A joint ministerial letter to children and young people with SEND regarding the full return to educational settings in September 2020

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
Children & Families Minister Vicky Ford and Care Minister Helen Whately have written an open letter to children and young people with SEND, their parents, families and others who support them. The letter explains the actions that need to be taken to ensure, where possible, all pupils return to their educational settings from September, and responds to some of the concerns and questions that have been raised. Department for Education and Department of Health & Social Care Joint Ministerial LetterDownload Key messages include: The importance for those with special educational needs and disabilities to return to educational settings safely in September so that they can receive face-to-face education and supportReassures that the risk of contracting the virus in educational settings is low and outlines protective measures in place to reduce the risk even further, including the NHS Test and Trace systemMinisters expect a small number of absences from children and young people who remain under the specialist care of a health professional however, the...
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“Third of young people left without mental health support during lockdown” survey finds

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
Nina Jacobs at Children & Young People Now has reported on survey findings of the impact on children & young people access to mental health support during Covid-19. Key findings include: 31% of young people were no longer able to access support despite still needing help from specialist services (a rise of 5% since the start of the lockdown)Many young people felt unable to access help at home due to concerns around privacy and confidentiality or a lack of access to technology80% said that pandemic had made their mental health worse – of which, 41% said it made things “much worse”Nearly 90% said they had felt lonely or isolated71% had been able to stay in touch with friends11% felt that their mental health had improved since the lockdown Young Minds Statistics...
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Resources for Children on COVID-19

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
As we all start preparing for children to return to school in September, you might find some of these resources useful: "While We Can't Hug" by Faber and FaberHedgehog and Tortoise want to give each other a great big hug, but they're not allowed to touch. From the creators of the internationally adored The Hug, Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar, they are thrilled to bring you a new story: While We Can't Hug."Dave the Dog is Worried about Coronavirus"This book aims to open up the conversation about coronavirus and some of the things they might be hearing about it and provide truthful information in a reassuring and child friendly manner."COVIBook"A short book to support and reassure children, under the age of 7, regarding the COVID-19. This book is an invitation for families to discuss the full range of emotions arising from the current situation. It is available in 16 languages, including: English, Polish, Arabic, Chinese and Japanese."My Story About Pandemics and Coronavirus"...
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Health & Wellbeing Conversation for Young People ages 11 to 18 (SEND up to 25 years)

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
The Big Barnardo’s Conversation is aimed at highlighting the impact of Covid-19 on children and young people across the UK. This survey has been adapted by the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Children Partnerships and Young Peoples Advisory Group with kind permission from Barnardo’s to allow us to focus on Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland young people. If you are a young person (or a parent who can support your child or young person), please answer this survey here. The Survey closes on the 28th June, so there is not long left!...
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Extra Mental Health Support for Pupils and Teachers

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
The Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care have announced online resources and charity grants. These are to help schools and colleges respond to the impact of coronavirus on mental health and wellbeing. For the full press release, click here. There will be a variety of videos, webinars and teaching materials produced in partnership with charities. These shoul help children and young people discuss their anxieties and other emotions around the pandemic. Grants worth more than £750,00 for the Diana Award, the Anti-Bullying Alliance and the Anne Frank Trust have been announced. There is also a £95,000 pilot project in partnership with the Education Support Partnership to focus on teachers' and leaders' mental health and wellbeing. This will encourage more resiliency of school staff. Furthermore, mental health and wellbeing will become a compulsory part of pupils' education in primary and secondary education through the Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum from September....
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Supporting a Bereaved Child

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
Child Bereavement UK have produced a reasource to empower teachers and professionals to support children. Follow the link here. Supporting a bereaved pupil is a source of support and information, with practical guidance, to empower education professionals to support pupils bereaved of someone important to them. Most grieving pupils do not need a ‘bereavement expert’, they need the support of familiar adults in a secure environment. Schools, just by carrying on with their usual day-to-day activities, while acknowledging the bereavement, can do a huge amount to support a grieving pupil. Bereaved young people tell us that the way their school responds at such a difficult time is something they never forget....
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STOMP/STAMP Campaign: “Stopping Over Medication of People”

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
STOMP stands for stopping over medication of people with a learning disability, autism or both with psychotropic medicines. It is a national project involving many different organisations which are helping to stop the over use of these medicines. STOMP is about helping people to stay well and have a good quality of life.NHS England: Full article here The overall aims of STOMP are: encourage people to have regular check-ups about their medicinesmake sure doctors and other health professionals involve people, families and support staff in decisions about medicinesinform everyone about non-drug therapies and practical ways of supporting people so they are less likely to need as much medicine, if any. NHS England also created the STOMP/STAMP Campaign, looking at paediatric care of children and young peopole. STAMP stands for Supporting Treatment and Appropriate Medication in Paediatrics. The overall aims are to: make the lives of children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both who are prescribed psychotropic medications better.make sure that...
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Department for Education: Supporting Children and Young People with SEND

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
The Department for Education have released their guidance to schools and colleges on supporting children and young people with SEND during the reopening of education settings. The key elements of the guidance is around updating risk assessments and how the phased return to education settings will be managed. Particular care will be needed in planning for and supporting children and young people with EHC plans to return to their schools and colleges. In the spirit of coproduction, educational settings should contact parents and involve them in decisions about their child who has an EHC plan.Similarly, they should contact and involve young people over 16 who have EHC plans.Schools and colleges will need to ensure that they have the staffing needed to support children and young people at safe ratios.Local authorities will also need to reinstate safe home to school transport arrangements. Differentiated Return to School “We recognise that some children and young people with EHC plans will need careful preparation for their return, for...
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Healthwatch Survey (impact of covid19 on Healthcare)

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
Healthwatch Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are looking for feedback about how the covid19 situation is impacting on you. There have been many temporary changes to the way health care is being delivered in a short space of time to delay the spread of the virus. The survey will ask you about the following topics:  Information and adviceUsing your GP practiceUsing your pharmacySocial care support Ongoing healthcare Mental health and wellbeing  Follow the link here to fill in online....
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Mental Health Awareness Week

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week which is organised by the Mental Health Foundation, and the theme they have chosen this year is Kindness. We have chosen kindness because of its singular ability to unlock our shared humanity. Kindness strengthens relationships, develops community and deepens solidarity. It is a cornerstone of our individual and collective mental health. Wisdom from every culture across history recognises that kindness is something that all human beings need to experience and practise to be fully alive.Mark Rowland, Chief Executive, Mental Health FoundationFor more, go to their article here. What can you do? Reflect on an act of kindness. Share your stories and pictures (with permission) of kindness during the week using #KindnessMatters and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeekUse the Mental Health Foundation resources in your family, school, workplace and community to join with thousands in practising acts of kindness to yourself and others during the week Share your ideas on how you think we could build a kinder society that would support...
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