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Welcome to the autumn edition of SENDing You News! As the leaves turn and the nights draw in, we’re bringing you a newsletter packed with all the latest updates from across the borough. Inside, you’ll find details of upcoming events, benefit grants, and a range of online sessions designed to support and engage young people and their parents/carers.
Whether you're looking for something to do during the school holidays or seeking support during term time, there’s a whole host of exciting activities and opportunities to explore. We’re also thrilled to share some key developments: Our refreshed 0–25 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy for 2025–2028, which sets out our vision and priorities for the coming years. The launch of our Co-production Charter and Development Plan, created in partnership with families and professionals to strengthen how we work together.
And we want to hear from you! We’ve launched a website feedback questionnaire to help us improve how we share information and resources. Your views really matter, so please take a few minutes to let us know what’s working and what could be better. Thank you for being part of our SEND community – we hope you find this edition useful, inspiring, and full of ways to get involved.
Hilary Cook, Head of SEND
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SEND Strategy and Co-production Charter and Development Plan The launch of the updated 0–25 SEND Strategy for 2025–2028 is a key milestone in the ongoing journey to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND across Tameside. This strategy has been shaped through extensive consultation with children and young people, parents and carers (via our Parent Carer Forums), schools, health professionals, and wider local partners. It reflects the findings of the May 2025 OFSTED/CQC SEND Local Area Inspection, and incorporates the Priority Actions for Improvement agreed with the Department for Education (DfE) and the SEND Local Area Inspection Board.
View the full SEND Strategy here.
Also launched is the Tameside SEND Co-production Charter and Development Plan. In October 2025, Tameside restarted its work to design a SEND Co-production Charter. This refreshed version builds on earlier work and now serves as a strategic tool to support the delivery of the SEND Strategy and Priority Action Plan, ensuring that co-production is not only aspirational but embedded in ways of working.
View the full plan here.
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New SEND Provision Success Several new SEND Resource Bases have opened in mainstream schools across the borough after the DfE's approval. Planning for the next wave of improvements in 2026 is already underway with wide community input.
These specialist places will provide over 100 additional places for children with SEND and help pupils stay closer to home and learn alongside their peers. All Resource Bases are fully functional and will be supported by specialist services like educational psychologists and speech therapy. The new provision, made possible through a £1.5million investment from Tameside Council, is already making a difference - helping children settle quickly, thrive in their learning, and feel truly included. Greenfield Primary Academy in Hyde has warmly welcomed families and the wider school community.
View the full story here.
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Spotlight on...Splash Class Splash Class is a six week course offering a SEND friendly introduction to swimming for 0-6 year olds. It has been funded by a donation raised by 16 year old Rory Kaye especially for the Mencap Family Engagement Project in Tameside. The course will be hosted by a member of the Mencap team and run by a SEND qualified swimming instructor.
When: Wednesdays 1.30pm – 2.30pm. Starting 5th November
Where: Aqua Nurture, Knott Ln, Gee Cross, Hyde SK14 5BS
Find out how to book on here.
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Mencap Upcoming Events Mencap Family Engagement Project are hosting a series of events and sessions for young people with SEND, along with their parents and carers. From relaxed coffee mornings to nature-based adventures, these activities offer welcoming spaces to connect, learn, and grow together The Mencap Family Engagement Project offers peer support to families of children ages 0-6 with SEND or emerging needs within Tameside.
Find out more about the sessions here.
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Family Fun Day Reflection The Tameside Umbrella Parent Carer Forum (TUPCF) celebrated a special milestone on Saturday 27th September, with their very first Family Fun Day at the Grafton Centre in Hyde. The event was a big success, attracting nearly 100 families from across the borough. Local organisations joined in to support the day by running stalls, demonstrations, and sharing useful information for families in Tameside.
The purpose of the event was to give parent-carers the chance to meet the forum’s volunteers, learn more about the support available, and share feedback on what they would like to see offered in the future.
View the full story and see how to get in involved with future events here.
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Active Tameside Events Everybody Can’s disability and inclusive community sessions offer family-friendly activities for those who require additional support or disability friendly activities, for anyone above the age of 5.
They welcome families to come and enjoy, knowing that support and appropriate equipment is available via the qualified staff team. Find out how to book onto the events.
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Holiday Activities and Food Programme - SEND Sessions Children and teenagers who receive benefit-related free school meals can now access free places at HAF Tameside holiday camps this school break. A range of activities are available across the borough, but places are limited and filling up quickly.
They will be providing two SEND HAF sessions across the week which will be on Monday and Thursday between 10am – 2pm.
Find out how to book on to the sessions here.
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Parent Peer Support Group What is the Parent Peer Support Group? An informal space for parents and carers to share their experiences of supporting children with emotional and mental health difficulties with like-minded people, alongside the support of our teams.
When: Second Thursday of the month
Time: 9.30am – 11.30am (drop in any time)
Where: The Anthony Seddon Centre, George Street, Ashton-Under-Lyne Refreshments available
Either just turn up or for more information contact either: Anita McQuillan: Anita.McQuillan@tameside.gov.uk or Sue Brookes: Sue.Brookes@actiontogether.org.uk
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Your Feedback Wanted on The Local Offer Website The Local Offer website provides a single place for children and young people with SEND, and their families and carers, to access information, advice, support, and services, including Early Years & Education, Social Care, Health & Wellbeing and ‘Things to Do’ in the local community.
The website should be as accessible, easy, and enjoyable to use as possible. If you would like to share your opinions on what could be done to improve the Local Offer website, no matter how big or small, complete this survey. Your thoughts and ideas will be used to shape the website and make it a better place to explore information, advice, and support.
Complete the survey here.
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Pantomimes with a choice of Relaxed Performance & BSL Performance This festive season, Sparks Dramatic Society is proud to present the family pantomime Snow White – a magical show filled with singing, dancing, dazzling costumes, and all the laughter and sparkle you’d expect from panto right here in the heart of Tameside at Hyde Festival Theatre!
View more information and book your seats here.
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The SEND Dads’ Society The SEND Dads’ Society is a male social club supporting the families of the Greater Manchester area who have or care for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. There is no judgement – just a group of men coming together to make a difference and be around others who are on a similar journey.
When: 20th November – 7:30pm-9pm
Where: Heaton Park Golf Club, Middleton Road, Prestwich, Manchester M25 2SW Phone: 07940 560655 Facebook: SEND Dads’ Society
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Spectrum Gaming Launches New Website and Inclusive SEND Resource Spectrum Gaming, the autistic-led charity known for creating safe and empowering spaces for autistic young people, has launched a brand-new website. The platform brings together their community work, advocacy, and resources in one accessible hub for young people, families, and professionals.
This platform is designed to support SEND professionals and families by offering practical tools, shared strategies, and real-world insights to help reduce barriers to education. Whether you’re a SENCO, teacher, therapist, parent or carer, your experience could help shape a more inclusive future for children and young people.
Barriers to Education is officially live, and you can see the website here.
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Disability Services, Benefits, and Grants Online Sessions The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), through its Disability Services Advocacy team, are supporting raising awareness of the different disability services, benefits, and grants.
They will be covering Disability Living Allowance for Children (DLA Child) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) including the transition from DLA Child to PIP when the Child reaches the age of 16. The session will also include how Access to Work can help and support following secondary education when moving into employment.
Find support available here.
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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 how to book.
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