Welcome back, I hope you enjoyed a restful half term.
I am thrilled to be able to share the news with you that I have been appointed into the permanent post of Service Delivery Manager for SEND 0-25, I am very much looking forward to working with you all to improve and develop services for Children and Young People in Telford & Wrekin.
Positive news this year is that we have achieved a 100% success rate on in meeting the statutory phase transition deadline date of 15 February when we are required to finalise EHC plans with a named September 2021 placement for any child going into reception, year 3 (if there is movement between an infant and separate junior school) and year 7, thank you for your support in helping us to achieve this target. We are currently still working on year 11 phase transfers, some of these are still being consulted on and around 80% of preference forms have been received, the SEND Team and Future Focus are working together to collect the remainder. We appreciate it has been a challenging year for our young people and their parent/carers to make these choices and hope that some work on transition over the summer term will support.
I wanted to thank everyone who took their time to attend the last SENCO network meeting we are now able to share with you the top tips, feedback and best practice that was discussed at the recent SENCo Network Meeting. The discussions have been broken down and added under key headings, please take a look in the schools section to find this information. The next SENCo Network Meeting is already in the planning stages, and we are currently looking at a date in April. The theme of this networking event will be ‘Transition’. We will once again be using the break out room facility in Microsoft Teams and will be putting schools into cluster groups, more information about this event will be released shortly via the Education Noticeboard.
This week a press release from the DfE has been issued, this highlights that projects worth over £42 million will help to raise educational standards, improve services and provide practical support to disadvantaged families and children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have had their funding extended. As we hear more information about these we will share them with you. A national consultation is now open to seek views on proposed changes to the high needs funding formula (NFF), forming part of the high needs NFF review, please can I encourage you to complete this consultation.
Over the next few months there are some informative training courses, we have recently had requests for information about the ‘New SENCo’ course and we are happy to share the course details and dates with you below. An interesting course is Developing the role of Teaching Assistants in supporting SEND, this is suitable for anyone who may be involved in deployment of support provided by teaching assistants. The SEND courses are currently being delivered virtually and can be booked using the CPD Booking Form.
Finally, following the announcement this week of schools fully opening on the 8 March 2021, I know children and young people are excited to return and hope that I can come and visit your setting face to face.
Natalie Bevan
SEND Service Delivery Manager
Added to the SEND News Page this month:
- DfE Press Release - Over £42 million to extend projects for children with SEND
Further funding to help raise educational standards, improve services and provide practical support to children with special educational needs and disabilities.
- Differentiation
Find out about differentiation and how schools can concentrate on quality first teaching and mastery of subjects.
- What are the Zones of Regulation?
Find out about the Zones of regulation, designed to foster self-regulation and emotional control.
- Top Tips – Plan on a Page
Feedback from the SENCo Network meeting breakout rooms.
- Top Tips - Strategies and Best Practice During Lockdown
Feedback from the SENCo Network meeting breakout rooms.
- Supporting SEND Remotely – How to Overcome Barriers
Feedback from the SENCo Network meeting breakout rooms.
- Top Tips for Teachers using Microsoft Teams with Sensory Impaired Children
Republished from the Education Noticeboard, reminders from SIS around using Microsoft Teams with Sensory Impaired children.
- Supporting your children’s remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Information to share with Parent/Carers about supporting children
- Guidance for Parents and Carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic
Information to share with Parent/Carers about supporting children
- Carers Winter Wellbeing Guide 2020/2021
A new guide has been launched that recognises the vital role carers plan in looking after their loved ones and the impact on their own wellbeing.
- New SENCo - Policy & Practice
This course is for SENCos who are new to the role, or those new to the area wishing to understand local procedures
- Developing the role of Teaching Assistants in supporting SEND
This course is suitable for SENCos and Teachers involved with deployment of support provided by teaching assistants.
- Understanding your child with additional needs
A new online course for everyone around the child including Mums, Dads, Grandparents, friends and relations of children who have a physical or learning disability, or may have autistic traits.
- Annual Health Checks adults and young people aged 14 or over with a Learning Disability.
Find out about more about Annual Health Checks for young people aged 14+ and how young people can access them.
- Learning Disability (LD) Programme – Consultation Launch 25 February 2021
We want to hear from adults with learning disabilities, families, carers and staff who care for, or work with them. This will enable us to finalise the Strategy and help us enable people with learning disabilities to live well in Telford and Wrekin.
- The R Team! An inspiring education resource to look after our environment
An inspiring educational KS2 resource to empower children to make a difference to our environment has been created by our recycling and waste contractor Veolia
