SEND news and updates
COVID-19 advice and support on new restrictions
Please read the following open letter from Vicky Ford, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families, to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), their families and carers and those who work to support them.
Following the introduction of the new national restrictions on 4th January, this letter provides advice and guidance on several issues, including school attendance, children who are clinically extremely vulnerable, remote education, respite and asymptomatic testing.
Online sessions for parents
Wigan Parent Carer Forum virtual coffee mornings
Join Wigan Parent Carer Forum for an online session, with the opportunity to hear more about services for young people with SEND and their parents and carers. Each session has a speaker to tell us more about their area of work, with the opportunity to ask questions.
- Sensory session with Occupational Therapy, 16th March 2021, 10am-12pm
Join the Wigan Parent Carer Forum session on GoToMeeting (external link).
See further details about the Wigan Parent Carer Forum sessions (external link).
Embrace Early Years online sessions
Join Embrace and Wigan Council for information around Early Years provision. The sessions are held on Zoom.
- 22nd January 2021, 10am-12pm
Join the Embrace Early Years sessions (external link).
For further details, you can contact Embrace on 01942 233323.
Autism awareness and workshops
A full programme of online training for parents and carers of children and young people with autism has just been launched.
Kooth mental health support for young people
Kooth is a free and safe online mental health and wellbeing support service for young people. Kooth provide support to anyone aged 11-16, from online counselling to self help tools, to a community of young people offering peer support to each other.
With current COVID-19 restrictions in place, young people are spending more of their time at home with their families. Kooth would like to extend their offer of sessions for parents and carers, so they can hear how and why Kooth can be an appropriate support for their children.
There are three sessions available, two for parents and carers, one for young people. Each session will involve:
- Quick overview of what wellbeing is and how to notice changes in young people’s wellbeing
- Practical advice on non-judgemental listening and self-care (for parents and carers)
- Kooth’s Five Ways to Wellbeing
- How Kooth can support young people’s wellbeing and mental health
- A Q&A to ask us anything you want to know about Kooth.
You can register a place on these sessions via Eventbrite:
Alternatively, you can also email omurphy@kooth.com to book a place.
Short Breaks Survey for young people with SEND
Are you a young person with special educational needs or disabilities? Wigan Council would like to find out what groups and activities you have taken part in, as well as your ideas for activities you would enjoy.
SEND survey feedback
Earlier this year a consultation was carried out with young people with SEND and their parents regarding the re-opening of schools to all pupils in September 2020.
SEND bulletin for parents
Wigan Parent Carer Forum and Wigan Council have created a SEND bulletin for parents, with updates and information including training, events and resources.
Re-opening of schools to all pupils in September 2020
North West SEND Regional Network
This is a partnership of local, regional and national organisations and groups supporting children and young people with SEND and their families.
Older news
Feedback
We are always looking for feedback on the content of the Local Offer. We are required to report on any feedback that we receive and what we have done in response to it. You can find a link to our latest report above.