Volume 3, Issue 2

April 2006

Termly Newsletter from Durham Parent Partnership Service

Communities of Learning - Developments Two Years On

In 2004 fourteen Partnerships of Schools were established to include all schools in County Durham. The aim is to enable the partnerships themselves to play a major part in developments supporting Special Educational Needs. These partnerships were named Communities of Learning. Each partnership identified areas for development as well as what expertise they already had available.

Areas for development were:

• Major Themes - Speech and Language, Behaviour and Transition
• Minor Themes - Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD’s), Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Physical Adaptations.

The Communities of Learning have a budget called the CoL Fund which must be used to promote inclusive practice in schools through either totally new initiatives and / or 4 areas of development which are:

• Early Intervention: e.g. sharing transferable good practice between schools.
• Removing Barriers to Learning: e.g., developing provision that will meet the needs of children with ASD’s, communication difficulties, or challenging behaviour.
• Raising Expectations and Achievement: e.g. extending opportunities for children with SEN through collaborative work between mainstream and special schools.
• Delivering Improvements in Partnership: e.g. promoting collaborative working between schools in the Community.

Over the past two years many excellent new initiatives have been developed within the Communities of Learning and there has been an upsurge in SEN/Inclusion activity across County Durham schools. For example: Glendene School has developed a SENSE training centre, offering training and support to mainstream staff to enable them to deliver effective teaching to children with SEN through ICT ‘classroom kits’ in their new SENSE Suite.

For further information about CoL developments in your area please contact 0191 5873541

Durham Dyslexia Support Group

Committee Room 4, County Hall Durham

Wednesday 17 May 7.00pm-9.00pm - Elaine Chandler - SEN developments focussing on Durham’s Communities of Learning

Wednesday 21 June 7.00pm-9.00pm - In the Council Chamber, County Hall, Durham (Speaker to be confirmed)

To book a place for either or both workshops please ring the Parent Partnership Office on 0191 5873541.

Places will be allocated on a first come - first served basis.

School-Based Practice for Pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia and Dyspraxia)

Friday 30 June at the Education Development Centre, Spennymoor

Aim - To provide practical strategies for staff working with pupils aged 4-16 with specific learning difficulties.

Course programme:

Speakers:

Mike Johnson – Dyslexia Friendly Schools and Classrooms: making it a reality
James Dow-Grant – Dyslexia-Friendly Schools in Practice
Barbara Hunter – Boxing Clever – tools of the trade to support pupils with specific learning difficulties

For an application form and further information ring Andrea Cranson on 01388 424901. A very limited number of subsidised places have been made available for parents. Contact the above number as soon as possible to book a place.

ADHD – Myths,Management and Medication

Facilitated by Fintan O’Reagan – Educational Director of ADDISS and Behavioural/SEN Adviser for Surrey LEA.

Middlesbrough Teaching and Learning Centre 29 June 2006 9.45am – 1.15pm.

The session will identify:

The background, history and diagnosis of ADHD.

• Brief consideration of current policies in relation to ADHD and associated conditions within the UK.
• How to develop an increased awareness of the risk factors associated with academic, behavioural, emotional and socialisation difficulties.
• A range of Behaviour Modification and multi-agency options for management of children with ADHD
• The choice of medical options for the management of ADHD as well as diet and alternative treatment options
• How best to support supervisors with specific students

Professionals £25.00, Parents free. Includes information pack and refreshments. Places must be pre-booked (and will be confirmed) For an application form and further information ring Julie Ball on 0191 5873541.

Disabled Children’s Railcard

If your child is in receipt of DLA they can apply for a disabled person’s railcard. It costs £14 per year and your child will be able to get a discount of 33%.

The good news is that whoever travels with the railcard holder is also eligible for the discount. Check it out on Disabledpersons railcard.co.uk

Family Fund Trust

PO Box 50
York
YO1 2ZX
Tel: 01904 621115
Fax: 01904 652625
Website: Family Fund

The purpose of the trust is to ease the stress on families who care for very severely disabled children under 16, by providing grants and information related to the care of their child.

Items granted in the past have included washing machines, bedding, clothing and family holidays in the UK

The Asian Education Advice Line

0800 085 4528

This service from Rathbone’s offers free advice and support to parents of children with special educational needs. It can help parents and families who speak Urdu, Punjabi, Gujerati, Bengali and Hindi.

County Durham Autistic Support Group

Summer Conference 17 June 2006

‘Approaches and Perspectives’

Speakers:
Paul Shattock – Update on Dietry Interventions
Madeleine Portwood – Use of Omega 3 Oil with individuals with ASD
Chris Mitchell – Personal Perspective of Asperger Syndrome
Ian Geldard - Living with a sibling with Autism
The cost of the day for CDASG

Family and professional members - £20.00, parent non-members - £30.00, professional non-members - £45.00. Application forms available from Helen Geldard on 01388 819880.

Winter Conference 7 Oct. 2006

Sensory Issues and ASD

Speakers:
Olga Bogdashina

Local Area Meetings:

Darlington: 10.00 am
Tuesdays – 9 May – 6 June – 4 July

Stanley: 1.00pm
Thursdays – 11 May – 15 June – 13 July

Bishop Auckland: 10.00am
Wednesdays – 26 April – 31 May

For further details on any of the above ring Helen Geldard on 01388 819880

Henshaws Children and Family Service

Henshaws Society for blind people, here in the Northeast, is a charity that provides services for people of all ages with visual impairments.

Family Outings and Activities - Henshaws offers a wide range of exciting activities and visits for the whole family to join in. Outings and activities in the past have included trips to Beamish, Whitehouse Farm, pantomimes, music events at the Sage Gateshead and more. For information about future events contact Jaimie Southern on 0191 2220716

Toy and Tape Library - This service is available to families who wish to borrow exciting new toys for their visually impaired children and swap them within a period of time – just like a library. The Toy and Tape Library is based on the 3rd floor in MEA House in Newcastle and is open from 9.30 am to 12 noon and then 1.00pm to 3.30pm Monday to Friday.

Parent Groups - Henshaws are also looking for parents to join their parent groups all over the North East. Whether you are a parent of a visually impaired child or are a visually impaired parent you will be made welcome at one of the groups. You can meet others, have a chat, have a moan or just get out of the house for a bit of peace and quiet – everyone is more than welcome. Contact Jaimie at any time on 0191 2220716 for further details about the above or info about Henshaws other free services.