Plans to support vulnerable children set out as schools close amid third coronavirus lockdown

Plans to support vulnerable children set out as schools close amid third coronavirus lockdown

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
It was announced last night that all primary and secondary schools and colleges would close for at least six weeks until February half-term to all pupils except the children of frontline workers and vulnerable children. Early years settings, including nurseries and childminders, special schools and alternative education providers will remain open to all pupils, Johnson said. The Department for Education has confirmed it will go ahead with previously announced plans to increase the number of free laptops and 4G routers made available to disadvantaged children. It said it aimed to provide one million devices by the end of the current academic year having handed out 560,000 as of December.The government-funded National Tutoring Programme, aimed at helping the most disadvantaged children impacted by the pandemic catch-up with peers, has said it will continue to provide tutoring remotely – it delivered support to 62,000 pupils last term.Meanwhile, the government has admitted that GCSE, AS and A level exams are “unlikely” to go ahead...
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SEND commissioning strategy (Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland)

SEND commissioning strategy (Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland)

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
The following organisations have developed a draft joint commissioning strategy for SEND to encourage and develop joint working: East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG Leicester City CCGLeicester City CouncilLeicestershire County CouncilRutland County CouncilWest Leicestershire CCG They are seeking views on the strategy and action plan to ensure the strategy fully reflects the views of those represented, including service providers and individuals in receipt of services commissioned by the organisations listed above. Online Survey Read the draft plan below:...
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COVID Winter Plan – Impact on Education

COVID Winter Plan – Impact on Education

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
As you will be aware, the Prime Minister introduced their COVID winter plan yesterday (you can read more on the Gov website here). This plan is fairly extensive, with more aspects (such as the three-tiers) still to be decided. The relevant aspects that you may need to be aware of: The COVID-19 Winter Plan ensures the current national restrictions can be lifted on 2nd December, so across all of England, regardless of tier: The stay at home requirement will end, with domestic and international travel being permitted again subject to guidance in each tier.Shops,personal care,gyms and the wider leisure sector will reopen.Collective worship, weddings and outdoor sports can resume, subject to social distancing.People will no longer be limited to seeing only one other person in outdoor public spaces -the rule of 6 will now apply as it did in the previous set of tiers. Information about Protecting the Vulnerable Under recent national measures, the clinically extremely vulnerable have been advised to take...
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Home education rise leaving children’s services ‘stretched’

Home education rise leaving children’s services ‘stretched’

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
The number of children being electively home educated has jumped by more than a third compared with last year due to health fears sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic, new figures from the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) shows. Some 75,668 children were being taught at home on 1 October, 38% more than on the same date last year. Of these, 25% had been registered since 1 September. The most common reason cited by parents is the fear and uncertainty around Covid-19. Gail Tolley, chair of the ADCS educational achievement policy committee, warned that local authorities were struggling to deal with the jump in the number of children being home educated. For more, you can read the full article on Children & Young People Now....
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Support for Families Impacted by Covid19

Support for Families Impacted by Covid19

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
As the country continues through its second lockdown, it is a worrying time for many - particularly parents with children to care for. The Fashion & Textile Children's Trust is working with families every week who are feeling the ongoing impact of reduced pay or redundancy. Here are some links that may help you and your family: Help for families on reduced incomeGrants to help parents and carers whose household income has reduced as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Find out more Redundancy GrantsIf you are a parent facing redundancy from a fashion or textile company, our grants can help bridge the gap and make sure your children have the essentials they need. Find out more Who Can Apply? To apply for an FTCT grant, the child's parent or carer must have recently worked for a UK fashion or textile company.This includes: Supermarkets which sell clothing (ASDA, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, etc)Clothing companies (Matalan, NEXT, M&S, TK Maxx)Homeware and soft furnishing companies (IKEA, Dunelm Mill, DFS, etc.)Laundry...
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Vicky Ford MP: Letter to CYP with SEND, their parents/carers and professionals

Vicky Ford MP: Letter to CYP with SEND, their parents/carers and professionals

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families, Vicky Ford MP, has released a letter to all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), their parents/carers and families, and others who support them. "I recognise that this is an extremely challenging period, especially for children and young people with SEND, their families and carers and those who work to support them. I hope this letter gives you some reassurance that the education, health and wellbeing of children and young people with SEND continue to be a top priority for the government during these difficult times and we continue to be incredibly grateful to all those who work so hard to support children and young people with SEND."— Vicky Ford, MP This provides information on: School AttendanceChildren and Young People who are clinically extremely vulnerableRemote EducationWinter package to provide further support for children and familiesFace coverings in educational settingsRespite CareHealth Services for CYP with SEND...
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Covid-19: £76m National Tutoring Programme launches

Covid-19: £76m National Tutoring Programme launches

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
Children & Young People Now have announced an “intensive tutoring programme to help disadvantaged children whose learning has been most affected by the coronavirus pandemic has launched today (2 November)” The National Tutoring Programme (NTP) will allow schools to access subsidised tutoring, mainly for their pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. The NTP is being designed to provide additional support to students that have been hardest hit by school closures during the Covid-19 pandemic.  School leaders and teachers will be able to choose which tuition providers best suit their needs, from a list of approved NTP Partner organisations.  For the full article, click here....
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Transport to school and other places of education: autumn term 2020

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
In preparation of schools fully reopening in the Autumn, the government has issued guidance on transport to and from school. You can read the full guidance here. Part A provides guidance for Local Authorities on managing the capacity and demand for public transport.Part B provides guidance about the provision of dedicated home to school/college transport in the autumn term. Specific mentions of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Local authorities should take account of the particular needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and, where necessary, be informed by the views provided by the parents and school.The system of controls: protective measures "Children with SEND: When deciding on the package of measures that is appropriate on transport for children and young people with special educational needs, local authorities will need to take account the particular needs of the children using the transport, and to be informed by the views of the parents and school. Special schools tend to...
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Challenging Behaviour Foundation – Survey on Family Experiences

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
There is a new project that the CBF is involved with that may interest you and your family. The Challenging Behaviour Foundation is working with the Institute of Health Visitors to find out about the experiences of parents and carers supporting young children who display difficult or challenging behaviours. This survey is aimed at parents or carers of children with difficult or challenging behaviours aged 11 or under. The results will help to inform training and awareness raising materials for health visitors to help improve their support for families. The survey should take less than 15 to complete. Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BSD83RD...
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