The local Authority has now published this booklet on playschemes and activities for the coming February half term. 

A programme of events for the parents/carers of children with communication difficulties who are due to start reception in September 2022. 

The Rising to Reception programme is provided by ECASS (the Enfield Communication Advisory Support Service) and their partners including Our Voice, ENAS and SENDiass. 

Children with communication difficulties can find moving to new schools challenging and this series of events aims to help you prepare for your child to start school. 

You can see more about the programme in this introductory video and see here to view the timetable of events and register your interest. 

The first sessions in this series will be the Occupational Therapy 'Do it yourself- Independence for starting school' session which takes place: 

Monday 24th January 9.30 - 11 am - join here using meeting ID 954 3410 5693 passcode 067468

or 

Friday 4th February 12.30 - 2 pm join here using meeting ID 940 0514 3345 passcode 735969 

The Enfield Advisory Service for Autism is running a series of Zoom workshops for the parents and carers of Autistic young people who are aged 8 and over, dealing with supporting young people during adolescence. 

• Puberty and Keeping Healthy for Young People - Tuesday 1st Feb 10 - 11.30 am - for parents of children/young people aged 8 and over. Book here.
• Preparing for Adulthood - Relationships and Community Awareness - Tuesday 1st March 10 - 11.30 am for parents of children/young people aged 12 and over. Book here.
• Independent Living - Adolescence - Tuesday 22nd March 10 - 11.30 am for parents of young people aged 14 and over. Book here. 

Places are limited so make sure you book your place as soon as you can. 

For details see the flyer here

As the weather becomes colder, it is important to make sure we look after our health. See booklet here for a summary of services available to help keep you and your family well this winter. 

Our Voice has recently held several Zoom sessions in conjunction with SENDiass and the SEN team, looking at choosing a primary school, the applications process and what you can do to help prepare your child for primary school. 

You can see the presentation from these workshops here

The Strategy Group will be running a series of focus groups this month to look at how to improve the physical and mental health of autistic people and people with Learning Disabilities. Details are on the information sheets below. 

Participants (except NHS staff) will receive a £50 voucher.

Focus groups for Autistic People Tuesday 11th Jan - information sheet and flyer

People with Learning Disabilities Friday 14th Jan - easy read information sheet 

Focus groups for Carers - Tuesday 18th Jan  Information sheet and flyer

Focus groups for Bereaved carers Monday 17th Jan Information sheet and flyer 

We recently carried out a survey amongst parents who had been visiting secondary schools for their children with SEND, prior to the year 7 transfer. 

You can see a summary report from the survey here

There was important news yesterday for the families of clinically vulnerable 5 - 11-year-olds as the Pfizer Covid vaccination was finally approved for use for this group 

Read more here.

Salmon's Brook is a new special school scheduled to open this September, for children who have an EHCP for Social Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties (including challenging behaviour). 

The Local Authority is currently consulting on the plans and you can have your say at the Consultation event on 19th January and/or via the online questionnaire. 

For more information see SEND spotlights  · Enfield Council

Individuals who are clinically vulnerable (including Autistic children and young people and those with Learning Difficulties) and their carers can get priority at vaccination centres and avoid long queues. 

This is likely to be useful both if you are taking your child/young person for vaccination and know that they may have difficulties in waiting in the queue, or if you are going alone to get your own vaccination and will find it difficult to leave them with anyone else for a long time.

The Department of Health and Social Care have agreed that anyone who has current caring commitments or who is Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (including Autism and LD) can use the letter here to get priority at vaccination centres. 

If you can, we would recommend that you print the letter off and take it to your appointment or walk-in clinic or otherwise save it to a device that you will have with you (e.g. your mobile phone). 

We hope that this makes it easier for you and your children to get your vaccinations.