Have you heard of us? Do you have contact with a child with a motor difficulty? Do you know how ‘conductive education’ works?
Then come to our Open Day on March 30th 2004, we are opening our doors to: Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech & Language Therapists, GP’s, Carers, Social Workers and anyone who has contact with a child with a motor difficulty.
Drop-in between 10.30 to 2.30 to Rutland House School for Parents, Elm Bank, Mapperley, Nottingham NG3 5AJ, 0115 9858178
Parentline Plus
Parentline Plus offers a flexible curriculum of courses and workshops that can be delivered separately or combined together to provide programmes tailored to different needs.
Run in small groups by a trained facilitator with parenting experience, the courses and workshops are inclusive and are relevant to different groups including:
One-off workshops
Longer courses
Children's Page!
Jo was very excited, he was going out with school for the day. He got up early in the morning and had some _____________ for breakfast. He packed his bag and walked to the School _______. They were going to the seaside. On the way they saw lots of different things, Jo saw a___________ and ___________.When they got to the seaside, they went onto the beach and played with a __________________. It was one of Jo’s friend's birthday, they were ______ years old today (count the candles). After they had eaten their picnic, and had been swimming in the sea, they got on the ___________ and went home. Jo had a great day, his dad collected him and he went back to his _____________.
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