Welcome to our March Ebulletin
This week's return to school may bring a sense of relief for families but we know many will be feeling anxious. It has been a difficult few months for families, particularly where a child has additional needs and there are still many concerns. We hope the information in the ebulletin will answer some of the questions and concerns you may have and provide reassurance.
Later this month we will be joining with our IASS colleagues from Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall for the first of three "Listening Ear" sessions in March and April. It's an opportunity for parents and carers to join us remotely and chat about what you might be finding difficult. We can offer you impartial advice and guide you to appropriate support.
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 Download our "Listening Ear Wednesdays" flyer and click on the dates to book your place
Virtual Coffee and Chat with IASS
Join us on Thursday 18th March 10-11am for our final coffee and chat session this term.
Lisa and Kath will be here to answer your questions and have a general chat about SEND.
You can join us on your computer or mobile app using the Microsoft Teams link below:
Click here to join the meeting
Or call in (audio only)
+44 20 3787 4277,,283959553# United Kingdom, London
Phone Conference ID: 283 959 553#
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Young People update
Last term Lisa Colton, IASS Children and Young People Development Officer, delivered training sessions to students at Wolverhampton College all about their aspirations and outcomes. It was an opportunity for young people to think about what they wanted to achieve in the future and how they were going to get there. We received positive feedback from all who took part and they really enjoyed the sessions. We hope to deliver more of these sessions in the future. Watch this space!
We have the next meeting of our Young People Advisory Board on the 17th March 5:30pm. IASS and the Advisory Board would like to invite young people to join us. If you are 14-25 or know a young person who would like to get involved please get in touch. We would love to hear your thoughts and views; about how young people can access the service. It is also an opportunity to get involved in other exciting opportunities such as take over days, and meeting new young people.
If you would like to get involved please get in touch with Lisa Colton at the IASS service:
Ias.service@wolverhampton.gov.uk
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Covid-19 SEND update
What you need to know about the return to school
Vicky Ford MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families wrote an open letter on 5th March to all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), their parents/carers and families, and others who support them.
Read Vicky Ford's Open Letter dated 5th March 2021
We encourage you to read the letter as it covers lots of topics that will be of interest to families and professionals including:
- Key information and support which is provided for children and young people with SEND as they return to full attendance at schools and colleges.
- Guidance for schools and colleges to identify pupils and students who are reluctant or anxious about attending or who are at risk of disengagement and develop plans for re-engaging them.
- Testing for pupils in special schools and other specialist settings.
- Rapid lateral flow testing for households and bubbles of school pupils and staff.
- Guidance for schools on face coverings.
- Supporting children and young people with SEND with their mental health and wellbeing and the announcement of £79 million boost to children and young people’s mental health support, including Mental Health Support Teams.
Wolverhampton Inclusion Support Service
Wolverhampton Education Psychology Service continues to offer a free consultation service to parents/carers living in Wolverhampton and also to parents/carers of children or young people in the care of Wolverhampton Local Authority.
Educational Psychology Wolverhampton
There are some pupils who continue to receive remote education for a little while longer.
Wolverhampton Outreach Service is offering support directly to parents. This may include help for your child to engage in home learning, access the curriculum or develop on-task behaviours whilst learning at home.
Wolverhampton Outreach parent support offer
You will find helpful information and resources on the Covid-19 page of the IASS website.
DigitalWolves has the latest local and national support to support children and families continue with their learning at home and online.
Message from Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service
"Now that children and young people are due to be back in school on 8th March 2021, we will restart face to face appointments in schools, settings and clinics.
A number of our Children’s SLT staff have been redeployed to ward work and the vaccination centre. There is a graduated approach for their return. This, plus Covid safety measures (masks, gloves, visors, aprons and cleaning down between each person), means that there will be an impact on the services we are able to provide.
For those children and young people for whom video therapy is as successful as face to face, we will continue with the remote input. For some children and young people the barriers of PPE means that they will also need to be offered video appointments.
We are very much looking forward to continuing our successful partnership working."
Speech and Language Therapy Department
The Gem Centre
Tel: 01902 444363
http://royalwolverhampton.nhs.uk/speech-and-language
email: rwh-tr.Speech-And-Language@nhs.net
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NHS Vaccination Message
"Those who are identified in JCVI cohort 6 can now contact the NHS so they can be vaccinated.
These include Carers – (Anyone who is in receipt of carer’s allowance can book via the NBS, those carers who are not in receipt of an allowance will be contacted by their GP if they are registered as a carer).
People with Learning Disabilities have also been included in the list for cohort 6 and will be contacted by our GP Local Vaccination Services.
For those others that are eligible, the easiest way to arrange a vaccination is through the national booking service which can be accessed at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination
The system allows patients to choose a time slot and location that suits them.
Anyone unable to book online can call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week."
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Voice4Parents Coffee and Chat
We are delighted once again to be joining Voice4Parents for a coffee and chat on Friday 26th March 10 - 11.30am.
Elaine from IASS will be popping in around 11am for a chat about SEND and to answer any questions.
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Engagement & participation in health services
Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group plans to co-produce an engagement and participation model, for a more inclusive future in relation to health and health services in Wolverhampton. They want to engage with the local community and other health organisations/charities to co-produce this.
They would like to community members to come along to a Workshop that will be held on Tuesday 30th March 2021 from 2-4pm. Please click here to register, or if you would like to find out more please contact deborah@mutualgain.org or antigua@mutualgain.org
Download the workshop flyer
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Access to mental health services for children and young people
The Transforming Care programme (TCP) wants to hear from children and young people aged 11-25 living in the Midlands who have tried to access support from a mental health service. Your views will help people who plan and deliver mental health services for children and young people to make important improvements to access.
Complete the survey here which runs until 22nd March.
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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
Our next e-bulletin will be sent out Wednesday 24th March so please send any inserts by Friday19h March.
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