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January 2021 Ebulletin
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Welcome to our first e-bulletin of 2021. It's a little later than usual as so much has happened over the past week that we wanted to ensure information is as up to date as possible. We hope that the year ahead is positive.
We have a number of online sessions coming up in the next few weeks where we will be sharing frequently asked questions, offering advice and a general chat on anything related to special educational needs and disability. You may find these helpful. Details and how to join us are below.
We do have good news to share as last month caseworker Michelle Reid gave birth to her second child, a beautiful baby boy.
Please share our ebulletin with others and encourage them to sign up to receive it directly https://wolvesiass.org/register/
IASS online training Spring 2021
Please join us to learn more about how children and young people with special educational needs/disabilities (SEND) are supported with or without an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP). Improve your knowledge of the law around SEND and feel more confident in discussions and decisions. Parents, carers and professionals working in Wolverhampton are welcome to join.
Download our Spring 2021 online training flyer
Click on the dates to follow a link to Eventbrite where you can book your place.
Chat with IASS - bring your cuppa and your questions!
Join our friendly team for an informal Q&A session and general chat on anything related to SEND. We will share some of the frequent questions we are asked.
Tuesday 19th January 10.00 - 11.00am
Wednesday 24th February 6.00 - 7.00pm
Thursday 18th March 10.00 - 11.00am
SEN Support
The graduated approach to supporting children and young people 0-25 in education and the support available from the IASS.
Tuesday 26th January 1.00 - 2.00pm
EHCP Taster
All you need to know about EHCPs including: the assessment process; the family at the heart of the system; draft EHCPs and the support available from the IASS.
Thursday 11th February 10.00 - 11.00am
EHCP - Annual Reviews
All you need to know about the EHCP annual review process and the support available from the IASS.
Wednesday 10th March 12.30 - 1.30pm
IASS Young People update - Introducing Daniel Watkins
We are delighted to tell you a little more about Daniel Watkins, one of our Young People Advisory Board members. Daniel is a Dimensions Coronavirus learning disability and autism leader, a community advocate for adults with autism and learning disabilities and a volunteer for Healthwatch.
He has produced a newsletter to help those around him benefit from his personal insight into topics such as bullying. He’s hosted online discussion groups with other people supported by Dimensions and has recently launched his own website: http://www.dwatkins.co.uk/
Visit the Dimnsions website to read more about Daniel's work.
We are delighted that Daniel has decided to join the IASS Young People’s Advisory Board. To find out more contact Lisa Colton at the IASS lisa.colton@wolverhampton.gov.uk
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Covid-19 update
As you will know, England has been placed back into a national lockdown as a result of a dramatic increase in coronavirus infections across the country.
The new restrictions must be followed by everyone and require people to stay home as much as possible. You should only leave your house for limited reasons permitted in law, including:
- to shop for basic necessities like food or medicine
- for medical reasons, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
- for exercise, either alone or with members of your household
- to travel to and from work, but only if you cannot work from home.
Full details of the rules can be found at Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Other useful guidance
Details of children of critical workers and vulnerable children who can access schools or educational settings At present, children with Education, Health and Care plans are encouraged to attend. Do consider if you wish your child to attend, which may well be on a part time basis. Schools have been busy making plans to accommodate children and young people safely and within their staffing numbers. Please contact the IASS if you have any queries.
What parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges
Local information and guidance can be found at Coronavirus advice and information | City Of Wolverhampton Council
Changes to national restrictions and temporary school closures
There is a helpful news summary of changes at the Council for Disabled Children website
The Secretary of State for Education has issued a fifth notice to disapply offences for non-attendance in schools during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Parents can be sure that they will not be prosecuted or receive a criminal conviction for not sending their children to school during the period 7 January 2021 to 6 February 2021.
Read the Disapplication notice: school attendance legislation changes
Families face weeks of home learning. Our Covid-19 web page has a number of resources you may find helpful to support with home learning tasks. It is not an exhaustive list so please feel free to get in touch if you wish us to share anything that may be helpful. It is so important that parents and carers look after themselves and their own mental health too, there are lots of organisations that can help, see our website and our social media channels.
Wolverhampton Education Psychology Service is offering support for children, families and schools during the Covid-19 pandemic .More information and resources at
Educational Psychology Wolverhampton
A free workshop for parents of children with additional needs from Contact - explore how you can support your child’s sleep.
Support is available to temporarily increase data allowances for those that need it. Find out more and if you are eligible.
BBC Bitesize home learning
From Monday 11th January BBC Bitesize is offering 3 hours of primary programming on CBBC from 9am including Bitesize Daily and Live Lessons.
Secondary students tune in to
BBC Two for Bitesize Daily, drama adaptations and factual titles.
PLUS Bitesize Daily will be on Red Button every week day and on BBC iPlayer on demand.
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Making a support bubble or a childcare bubble with another household
Not everybody can form a support bubble. However, on 2 December the rules changed to widen eligibility for forming one. The Government updated guidance on how you can safely expand the group of people you have close contact with during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Read updated guidance on making on support bubbles.
Catch up clinics for children who missed out on flu vaccination
Pupils who missed their free flu vaccination last term, because they were off school or having to self-isolate because of Covd-19, can get it at one of a number of catch up clinics being held this month. Details of clinics at the City of Wolverhampton Council website.
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Parent carers added to Covid-19 vaccine priority list across the UK
The government's vaccine committee has revised its recommendations to include unpaid carers in the vaccine priority list.
It now recommends unpaid carers who receive Carer's Allowance or who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person (child or adult) whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill should be prioritised alongside people with underlying health conditions. For more information visit Contact website.
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 Action for Happiness January 2021
Please help us to increase our Social Media following
We post lots of information and advice on our Facebook and Twitter Pages to keep you aware and informed of upcoming events, activities, useful resources and other information.
If you don't already please follow us on Facebook and Twitter
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Share your news
We are always happy to share information on our e-bulletins which help to promote a relevant and appropriate service which will be informative and of interest to our readers.
We aim to add short and punchy stories, facts and information. Please add web-links wherever possible & any necessary documents in PDF.
Please e-mail your information to ias.service@wolverhampton.gov.uk
We usually send out the e-bulletin monthly around the first Monday of the month, so we would appreciate this being sent to us by the middle of the previous week.
Our next e-bulletin will be sent out around 4th February 21 so please send any inserts by 25th January.
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