Knowledge
January 13, 2021
LOCAL OFFER WEBSITES:
Did you know: every Local Authority has to provide a Local Offer, a database of everything that is available locally for children and young people with additional needs.
Richmond and Kingston’s Local Offer website is available at:
Hounslow’s is available at:
Have you joined your local Parent Carer Forum yet?
Kingston Parent Carer Forum
Kingston Parent Carer Forum (KPCF) is part of a national network of forums aiming to give a voice to ALL families who have members with a special educational need or disability (SEND). We are made up of local parents who are passionate about improving the local facilities and activities for all our children. As parents we understand from a personal perspective the challenges faced by families and value the empathy, support and advice that we can share together. As a group we are committed to inclusion and diversity and would like to involve as many local SEND families as possible in our network and feedback processes. We also aim to have a diverse group of parents on our steering committee to accurately represent our Kingston community.
Meeting regularly with a wide range of agencies and service providers in Kingston, including the council, children’s services, health, and education we are able to give feedback on the availability, quality, and effectiveness of services in the borough, and to challenge when changes or improvements need to be made. Our voice can make a difference. Learn more about the role of parent carer forums (opens a new window)
Please join us to have your voice heard or support us by following our
Facebook page: RBK SEND PCF Facebook Site. We welcome messages and look forward to getting any views or feedback you would like to share. Also, our page is full of information and tips including signposting for families to all things SEND including local activities, clubs, facilities, webinars, grants and information. We want to empower parents and carers to know what is out there for them and make informed choices for their family.
Richmond Parent Carer Forum
Membership form - https://www.richmondpcf.org.uk/membership/
For more information contact
E-Mail: Administrator@richmondpcf.org.uk
HOUNSLOW PARENT CARERS FORUM
All parent carers of children with disabilities are invited to our monthly Forum meeting. This is a chance to be involved and kept up-to-date with all the services provided for our children and is an opportunity to have your say.
All parent carers welcome. This is an informal, social get together to meet up with other Parent Carers who are going through all the same things as you and can often offer encouragement and good advice. Please also come with your issues as the more we know about what is happening in Hounslow the better the Forum can represent parent carers.
For more information, please visit:
or
or email Aldona or Joy at hounslowpcf@gmail.com
Telephone 020 3096 4276
Our Barn Carers Project, Hounslow
Our Barn offers support to Hounslow families to deal with the emotional impact of being a carer.
They also offer support with form-filling such as DLA and PIP and practical advice from a team of experienced volunteers.
You can contact them by email to community@ourbarn.org.uk
or
telephone 030 0777 2800.
What is a Parent Carer Needs Assessment (PCNA)?
PARENT CARER NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN RICHMOND AND KINGSTON
Parents and carers have a stand-alone right to assessments and services under the Children and Families Act 2014. This is called a Parent Carer Needs Assessment (PCNA). A PCNA is about parents and carer's needs - assessing what parents and carers need to enable them to carry on caring. It is your chance to consider your role as a carer and what help you may need to support you, to maintain your own health, as well as balancing your caring role with other aspects of your life, such as work and family.
The law recognises that parents and carers needs are just as important as a child or young person’s. If a parent or carer’s needs are not met – how can they continue to care for their child or young person?
Find out more here:
PARENT CARER NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN HOUNSLOW
Do you help a friend or family member who has a disability, illness, mental health problem, or who needs extra help as they grow older? Then you're a carer. Support is available, visit
Information from Achieving for Children
National lockdown - Education and SEND Services
In response to the recent announcements AfC has updated pages on the COVID 19 section on the Local Offer website.
SEN Support
Achieving for Children would like to hear from parents of children on SEN Support.
If your child has additional needs but doesn't have an EHCP, you can provide feedback to the Local Authority on your experiences.
“The views of parents with children and young people receiving SEN Support
Achieving for Children would like to hear the views of parents/carers who have a child or young person receiving support from a setting/school/college for a special educational need (SEN Support - this is the level of support for a child or young person who does not have an EHC Plan). This feedback will feed into continued improvements to best support children and young people.”
Chat and Play online sessions
Achieving for Children is offering opportunities for families to talk to specialists online.
Kingston parents who have concerns about their child's hearing, vision or multi-sensory needs can book an appointment for Tuesday 2nd February:
If you are a Kingston parent, you can make an appointment to talk to an Educational Psychologist on Tuesday 2nd February:
Information on Preparing for Adulthood from Achieving for Children
Next Steps pack - latest version published
The Next Steps Pack is aimed at young people in years 10 and 11, including information if you need extra support with your learning. The aim is to help you understand education and employment options.
Find out more on the Training and Employment pages on the Local Offer website (opens a new window)
Head2Work
If you are a young person aged 18 to 25 years, seeking employment and would like to develop your employability skills by participating in a social action related work experience project, please get in touch. We can also work with you to gain experience, develop skills that employers desire, and support you with applications to work and training.
There will be regular cohorts of this programme running throughout 2021 - 2023
Positive Directions
This programme can support young people aged 16 to 24 to develop the skills that they need to move into education, employment or training.
This project is focussed on the individual's needs and can provide young people with opportunities to take Maths and English qualifications, gain certificates and qualifications relating to specific industry sectors and engage in online learning.
Both projects provide young people with mentoring support and support with CV and interview skills.
If you are interested in either of the above programmes or have a young person you would like to refer, please contact sharon.pratt@achievingforchildren.org.uk