Latest News Archives - SENDIASS Rutland

Queen Alexandra College, Open Day: 20th March

February 21, 2024February 21, 2024 by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments

Queen Alexandra College (QAC) is a national residential College and charity that supports a diverse range of student abilities and needs based in Birmingham. Queen Alexandra College (QAC) is pleased to be hosting an Open Evening for prospective students and their families on Wednesday 20th March, 4.30pm - 7.00pm. This event will enable prospective students to meet with a variety of staff and learn about the diverse range of study programmes on offer. Visitors will also have the opportunity to find out more about employment progression, residential and supported living options, community based services and the various pastoral/support services that are available at QAC, helping them to achieve their aspirations for adult life. Please note families will need to book to attend this event by completing the online booking form via the following link: www.qacopenevening2024.eventbrite.co.uk We would be grateful if you could please share this information with your students who are exploring their next steps and their parents/carers. If families have any questions or require further information about this event, please advise them to call 0121...

New SENDIASS Rutland Information, Advice and Support Officer

January 25, 2024January 25, 2024 by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments

We are pleased to inform you that we have successfully recruited for the post of SENDIASS Rutland Information, Advice and Support Officer. Liz Woods will be in post in mid-February and has extensive experience in the SEND world and a legal background. We hope you join us in welcoming Liz to the team and supporting her as she undertakes specific training and begins to meet you all....

Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services

May 25, 2023May 25, 2023 by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments

LLR ICB has commissioned DHU Healthcare to provide a new self-referral website to support the mental health of children and young people living in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. The website is now live at https://www.myselfreferral-llr.nhs.uk and is aimed at children and young people under the age of 18, their parents or carers looking for mental health information, support and the ability to complete a self-referral. About the service DHU Healthcare’s Children and Young People’s Mental Health team, consisting of mental health clinicians and support staff, developed the website in collaboration with young people and NHS partners. ‘My Self-Referral’ is a new, simple and confidential way for young people to refer themselves for support for non-urgent or crisis cases without needing to see a GP or healthcare professional. The website is user-friendly and accessible, with information, tips and signposting to resources that help children and young people manage and take care of their mental health. It begins by explaining more about mental health, with 16...

Compelling attendance won’t result in more autistic pupils in school

May 12, 2022May 12, 2022 by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments

Originally posted by www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk The Government today published its Schools Bill with Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi announcing a 'strict' and 'non-negotiable' approach on school attendance. The Bill will order schools across England to produce plans for addressing absenteeism. The Government also plans to issue new central guidance on the best approach to fining parents whose children are absent from school. Over 40,000 autistic pupils (31%) were persistent absentees in 2020/21. Responding to the bill, Jolanta Lasota, Chief Executive of Ambitious about Autism, said: “These measures are a regressive step and miss the point entirely about why many autistic pupils can’t attend school. “Autistic young people tell us they desperately want to go to school, just like everyone else, but many can’t because of inaccessible school environments, teaching, and expectations that they be something they are not: neurotypical. “Compelling these young people to be at a school they can’t access, without the support they need to attend, will not help them learn. Punishing their...

Inquiry launches into mental health and behaviour in schools

May 5, 2022May 5, 2022 by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments

A coalition of more than 200 charities, academics and children’s professionals is launching an inquiry to explore links between mental health and behaviour among school pupils. Concerns around schools in England using punitive approaches to tackle challenging behaviour have prompted the inquiry, which is being launched by the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition. Tactics used by schools include exclusion and placing children in isolation in so-called removal rooms. The coalition fears there has been an increase in tough measures to curb challenging behaviour by schools following Covid-19 lockdowns. It warns that such measures come amid escalating mental health problems among young people. One in six pupils aged between six and 16 have a mental health problem as of 2021, compared to one in nine in 2017, said the coalition. Often challenging behaviour can be caused by “underlying conditions, unmet emotional needs, difficulties at home, at school or in the community, and exposure to trauma”, it added. The inquiry will look at how current school...

Key measures proposed in SEND and alternative provision green paper

March 30, 2022March 30, 2022 by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments

Legal requirements for councils around inclusion and the creation of national standards focussed on support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are among a raft of proposals laid out in the government’s SEND green paper. The SEND and alternative provision green paper has been published following the completion of the Department for Education’s long-awaited SEND review which was launched in 2019. The proposals, backed by £70m of new funding, will be subject to a 13-week public consultation due to close on 1 July, DfE has announced. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ut_LI2sK1R4?feature=oembed Proposals Increased early intervention for children with SEND and a single system combining SEND and alternative education provision feature highly in the plans. The creation of new national standards across education, health and care to build for a higher performing SEND system are also among measures set out in the paper. The national standards will build on the Children and Families Act 2014 which is currently the subject of an enquiry by peers. The standards look set...

SEND review ‘steering group’ appointed to push through reforms

November 24, 2021November 24, 2021 by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments

Children's minister defends delays to landmark review and warns Covid has 'intensified' issues Children's Minister: Will Quince The government has named 23 members of a steering group set up to help push through its much-delayed SEND review, as a minister warned Covid had “intensified” issues. In an open letter to parents of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, children’s minister Will Quince said improvements to the system were “needed, and overdue”. The steering group will “help us move forward” with the review, he added. The SEND review was first promised in September 2019. The government has now missed three of its own deadlines to publish it, with Covid cited as a major contributor to the delays. Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said last week that he was hoping to have it out “in the first quarter of next year” so it can “dovetail” with a planned schools white paper. In his letter, Quince said the pandemic had “intensified some of the issues in the system, and...

Education Secretary Backs Home Education Register

November 3, 2021November 3, 2021 by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has reiterated his support for the introduction of a home education register. Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi was giving evidence to the Education Select Committee. Image: Parliament TV Speaking at a Parliamentary hearing this morning (Wednesday), Zahawi said he was “absolutely committed” to the creation of a register of elective home-educated (EHE) children, which would be maintained by local authorities. The measure was a key proposal in the Children Not in School consultation paper published in April 2019 alongside a planned duty on parents to register their child as being home schooled and for councils to provide additional support for EHE children. The government has yet to publish its response to the consultation, which was criticised by members of the Education Select Committee who were questioning Zahawi. Caroline Johnson, Conservative MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, said: “I am unsure why it is taking so long? This is a safeguarding issue…we know that some people are not doing a good job [home...

Responding to Emotional Wellbeing & Mental Health Needs of CYP: Event

September 30, 2021September 30, 2021 by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments

Join the National Children’s Bureau as they present information about strategic responses to the emotional wellbeing and mental health needs of children and young people. You can view the full advert below: Image Depicts: The Lottery Community Fund logo on the left, and on the right states “Delivered by” with the National Children’s Bureau logo. Responding to emotional wellbeing and mental health needs of children and young people: learning from HeadStart partnerships Please join us to hear about strategic responses to the emotional wellbeing and mental health needs of children and young people. Wednesday 20th October 2021 1-4pm.Please register here This event is delivered by the National Children’s Bureau in collaboration with the HeadStart Partnerships. Evidence shows that children and young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health is worsening.1 As the current pandemic continues, local areas are considering how best to identify need, address vulnerabilities and increase access to support and treatment quickly and effectively. This is an opportunity to hear examples of good practice from HeadStart...

Future Rutland

May 5, 2021May 5, 2021 by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments

Life's been very hard and very different for us all over the past year, due to COVID-19. There are positive signs we might be nearing the end of the pandemic, but our world has changed. We need a new plan for the future... So, we want to start a conversation with you, to understand: What you value most about your life here in RutlandWhat your expectations are for yourself and your familyWhat your expectations are for future generations To take part in Future Rutland, please visit their website. We’re asking themed questions: Your life in Rutland - from 1 AprilLeisure and recreation - from 6 AprilEnvironment and climate change - from 12 AprilGetting around - from 12 AprilHealth and wellbeing - from 26 AprilLearning, skills and employment - from 26 AprilLiving in Rutland - from 10 MayPublic services, and how we spend your money - from 10 MayKeeping the conversation going - from 24 May If you have any questions please email them at: rutlandconversation@rutland.gov.uk...