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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Details on phased wider opening of schools, colleges and nurseries

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
The Department for Education has released their statements on how schools, colleges and nurseries can begin to prepare to open to more young people from 1st June. You can read the full press release here. All of this depends on the infection rate staying low, and will be monitored daily by the government. The age groups expected to attend school are: NurseryReceptionYear 1Year 6 The Government is also asking schools, colleges and sixth-form to offer some face to face support to year 10 and year 12 students in preparation of their exams next academic year. There is guidance to the education sector that is available for you to read. Some of the changes include: Reducing the size of classes and keeping children in small groups without mixing with othersStaggered break and lunchtimes, as well as drop offs and pick upsIncreasing the frequency of cleaning, reducing the use of shared items and utilising outdoor space It’s key for parents and carers to understand that there will be no...
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System for children with special needs in England ‘riddled with inequalities’

by Becki ClitsomeNo Comments
Damning report by MPs finds many pupils miss out on support and end up being excluded from education. Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are being failed by a system “riddled with unexplained inequalities”, according to a damning parliamentary report. The report says many of the 1.3 million pupils in England with SEND are not getting the support they need and end up being excluded from school, damaging their education, wellbeing and future life chances. You can read more in the Guardian or TES. What do you think about these findings?...
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