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Welcome to the spring edition of SENDing you News, where I wanted to share updates on engagement activity taking place which includes the Government's National Youth Strategy, as well as the positive news of the consultation currently taking place to provide additional school places for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
There are also opportunities to be involved in the upcoming SEND Youth Council session, plus, there are details of fun activities taking place for young people across the borough during the school holidays and in term time.
Deborah Myers, Assistant Director of Education
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Proposal to Increase School Places for Children with SEND An extra 143 school places could soon be created for children with special educational needs and disabilities in Tameside. A proposal has been approved for consultation to commence on 12 additional specialist centres within mainstream schools with the aim of increasing the number of places available within the borough in time for the new school year. Read about the consultation.
This is a part of our new improvement plan which is mentioned in the Local Area Partnership SEND improvement notice.
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You Said, We Are Doing The conversations at the recent Cuppa and a Chat event at Active Oxford Road were very insightful and valuable, and Tameside Council’s SEND team got to hear about important perspectives on which to reflect. The input from parents and carers really helps shape future work, continuing to improve support for children and young people with SEND.
‘You Said, We Are Doing’ outlines the key discussions and next steps.
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National Youth Strategy Engagement activity has begun by the government to hear the views of young people on support services, facilities and opportunities they need outside of school. Topics include issues that matter to them in their local area, what services they think should be available to young people, and how money should be spent in their area – delivering on the government’s Plan for Change to spread opportunity across the country.
Find out how to get involved.
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Easter Holiday Camps Active Tameside are delivering two SEND holiday camps over the Easter half term for primary school aged children starting on 7th April. - ISCAN holiday camps are for children with complex needs who either themselves or family require respite during the school holiday. These children tend to require 1:1 support in small specialist group settings.
- Fuel 4 Fun camps are for children who can cope in a group setting (up to 14 children, with the support of 2/3 staff members). This group is for children who require minimal support to participate in sport activities such as football, swimming, bowling.
- There are also mainstream holiday camps of up to 30 children. Children and young people with SEND who can cope in mainstream settings are able to attend these holiday camps.
For more info on these camps please email everybodycan@activetameside.com.
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Spotlight on….. There are lots of fantastic groups offering fun activities for young people with special educational needs and disabilities across Tameside.
SENDsational Soccer provides football coaching for children between the ages of 5 and 15 years old, creating a fun environment for children to build confidence and make new friends!
Akeru Aikido Club offers two sessions a week for children aged 4-18 years old in an inclusive environment where siblings are also very welcome to join in too.
If you run a group that you would like to feature in a spotlight, you can email local.offer@tameside.gov.uk with details.
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Calling Young Adventurers! Does your child love the outdoors? Then the Bushcraft Award Club is the perfect after-school adventure for your child to build confidence, learn survival skills, and have fun in nature. Kids will take part in fun outdoor activities like shelter building, navigation, tracking, and much more, and they’ll earn an award at the end of each term.
The club takes place every Thursday during term time from 4.30pm-5.30pm at Werneth Low Country Park.
Spaces are limited, so find out how to get involved.
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OKE Sleep Workshops OKE are running a number of free workshops related to sleep over the coming weeks. Parents or carers wanting to book onto the workshops will need to be registered with OKE and live in Tameside or Glossop.
Find out more about the sessions.
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SEND Youth Council The next SEND Youth Council is taking place on Thursday 24th April 4.30pm-5.30pm at Tameside Wellness Centre in Denton. Young people up to the age of 25 can join the group, and this month’s activity is bowling. Being part of the SEND Youth Council provides the opportunity to develop life skills, socialise with others, take part in fun activities and hear about support that is available. Participants also have the chance to give their views on topics being discussed and how they think services can better support young people and families with SEND.
The session will once again welcome the Educational Psychology team from Tameside Council to continue the discussions from their first visit. As a beneficial support system for young people and families with SEND, these conversations will be a great way of understanding more.
Contact Aiden to get involved.
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SEND Dads’ Society For dads in Greater Manchester area who have or care for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, the SEND Dads’ Society is a male social club which offers peer support to one another. There are free drop-in sessions on the third Thursday of every month, so find out about future meetings and how to get in touch.
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Tameside Spring Jobs Fair This month sees the latest Jobs Fair coming to Dukinfield Town Hall on Wednesday 16th April, where employers from across Tameside will come together to discuss opportunities with job seekers. The team from Tameside Council’s Routes to Work team will also be on hand to offer support. This specialist supported employment service can support local residents with disabilities who attend on the day to access advice, guidance, and practical assistance. Volunteers in green shirts will be available throughout the venue to help people access employer stalls or find the most appropriate support services.
Read about the Tameside Spring Jobs Fair.
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Join the Parent Carer Forum Tameside’s Umbrella Parent Carer Forum would love to encourage other parents and carers to get in touch with the steering group and find out more about what being part of a parent carer forum involves. The Forum has a Facebook page with more details and how to get in touch.
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How SEND Support is Helping Local Families Did you know the Mencap Family Engagement Project and SEND Health Navigator Service have been helping families across Tameside with one-to-one advice, group sessions and workshops?
There are a range of sessions taking place by the Mencap Family Engagement Project during April, which includes peer support groups and play sessions. Take a look here.
Find out details of the support offered and how to access their support.
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Hawthorns School Students Create Video Destiny students from Newbridge Group have created this fantastic video on the grand opening of Hawthorns School. The new school for children with SEND in Mottram is a shining example of co-production with the community coming together to ensure its creation.
Watch the video here!
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