SEND News and Updates for Parents
Find the latest news and updates for parents.
Page last updated
This page is frequently updated with the latest news and updates for parents in relation to SEND, this includes a range of local activities and useful resources.
The Autism Project are currently recruiting for their January and September cohort 2025
The Autism Project would like to invite you to attend one of their monthly Zoom information sessions. The sessions are a chance to hear from staff and ask them questions.
When:
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November 29th 2024, 1:00pm
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December 27th 2024, 1:00pm
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January 31st 2025, 1:00pm
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February 28th 2025, 1:00pm
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March 28th 2025, 1:00pm
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April 25th 2025, 1:00pm
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May 30th 2025, 1:00pm
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June 27th 2025, 1:00pm
If you would like to attend then click on the link to register [External Link]
Sutton Music Trust would like your support!
Sutton Music Trust are keen to find ways in which they can continue to meet the needs of children and young people in Sutton with their music making.
Please help Sutton Music Trust by answering this short survey [External Link].
Responses should be received by 27th November 2024.
Sutton Independent Travel Training provides new case study of the benefits of travel training
Independent travel training (ITT) with Sutton ITT and KCIL (Kingston Centre for Independent Living) highlights the positive impact of independent travel training on young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Read the full case study here [External Link].
Independent Travel Training is a free service commissioned by Sutton Council. If you would like to learn more about Independent Travel Training, please visit their website [External Link], or contact the team on itt@kcil.org.uk
Council launches new SEND and Alternative Provision strategy at event for young people
Hundreds of young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Sutton attended the Council’s third Preparation for Adulthood event on 7 November at Westcroft Leisure Centre.
Preparation for Adulthood forms part of the Council’s new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Strategy 2024-27 [External Link].
Read the full article on the Council website [External Link].
Ordinarily Available Provision Workshops for Families
A session focusing on supporting pupils with additional needs in early years setting (nurseries), schools and colleges. In addition to the main session you can also book individual surgeries with:
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Jane Morgan (Head of SEND Support)
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Amalia Banon (Head of SEND)
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Sandra Anto-Awuakye (Health)
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Claire Jackson (Social Care)
When: Friday 21st June 2024. Session: 9.30-10.30am, surgeries: 10.30am-12pm
Where: Cognus, Cantium House, Railway Approach, Wallington, SM6 0DZ
To book your place in the session, or for any of the surgeries, please email cpdadmin@cognus.org.uk
20 Week Process Workshop for Families
A session focusing on the 20 week process for pupils entering the SEND service. This includes on the EHCNA and EHCP process and the right to mediation and appeal. There will be a main session but you can also book individual surgeries with:
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Amalia Banon (Head of SEND)
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Jane Morgan (Head of SEND Support)
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Sandra Anto-Awuakye (Health)
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Claire Jackson (Social Care)
When: Friday 21st June 2024. Session: 1.30-2.30pm, surgeries: 2.30-4pm
Where: Cognus, Cantium House, Railway Approach, Wallington, SM6 0DZ
To book your place in the session, or for any of the surgeries, please email cpdadmin@cognus.org.uk
Transition to Secondary School Session
Transfer to Secondary School for current Year 5 pupils with Education Health and Care Plans.
As part of your child’s transfer to secondary school in September 2025, Cognus would like to invite parent/carers to meet with us to discuss the process. The SEND team is offering a meeting at the Cognus office at Cantium House, Railway Approach Wallington, Surrey, SM6 ODZ to discuss the secondary transfer process on **8 May 2024 at 10am, **followed by workshops with the following teams:
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Independent Travel Training and Assisted Travel teams
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Therapy teams, both Speech & Language and Occupational Therapy
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SIASS – Sutton Information, Advice and Support Service Generic questions can be asked at these sessions.
Please book a place (slots between 10.00am and 12 noon) via sen.team@cognus.org.uk by Friday 3 May 2024.
Post 16 Transition Session
Post 16 Transfer for current Year 10 pupils with Education Health and Care Plans.
As part of your child’s transfer to post 16 education in September 2025, Cognus would like to invite parent/carers to meet with us to discuss the process. The SEND team is offering a meeting at the Cognus office at Cantium House, Railway Approach Wallington, Surrey, SM6 ODZ to discuss the post 16 transfer process on 24 April 2024 at 10am, followed by workshops with the following teams:
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Independent Travel Training and Assisted Travel teams
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Therapy teams, both Speech & Language and Occupational Therapy
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SIASS – Sutton Information, Advice and Support Service
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Partner colleges Generic questions can be asked at these sessions.
Please book a place (slots between 10.00am and 12 noon) via sen.team@cognus.org.uk by Friday 19 April 2024.
Blue Light Card for Foster Carers
Are you a foster carer?
Join foster parents and carers from across the country who've signed up to Blue Light Card.
Follow these simple steps:
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Click register
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Select Social Care
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Select Foster Carers
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Enter Foster Carer/Parent in the job title
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Fill out your details
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Upload a picture of your ID card or pay slip*
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Pay just £4.99 for two years
*Please note, your pay slip must be dated within the last three months, clearly showing you are a foster carer.
To sign up, visit the Blue Light Card website [External Link].
Come and Shape Your Local Parent Carer Forum
A message from Lara from Contact:
"My name is Lara and I am here in Sutton to hear from you on what you want from your local parent carer forum, a forum is:
'A Parent Carer Forum is an organised group of parents and carers of disabled children and young people (0-25 years old) from a local area. Their aim is to work in a solution focused way to make sure that services in your local area meet the needs of children and young people with SEND/additional needs and their families.'
I have been asked by Contact (a national charity) to hear from the local area on what you want from a forum.
Come along on 18th March in person or join us online on 21st March to hear about what a parent carer forum is, to talk to me about how you would like it to work and if you want to be part of developing the forum!
Please click on this link to register your place on the form here [External Link] or you can email me if you need more information on lara.oconnell@contact.org.uk
Please share this information and the information in the attached poster with other parent carer's and I look forward to hearing from you!"
When: Face to Face - Monday 18th March 2024, 12 - 1:30pm, Online - Thursday 21st March 2024, 7-8pm
Where: Face to Face - Sutton Salvation Army Church, 45 Benhill Avenue, Sutton, SM1 4DD
Supported Internship Information Session for Parents and Carers
Want to know what a Supported Internship is? Come along to an online information session for parent/carers of young people aged 14-25 who have an Education Health and Care Plan to find out more about Supported Internships and how to get one. You will have the chance to hear from 2 providers of Supported Internships in Sutton and ask Benefit questions to Sutton’s Welfare Benefits Advice & Support Team Manager.
When: Monday 11th March 2024, 10:30 – 11:30 am
Where: Online
If you would like to attend, make sure you sign up by Wednesday 6th March. To do this, fill out the form here [External Link].
The Change Foundation – Adapted Sports Club
Are you or someone you know looking to try out adapted sports? The Change Foundation are hosting an adapted sports taster session on Tuesday 9th of April between 10 am and 11 am. A variety of inclusive sports will be available including table tennis, cricket and handball!
When: Tuesday 9th April, 10 – 11am
Where: The Cricket Centre, Plough Lane, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 8JQ
To sign up and show your interest, fill out the form here [External Link].
If you have any questions, please contact Programme Manager Ryan Jones at ryanjones@changefdn.org.uk.
Cognus Autism Acceptance Events
The Cognus Autism Service is holding a wide range of events during autism acceptance week. There are events for young people and parents on a range of topics including crafting sessions, drama therapy and supporting challenging behaviour. To view all the events and to book your place, visit the Cognus Eventbrite page [External Link].
Your Voice Matters Report – January 2024
Barnardo’s recently spoke to young people at the Preparation for Adulthood event in November 2023. To see what they found out, read the Your Voice Matters Report – January 2024 [External Link].
Barnardo’s SEND partnership update
Work has now started on the Sutton Council and Barnardo’s innovative new partnership where we will work with parents and carers to help develop services and outcomes for children with special educational needs (SEND) in the borough. The goal of the partnership is to:
Co-design and implement a more consistent and inclusive model of support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and additional needs, to improve outcomes and experiences for all children and young people with SEND in Sutton
The initiative will be a collaboration between a range of local area partners, with families being directly involved in helping to co-produce and shape services going forward.
**The partnership will be working towards three strategic aims: **
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Children and young people, parents/carers and professionals will be able to make positive and informed choices about the support that is available in the local area
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To develop a multi-disciplinary model of practice across education, social care, health and community partners that provides the right services to young people, in the right place at the right time to improve outcomes and help prepare young people for adulthood
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To strengthen confidence and resilience in the local area to improve the lived experience of children and young people / families with SEND
Congratulations to Claire Smith who has now been appointed as the Project Manager for the Partnership. The Strategic Partnership team has also appointed a Learning and Research partner, Dartington Service Design Lab, who will have a pivotal role in researching key areas of the SEND system locally and nationally to help shape the work in the Strategic Partnership.
Governance has been agreed for the partnership and we have established an Aims and Enabling Group (AEG), meetings will occur initially every 6 weeks.
This Group will be reporting and feeding into the Sutton SEND Partnership and other programme boards relevant to discussions and decisions as required.
Over the coming months, we will keep you informed as the work progresses. This will include updates to the Local Offer. If you have any questions, please email claire.smith@sutton.gov.uk.
New Cognus Website
The new Cognus website is now live! Be sure to explore it and have a look around. You can find out more about Cognus and the services they provide on their website [External Link].
SIASS Social Media
Be sure to keep up to date with all the latest news over at SIASS by visiting their social media pages!
SIASS Facebook [External Link]
SIASS Instagram [External Link]
Hidden Disability lanyards for staff and residents
People with special educational needs and disabilities can now pick up a FREE hidden disability lanyard when they visit the council’s Civic offices or Sutton Central Library.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a simple tool that shows other people that you have a disability or condition that may not be immediately apparent – and that you may need a helping hand, understanding, or more time in shops, at work, on transport, or in public spaces.
Visit YouTube to watch this film [External Link] by the Sutton Parent Carer Forum on hidden disabilities.
Sutton Sports village has SEN Jump Sessions.
A dedicated session for customers with disabilities. Each paying ticket admits one carer free of charge. Additional carer tickets can be purchased using the ‘Additional Carer’ ticket. This session will not be available for the general public. Trampoline park socks must be worn.
Supervision ratios apply for children under 8. These are:
Children under 5 years - 1 adult bouncing to 1 child
Children 5 to 7 years - 1 adult bouncing to 10 children
Children 8 years + - Adult does not need to bounce
Find out more about SEN Jump Sessions on the sports village website [External Link].
ADHD UK - Online Events
ADHD UK offer online events, join one of their events to “Ask an ADHD Coach” any questions you might have.
Up and coming events can be found on the ADHD UK website [External Link].
Ask Sam - Childline Questions Archive
Childline's Ask Sam' service has an archive of questions asked to Childline from children and young people on a range of issues. 'Sam's' responses contain expert replies to these issues, helpful for staff wrestling with what the best answer may be to a child's concerns.
Visit Ask Sam to view the archive [External link].
ZSL London Zoo Community Access Scheme
Sutton Council is taking part in the community access scheme with ZSL London Zoo which allows the Council's people services and voluntary and community sector groups to access discounted tickets to the zoo for the people they work with.
£3 tickets available for :low income families or individuals (proof of eligibility not required when booking via an organisation) and refugees
£6.50 tickets available for people over the age of 60 and may be at risk of isolation and people that have additional needs or disabilities (Free entry for one essential carer per paying disabled visitor).
Fill in the form on the ZSL website to apply [External Link]. Select 'Sutton' for where users are based.
Email communityengagement@zsl.org for more information.
Freecycle Event
Sutton Community Champions are holding a Freecycle event every fortnight on Fridays starting from 21/10/22 at 11-1pm at the Thomas Wall Centre, Benhill Road, Sutton. This is for anyone who is struggling financially at present and needs help. All items are FREE. Please spread the word.
Meet-ups - ADHD Embrace
ADHD Embrace Meet-ups, are hosted by one of their representatives with direct experience of ADHD, are a great way to meet other parents and feel part of a community and share experiences.
Meet-ups may be virtual or in person, please check the individual listing.
Find more information on the ADHD Embrace Meetups on their website [External Link].
Early years Workshops
Contact runs workshops covering topics such as Anxiety, sleep and Toilet Training for parents of children aged 0-5.
Find out about Contact's Early Years Workshops on their website [External Link].
HOPE Study
The Health Outcomes for young People throughout Education’ (HOPE) aims to improve SEND services for better health and wellbeing in children and young people. It is critical that research establishes the current picture of SEND provision in the UK including variation at Local Authority level and how it links to health outcomes in children and young people.
The findings will enable policy makers, service providers, and users to make evidence-informed decisions about who might benefit from SEND provision.
If you would like some more information about the research being completed within Work Package 2, or you would like to express an interest in becoming a participant, please contact the team via the email address provided below.
Email: hope21@medschl.cam.ac.uk
Visit the Health Outcomes for young People throughout Education’ (HOPE) website [External Link].
Free Online Courses for Parents in Sutton
The London Borough of Sutton has invested in a multi-user licence for 4 courses by the Solihull Approach (a national NHS organisation). These courses are relevant for parents of all children, including those with special needs.
Download information about the free online courses for parents on the LBS website [External Link].
THE SENDCAST - Podcast for SEND
The SENDcast has made the shortlist of Learning Ladders’ ‘Best Educational Podcast 2021’ awards. Subscribe and listen to weekly shows [External Link].
Find the right support for children and young people
There’s a large amount of information available from different groups to help support children and young people, which is great but may also be confusing. Sutton CCG has pulled together their preferred links into an ‘emotional well-being resource hub’ to make it easy for children, parents, and anyone supporting a child or young person in Sutton to access the right support.
Access the emotional well-being resource hub [External Link].