Swindon Send Families Voice

We had some little helpers on our stand at Carers Walk A Mile today. Thanks girls ❤

This week is Volunteers Week so I would like to thank everyone on our team who give up so much of their time to help with the running of Swindon SEND Families Voice. We are lucky to have a team of passionate, dedicated people that really do put their heart and soul into trying to improve things for parents and carers in Swindon. So thank you Families Voice Team, and thank you to all the volunteers that help other Facebook support groups, charities and non-profit organisations throughout Swindon. Where would we be without you all? 👏👏👏 #volunteersweek #volunteer #swindon #community

Consultation for parents and carers in Swindon
Following the parents and carers focus group on the new Core Standards that took place yesterday, we invite all parents and carers of children and young people with SEND to review and feedback on the new core standards - a new way of helping support in our school be more consistent, and will be used from September to document the needs and evidence the needs of our children. It can also be used by those that home educate. Attach...ed is a poster to visually explain the new process.
To review them follow this link: http://children.mycaremysupport.co.uk/… /swindon-core-standa…
Please provide us with your feedback, via Facebook messenger or email swindonsendfamiliesvoice@outlook.com while the consultation period is open until the end of June, so we can pass your views to Swindon Borough Council. Thank you.
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Please could we ask you a favour? To be used in a presentation at a conference to Swindon Head Teachers and other local staff from the Education sector on 25th June. We are working with the High Needs Implementation Manager at SBC and would like to make the point that "small reasonable adjustments can make a big difference to children and young people."
Please could you comment below the age of your child (no names will be used) and what little things that your school have either done or you would like them to do to make a big difference to your child? E.g. leaving class 5 minutes early to avoid the rush, being given a quiet space to use when needed, being given traffic light cards to let staff know when they need help. Please message us if you prefer. Thank you for your help :)

Change to Early Help Records
You told us that Early Help Records can "be a hindrance and they aren't always kept up to date but when used correctly they can be of benefit." We shared your feedback with the Local Authority and are pleased to say the decision has been made that an Early Help Record will not be required before an EHCP can be applied for, or to get on the ASD Pathway (to be called Neurodevelopmental Conditions Pathway). Instead, the new Core Standards (going live... in September) will document the needs and evidence the needs for our children. Professionals will still be able to use EHRs where they feel it is appropriate and we think this is a sensible common sense approach.
Tomorrow is the last focus group about the new Core Standards. Please meet us at the Civic Offices, SN1 2JH 10-12 to have your say/take a look at the documents. Please comment below if you would like to come.
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Mental Health Trailblazer
We recently asked you to complete a survey about mental health support in schools and 100 of you responded! Thank you all :) Please find attached the results of the survey. They will be shared with everyone associated with the new scheme to help shape what the new Mental Health Support Teams look like in many of our schools. Click this link to view: https://swindonsendfamiliesvoice.org.uk/n ews/

@SwindonBoroughCouncil is hosting its fourth Preparing for Adulthood Transitions Roadshow on Wednesday 19 June at the Civic Offices from 12 – 5pm. Around 40 stallholders will be there to offer advice to parents, carers and professionals who support young people with additional needs to help them plan for their future. If you’d like to find out more, please visit: bit.ly/2QPzMAj .

Have you joined 'The SEND Room'? Online closed support group for parents and carers in Swindon with children/young people aged 0-25 with ANY disability. Join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/206510070 244891/?source_id=208159042848694

Thank you to those that came to our first evening Branches group last night. 26 people came so it shows an evening group is really needed! It was really difficult to gauge how to run the evening, so we really appreciate the constructive feedback you have given us, and we are sure with some small tweaks to how we do things it will flow better in the future. Please could we thank our volunteers and the professionals that came who have given up their evening to run and support the event. We wouldn't be able to do this all without them so 'thank you' 👏👏 Here are the details of next months group.

This new company is training and employing young adults with SEND in Swindon. We hope lots will stop and buy from them this weekend. Good luck to all 👍👍

We are really looking forward to tomorrow night! We also have Hop, Skip & Jump and a Family Support Adviser from a school that specialises in anxious and vulnerable children attending. Please come along, have a cup of tea, and have your questions answered by our speakers. Please note the Senco Champion can answer general questions and not take on individual cases. We hope to see you there. Here is a map on how to find us round the back of the Orbital Centre. The arrow points to the door, and access is via stairs and lift. ☕️☕️

Would anyone else like to join us for this focus group on Thursday 6th 10-12? Please see below for full information. Thank you :)

A new group for children aged 7 and below with Down's Syndrome and their families. #community #shareandsupport #swindon

Although this has already begun it may be worth contacting them if it is relevant to your teenager as they could potentially join in the last few weeks or on a future course.

Please see message from David Haley - Director of Children's Service, Swindon Borough Council:
Dear Parents and Carers
Many of you will have been contacted recently about our local area SEND Ofsted/CQC inspection. Thank you for those of you who took the time and opportunity to contribute to the inspection process.
...Continue Reading

We are really looking forward to visiting Horizon's College for a coffee morning on Wednesday 5th June at 10.30am. Attending with us will be two Commissioners from Swindon Borough Council who are interested to hear your experience on services in Swindon as your young adults are preparing for leaving education. We want to work together to find out what is and isn't working so we can make steps towards improving things. If you have a young adult that attends please do come along and have a cuppa with us. We look forward to meeting you! ☕️☕️🍪🍪

SEND Transport With the help of you all we have put together a Frequently Asked Questions document about SEND Transport in Swindon and worked with Swindon Borough Council to get the questions answered. We hope this document will be helpful to those that use transport, especially those that are new to it. Thank you to everyone who contributed by putting their questions forward. Please share with anyone who may find it useful. Here is a link to it via our website. https://swindonsendfamiliesvoice.org.uk/n ews/