SEN bulletin April 2024

    This month the Ealing Youth Social Network (YSN) hosted our very first Young Peoples conference. The day was lead and developed by a group of young people with additional needs, covering 4 key topics: Leisure, Employment, Education and Safety. It was an inspiring and uplifting event, and I am looking forward to future events and joint working with our (YSN). A massive thank you to Harvey Duncan, Steve Curtis and Sabrina Breatcliffe for their hard work and dedication in setting up the network, supporting the group and organising such a fantastic event.

    Network meetings

    Thanks to Phillipa Le Roux for sharing what is involved in ELSA training last week. Places for next year are now available, for more staff to join the 50 ELSAs working across 30 schools in Ealing, supporting improved learning outcomes for children with SEMH. We also shared our transition planning for Y6-Y7 and heard from Sarah Jay and the schools she is working with to improve the transition experience for young people with SEND.

    Please find information from the last joint SENCo network attached. Great to see so many of you there.

    High school transition event

    Do you have a Y6 pupil going to a special school in Y7? ELP is hosting a mainstream primary to special school transition event at the EEC on 21 June. You will receive more information by email.

    The venue will also be available for all Primary and Secondary SENCOs who would like to discuss their pupils with SEND in one location on the same day. If you are interested in this, get in touch with your cross-phase colleagues to arrange a time to meet on the 21 June.

    Celebrating and sharing great SEN practice

    6 maths games, and a tool for using when interviewing prospective LSAs – useful resources shared by Alison Towers from Lady Margaret Primary school. If you have a great resource to share with colleagues, send it to the SEN Bulletin for next month – email: sendline@ealing.gov.uk.

    Inclusion charter

    The first of the 4 principles of London’s Inclusion Charter is ‘Embedding Equity and Diversity’ – and gives as an example, developing neuro-inclusive school practice. Find out more below, including the link to UNICEF’s Rights Respecting Schools Award.

    London Inclusion Charter

    Funding for mental health and wellbeing of Autistic young people

    Secondary schools can apply for 5k funding for a project in school focussed on the mental health and wellbeing of autistic young people:

    A reminder that you have until 24 August to apply for NTP funding. This does not cover the full cost – if you have used this funding in combination with other funding and it has worked in your school to support pupils with SEND, please do share your experience: sendline@ealing.gov.uk Using National Tutoring Programme funding to support pupils with SEND | Ealing Grid for Learning (egfl.org.uk)

    SENAS news

    Here is the updated list of roles within SENAS:

    • Senior education health and care coordinator (Lead for high school transfer, secondary school), Dipti Jagatia, JagatiaD@ealing.gov.uk,020 8825 7181.
    • Senior education health and care coordinator (Lead for children who are looked after; primary school), Rasheed Lawal, LawalR@ealing.gov.uk, 020 8825 5909
    • Senior education health and care coordinator (Lead for post 16+), Abigail Richards, RichardsA@ealing.gov.uk, 020 8825 7576.
    • Senior education health and care coordinator, (Lead for place planning, assessments), Lydia Benson, BensonL@ealing.gov.uk, 020 8825 5534
    • Senior education health and care coordinator, (Lead for permanently excluded children, children receiving elective home education or education other than at school, children missing education), Kajal Hans, HansK@ealing.gov.uk, 020 8825 5245
    • Joint head of EHCP planning, Jeff Elgar (Annual reviews, travel assessments, post 16), ElgarJ@ealing.gov.uk, 020 8825 9371.
    • Joint head of EHCP planning, (Assessments, pre 16, tribunals), Lucy Granger, grangerl@ealing.gov.uk, 020 8825 5454.
    • Acting head of SEND, Fabiola Peacock, PeacockF@ealing.gov.uk, 020 8825 5313.

    Training to book this month:

    Nasen

    New from Nasen - a great resource for SEND Code of Practice & EYFS Framework – what they say | Nasen Log in and explore for free resources such as twilight talks, as well as CPD on demand (paid for content).

    Children, young people, and their families

    Support for pupils wanting to participate in the New Gen Festival

    Clare Welsby from Ealing and Vincenzo Maxia from the London College of Music at UWL are working on a project where LCM students helping with auditions for young people with additional needs who may want to perform at the New Gen Festival in the Summer. Please contact Clare to find out more.

    Clare Welsby, Include Me Steering Group WelsbyC@ealing.gov.uk

    NewGen festival flyer

    Counselling service for 11–18-year-olds

    Support for young people affected by abuse in their home. Awaaz flyer.

    Workshops for parents from the Ealing Mental Health Support Team

    Range of workshops on topics such as transition, anxiety, boy’s mental health and exam stress – email ealingmhst@nhs.net for more info and share the flyer with parents.

    Summer term 2024 workshop flyer.

    Speech and language therapy free parent workshops in summer term

    Do you have parents that would like and benefit from more information with their child’s communication? Please signpost parents of children aged over 5 to our free, online workshops offered this term!

    The following are run by Ealing Speech and Language Therapy:

    • Transition to High School
    • Neurodiversity: Understanding your child
    • Emotions and Behaviours
    • Selective Mutism
    • Parents can book on by emailing wlm-tr.sltuniversalservice@nhs.net

    These are accessible to any parents – their child does not need to be known to Speech and Language Therapy. Look out for the Workshop brochure – sent out by email.

    • Social communication with Ealing Anchor Foundation: 10 May from 10.30am-12pm, face to face
    • Using communication skills to prepare for transition to high school: 22 May from 11am-12pm, online
    • Messy Play with Ealing Anchor Foundation: 7 June from 10.30am-12pm, face to face
    • Supporting children who are speaking at home but not at school: 18 June from 10am-11am, online
    • Understanding behaviours and managing emotions: 26 June from 12pm-1pm, face to face
    • Different ways of communicating: 5 July from 10am-11am, online

    If you have questions about a child’s speech, language and/or communication, you can contact our advice line and speak with a Speech and Language Therapist. Email us on: ealing.sltadvice@nhs.net Monday-Friday from 1-4pm.

    Visit Ealing Children's Services - YouTube. Here you can find a range of free bite-size videos and longer workshops for parents and practitioners, aimed at supporting children with and without communication needs.

    Assistive technology

    CENMAC have a wealth of resources on their website, including demonstrations of resources you already have such as immersive reader in word, or that you may not have such as reading pens. You can also find out more about how to refer a pupil for an assistive technology assessment. CENMAC's Thursday Thirty - Understanding the CENMAC referral process (youtube.com)

    Top tip

    Teacher views are an essential part of a review of SEN provision for an individual pupil. Primary SENCOs may find these forms, adapted from Rachel at Gifford, useful.

    Did you Know?

    Ofsted - Children's Consultation (smartsurvey.co.uk)

    Ofsted has expanded its ‘Big Listen’ to children and young people. It is an anonymous survey.

    Contact:
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    Last updated: 29 Apr 2024

    Services for children