SEN and Disability

News from Worcestershire Children First

Shaping services for children and young people with SEND

The third annual SEND parent carer survey has been launched in Worcestershire.

The survey, which has been co-produced by Families in Partnership and Worcestershire Children First, seeks the views of parents and carers on services for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and is one of the ways that we ask for feedback.

The survey is an essential contribution to the co-production on our SEND improvement. Worcestershire Children First values the feedback as it helps to build on what is working well, ensure we are making progress and highlights areas where further work is needed.

The survey closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 24 April and can be accessed at Parent Carer Survey

Worcestershire County Council Adult Learning courses

 Adult Learning is offering FREE courses for those that support children or young people with special needs and disabilities.

SEND – Nurture for Parents and Carers

Offload any struggles you are currently facing and nurture your own wellbeing through pamper sessions, art & crafts to support your own wellbeing or by meeting other parents and carers that support and look after children and adults with special needs and disabilities. This course is designed to nurture your own wellbeing.

This 8-week course starts on Thursday, 12th May at The Fairfield Centre, Warndon, Worcester.

Worcestershire County Council SEND Nurture course

SEND – Understanding Dyslexia

An Introduction course to Dyslexia, for adult learners who wants to know what it is, how it’s diagnosed and issues that someone may struggle with.

This course will also cover essential skills such as how to support and identify someone with Dyslexia.

This 4-week online course starts on Monday, 24th April and 6th June both online via TEAMS.

Worcestershire County Council – Understanding Dyslexia

If there are any other courses you would like to see us deliver, please let us know what you would like to learn to best support you and the child or adult with special needs that you care for at : adultlearning@worcestershire.gov.uk

Please also feel free to book onto any of our other free community learning courses at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/courses

For help booking on please ring: 01905-728537

SENDIASS News

Thank you to everyone who took part in our recent HW SENDIASS Parent Carer Training Survey.

We have now collated the results and you can read them on our Parent Carer Survey Report page. All of our courses will be developed and coproduced with families, and we will update our Training Webpage as soon as possible with details of upcoming training sessions.

We have also produced a New Animation -Post 16 Options

There are several education or training options available to young people when they leave school at 16. We have produced this animation to help young people (and their families) understand their options. You can find the video and more information on our Options and Transition After School Webpage.

Families in Partnership News

 Families in Partnership is Worcestershire’s Parent Carer Forum. A Parent Carer Forum is a group of parents and carers of disabled children who work with local authorities, education, health and other providers to make sure the services they plan and deliver meet the needs of disabled children and families. You can find out more about them and how to join on their website.

Families in Partnership | Worcestershire Association of Carers

You are receiving this email because when you registered your child on Worcestershire’s Children and Additional Needs Register you gave us your email address and said you would like to receive these updates. I hope you find them useful and informative but if you no longer wish to receive them please email me back on this email address and I will remove you from the distribution list.

Best wishes and please stay safe

Michele Davies

Parent Engagement Advisor

Participation and Engagement

Worcestershire Children First

County Hall Spetchley Road, Worcester WR5 2NP

Tel: 01905 843681

Mobile: 07595 091200

Email: mdavies3@worcschildrenfirst.org.uk

To find out how you can help as we tackle coronavirus go to: http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/here2help

No Child Left Behind

At Arrow Vale Academy we are passionate about an inclusive education for all. The highly qualified and committed Learning Support team strives to identify and provide the best and most appropriate curriculum and emotional support to meet the individual needs of every student.

Teaching staff are highly qualified in meeting the needs of individual students within differentiated lessons and are supported by a committed and experienced team of an Inclusion Lead & SENCo, HLTAs and Achievement Assistants. Additionally, the Learning Support department offers a range of support via their “Key Worker” role with some SEN and disabled students, supporting achievement, social and emotional needs. Some additional intervention is provided for students who have English as an additional language in liaison with the English Department.

There is also provision to aid students with more structured support, providing extensive opportunities for our students to learn and work beyond the classroom with our Discover Plus programme in year 9. There are break and lunchtime clubs (Learning Resource Centre ’LRC’) which provide a safe environment and opportunities to further develop students’ skills for life. The LRC is also available after school daily for a homework support club 3pm to 3.45pm (3.30pm on a Friday). The LRC has a dedicated range of ‘Dyslexia Friendly’ books which are engaging texts which are presented in a way that benefits those with dyslexia, EAL students and those that find reading challenging.

Exam Access Arrangements

Exam Access Arrangements are considered for every student in the school (external application through JCQ, Pearson and VCTC), and student voice / consultation plays an important part in this process with the SENCo and teaching staff.   Medical evidence of need and a formal SEN diagnosis from a specialist is required as supporting evidence for extra time, a scribe or a reader.

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AA_regs_21-22_v11.pdf

Meet the Team

The Learning Support Department and the Library offer a nurturing and caring environment for learning. Students of all ages with various needs and barriers to their learning will always consider the needs and personal circumstance of others. They learn to become more tolerant of others’ experiences and become a supportive family within the school environment.

Claire Round Inclusion Lead & SENCo	Sam Lune HLTA SEND & EHCP’s	Hannah Alabaster HLTA SLCN & Literacy (LRC/English Strategic Link)

Angela Timothy Achievement Assistant -Transitions & Maths Specialist	Naomi Beckford Achievement Assistant – ASD, PD & Creative Arts Specialist	Gareth Ravenhill Achievement Assistant – Maths & Exams Specialist	Rachael Sazio Achievement Assistant – ICT, Support Timetabling & Literacy/Phonics Specialist

Jana Harvey Achievement Assistant – Exams Access SEND Specialist & EAL	Jo Banner Achievement Assistant – ASD & Creative Arts Specialist	Jez Thomas Achievement Assistant – Discover Plus & Handwriting Specialist	Ellina Lawless Achievement Assistant – Literacy/Phonics Specialist Trainee

Everyone at some point needs additional support and guidance, particularly during teenage years. We have an Emotional Well-Being and Intervention / Mental Health Co-ordinator who delivers 6-week programmes to groups of students when a need has been identified. Referrals to show support already in place for that student is required, alongside permission from home. Some of the programmes we offer include:

• Monday and Wednesday Lunchtime drop-ins
• Anger management / Behaviour Refocus
• Social skills
• Raising self-esteem and confidence
• Staying safe
• Anxiety
• Exam Stress
• Self Harm
• Links for Parental Support click HERE
• CAMHS SPA for those students who are struggling with very low mood, suicidal thoughts, chronic self-harm, chronic eating disorders or severe phobias/OCD.
• Mental Health Support Teams in Schools For those students who do not quite reach the threshold to be accepted by CAMHS but who have mild to moderate issues with anger, behaviour, low mood, anxiety, sleep issues, obsessive compulsive disorder or phobias
• Clued Up Coaching For students who need support with changing their negative mindset or setting future goals
• Touchstones  Bereavement services (we can only refer, at the earliest, 12 weeks after the bereavement
• Reach For Wellbeing For those students who have received support in school already for issues such as low mood, anxiety, low self-esteem. Episodes of self-harm bur who do not reach the threshold for CAMHS
• Head Gym For students who need support with changing their negative mindset or setting future goals and supporting with low mood and low self esteem
• Mentor Link For students who need support with improving confidence and overcoming issues such as low self esteem

• CRUSH For those students who have experienced or witnessed domestic abuse. The purpose of CRUSH is to provide an awareness of what constitutes a healthy and unhealthy relationship

• YMCA For students who need support with improving confidence and overcoming issues such as low self esteem

• School Nurse For students who need support with healthy eating, weight loss, emotional wellbeing and emotional resilience

The Learning Support department works collaboratively with safeguarding, attendance and the pastoral student support team, alongside a range of outside agencies / external professionals to assess, identify and support students with additional needs. These include:

• SEND Supported – SEND Training & Support – Warwickshire SEND Supported works with schools across the West Midlands to promote improved outcomes for learners with SEND.
• SENDIASS are the SEND information, Advice and Support Service covering Herefordshire and Worcestershire.  They have a dedicated team of advisors offering legally-based and easily accessible information and advice about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
• Medical Education Team – Worcestershire Children First Education Services The Medical Education Team discharges the duty of the Local Authority in ensuring that arrangements are in place for pupils who are unable to attend school because of their medical needs, to have appropriate and ongoing access to education.
• Chadsgrove Outreach Support School (Physical Disabilities) / Occupational Therapy Team / Dyslexia Pathway
• CAMHS, CAMHS Cast and CAMHS Spa / Peartree Centre; Stratford CAMHs CAMHS is a multi-disciplinary team made up of Psychiatrists, Nurses, Social Workers, Psychologist with all specialist training of working in mental health with children and young people.
• Umbrella Pathway (ASD) The Umbrella pathway is an assessment and diagnostic pathway which assess children and young people for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  Autism is the name for a range of conditions that affect a person’s social interaction, communication and imagination.
• Community Paediatrics (Medical e.g. ADHSD/Well-being) Community Paediatricians work closely with children young people and families and also teams and professionals from education settings and social care to ensure that a child is looked after in a joined up way in every environment they experience.
• Touchstones – Bereavement Support Touchstones is a Child Bereavement Support.  Its a small, local charity with one very simple aim – to be there for any bereaved child and young person.
• Cranstoun delivers the Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) service for 16+ year olds, which works with those at high risk of harm from intimate partners, ex-partners or family members to secure their safety and the safety of their children.
• Speech and Language Therapy Team
• Hearing and Visual Impairment Team work with schools and settings to promote inclusive practice and positive outcomes for children and young people with visual hearing and multisensory impairments.
• Resolve Psychology are made up with a number of highly specialised clinical psychologists, nurse specialists and CBT Therapists who work together to ensure that as a service they offer timely, effective and non-judgemental support.  They are a passionate team who ensure that they treat everyone in a friendly, compassionate and supportive manner.
• Social Care Support – The Family Front Door, Initial Contact and Referral Team is the central point for all referrals for children and young people aged 0 to 18 years and living in Worcestershire where there is safeguarding or child protection concerns for them.
• National Autistic Society provide support, guidance and advice.
• Dyslexia Action provides confidential information and advice about dyslexia and the challenges it can pose.
• ADHD The UK ADHD Partnership supports clinicians and allied professionals to identify and meet the needs of children and young people affected by this disorder.  ADHD is now a recognised as a condition that may cross the lifespan and there are multi-modal interventions for ADHD that can be delivered at any age.

Students who are identified for additional literacy and numeracy support, are guided towards a Progress Option at the start of Year 10. The pathway taught by English and Maths Staff offers students opportunities to gain confidence in both subject areas through pre-teaching in small groups. The aim of these sessions is to promote a love of learning, to enhance confidence and self-esteem and learn important cross-curricular skills that are required within regular mainstream lessons. The option will enable the students to be entered for accredited qualifications: Functional Skills English – level 1 and 2; Entry Level Maths and Entry Level Science

With a growing number of students arriving at Arrow Vale, from a diverse number of birth cultures, there is a growing need to provide further language support. An EAL Achievement Assistant will support students who arrive at school with English as an additional language. Students where possible, will have the opportunity to study for a GCSE in their native tongue, for example: Polish, Spanish or Russian.

The support and intervention will also assist students further in all academic areas, which will enable them to become more confident and sociable individuals within society.

If you have any feedback about the work the Learning Support Team do, please feel free to fill in our feedback forms to ensure we are always listening to suggestions from parents/carers voice.

• General Feedback Form
• Feedback Form if your child/young person has had an EHCP Annual Review Meeting