Summer Break 2014 The summer holidays are nearly here and at Parent Carer Council (PCCC) we wanted to get as much information out to you as possible about activities running during the school break by various organisations and details can be found in this newsletter. We realise the holidays can be a time of fun but changes in routines can also be a time of stress for many families. Don’t feel isolated come along to a family fun day and meet likeminded parent/carers. I know from last summer’s events many parent/carers and siblings have stayed in contact with each other to build friendships and offer support to each other.

The first half of this year has been very busy for PCCC with meetings regarding the new reforms coming into effect from September taking up a lot of our time; however there are parent/carers who sit on a number of meetings with health, education and social care to ensure us as an organisation feedback views and concerns of parents. We have held a number of information and training events in the first half of this year and we intend these to continue following the summer break, details can often be found on our facebook page or website.

The SEND Implementation Board team which consists of professionals from health, education, social care and parent/carers continues to provide feedback to the Department for Education to inform legislation regarding the SEND reforms which become effective from September 2014. (PCCC) wants to ensure that all parents/carers are kept informed of the changes and we have published a booklet explaining the changes and possible impact on you and your family. If you wish to receive a copy please contact [email protected] or 079 737 63332

PCCC continue to represent the views and concerns of parents/carers throughout the SEND Implementation, both at county and national level. We feel the new system is positive in many ways for our children/young people but there is still a lot of work to do!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those parent/carers who have been involved in meetings in the last few months without you PCCC could not continue to ensure the voice of parents/carers is heard at all levels.

On behalf of everyone from PCCC we wish you a safe and enjoyable summer break and we look forward to meeting members new and old at activity days.

Kay Henry On behalf of the directors of PCCC

Join Us!

The Forum is constantly striving to develop a robust and diverse membership to represent a range of needs across the County.

Free Membership gives you access to information and services together with opportunities to meet other parents/carers of children with additional needs and disabilities. We encourage members to become more actively involved in our work with support through our parent participation training.

If you are interested in becoming a Parent Representative for Parent Carer Council Forum please contact Kay Henry [email protected] or 07973763332 for more information.

Special Educational Needs and Disability Reforms

 What is this update? This is the first of a series of updates that will inform families about: • the Children and Families Act • the implementation of the SEND reforms • where to find more information and • training opportunities

 What is the Children and Families Act?

The Children and Families Act is about reforming and improving services for vulnerable children. It will reform the systems for adoption, looked-after children, family justice and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This series of updates will be focusing on the SEND reforms.

 What are the SEND reforms? The SEND reforms aim to ensure aspiration, achievement and positive outcomes for all children and young people with additional needs by: • replacing special educational needs statements and learning disability assessments with a new birth-to-25 Education, Health and Care plan – setting out in one place all the support families will receive • better co-operation between councils and health services to make sure services for children and young people with SEND are jointly planned and commissioned, giving parents and young people with Education, Health and Care plans the offer of a personal budget • requiring councils to publish a ‘local offer’ showing the support available to all disabled children and young people with SEND and their families in the area. Change is both exciting and challenging but here in Cornwall we have the advantage of having taken part in the national SEND Pathfinder Project.  What was the SEND Pathfinder Project 2012-2014? The purpose of the Pathfinder Project was to explore and pilot the aspirational changes outlined in the 2011 green paper ‘Support and Aspiration – a new approach to SEN’. Throughout the project families have been involved in coproducing the Local Offer and the Education, Health and Care Plan process (including personal budgets). All that we have learnt from the project is now informing the implementation of the 2014 SEND reforms here in Cornwall.

We would like to say a big thank you to all families that have worked in partnership with the local authority during the SEND Pathfinder Project. Your contributions have been invaluable! The success of the Cornwall SEND Pathfinder project has been recognised by the DfE and they have asked us to be a ‘champion’ authority which involves supporting other authorities in the south west.

 Will there be guidance re the SEND reforms? The SEND Code of Practice will give

clear guidance regarding the implementation of the reforms and will be published this summer. will continue to provide support and training over the

coming months.  What will the SEND Code of Practice include? The ‘final’ draft code highlights the following good practice: • the participation of children, their parents and young people in decision making

• the early identification of children and young people’s needs and early intervention to support them • greater choice and control for young people and parents over support • collaboration between education, health and social care services to provide support • high quality provision to meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs including those without an EHCP • a focus on inclusive practice and removing barriers to learning • successful preparation for adulthood, including independent living and employment

 Will all the changes have to be made by September 2014? Although the Children and Families Act will come into force from September the changeover from the current system to the new system will be phased with structured transitional arrangements. For example, the transfer of statements of special educational need to Education, Health and Care Plans has to be completed by 2017 and Learning Needs Assessments will cease in 2016. The next update will give more detail of the transitional arrangements.

 What will drive the implementation of the SEND reforms? In light of the Children and Families Act, Cornwall’s SEN strategy and the SEND pathfinder project, a SEND reform implementation action plan has been written. The action plan consists of seven work-streams: • Working together • Education, Health and Care statutory assessment and planning process • Preparing for adulthood • Funding and personal budgets • Information, communication and the local offer • Data and systems • Quality assurance  How can I find out more?  Update no. 2 will be published later this summer and will give more detail regarding the implementation of the reforms.  If you have any questions before then please contact Sandra Page on [email protected] Date for your diaries: Aiming Higher Conference, 6th October 2014, Showground

are holding a

free family fun day 2nd August, 10.30am - 2.30pm at Carclaze Community Junior School St Piran's Close, Cornwall, PL25 3TF

An event for all the family with Dancing and music, Come and learn circus skills with Swamp Circus, Bouncy Castle, face painting, children's entertainer

For booking please email [email protected] or 0797376333

Autism Spectrum Team

I was really pleased when Kay asked me to write this piece as I regularly meet parents at parent support groups who are members of the Parent Carer Council and they are always giving me fantastic, useful information that I can then pass on to other parents.

The Autism Spectrum Team supports children with a diagnosis of Autism aged from Reception to Year 11. Although we work primarily by building the capacity of school staff through case work and training, we also work with families.

The Autism Spectrum Team is organised into East, Mid and West Cornwall. There are Advisors and Workers in each area. We arrange workshops for parents in each geographical area split into 3 age groups as follows: parents of a child in Reception to Year 3; Year 4 to Year 7 and Year 8 to Year 11. The workshops are offered as a series of 4 consecutive half-day sessions and are open to any parent/carer of a child with a diagnosis. Two people can attend, for instance, parents bring partners, family members, friends and even supportive neighbours. We also give parents the opportunity to invite a member of school staff to one of the sessions. There will shortly be a booking form on our website for the workshops, but in the meantime, please contact each office directly:

East: 01579 341132 Mid:01872 323052 West: 01736 336891

We are also able to offer families case work in certain circumstances, for example, if a child is at risk of offending, if they won’t leave the house or if there has been a significant one-off life event. The way to access this service is for a professional currently involved with the family to submit a request for involvement form to Katy Neve, Senior Educational Psychologist for Mid Cornwall, as she manages the Autism Spectrum Team. The forms can be downloaded from our website (please see below). Examples of home-based objectives include: reducing aggressive behaviours, improving understanding of sexually appropriate behaviours and increasing participation in education.

Schools can also request our involvement using the same form. If we are working with the staff who teach and support your child, we will be in contact with you and you will receive copies of the reports that we write. Examples of school-based objectives include: reducing anxiety, improving engagement with the curriculum and improving social interaction. We work with mainstream schools and Area Resource Bases.

We offer a range of training to school staff, including a free one hour Autism Awareness Raising workshop. 70 schools have either had, or are in the process of having, an Autism Champion trained and mentored by our team. These are dedicated, designated members of staff who are there to be an ear for your child, their voice if necessary, a first point of contact for parents and are able to advise staff about supportive, Autism-Friendly strategies. We offer Transition Training for parents of children in Year 6, the year 6 teacher (or school SENCo) and an appropriate representative from the destination secondary school. Other training to schools includes: Autism Friendly Classrooms, Teaching Relationship and Sex Education to Children with ASC, Autism and Challenging Behaviour and Promoting Social Skills.

Useful Websites: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=27969 takes you to Cornwall Council’s Autism page http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/education-and-learning/special-education-needs- disabilities-inclusion-(sendi)-services/childrens-psychology-service/the-autism- spectrum-team/?altTemplate=_Standard takes you directly to the Autism Spectrum Team’s page where you can find, among other links, our leaflets that cover common issues such as eating and sleeping.

A few of my favourite websites are listed below: www.cerebra.org.uk www.autism.org.uk www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk

Sarah Foden Autism Spectrum Advisor, Autism Spectrum Team (Mid Cornwall) [email protected]

Scope: Information and Support Service

Scope is a disability charity working in England and Wales. Our national helpline offers free information and advice on any aspect of living with disability, including local help and support, welfare benefits, education, housing and finance.

The helpline is open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm. Call 0808 800 3333.

Scope’s Regional Workers provide information and support to families who have a child with cerebral palsy. Regional Workers respond to enquiries on a wide range of issues, and can offer a home visit to families whose child has been recently diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Contact Regional Worker (southwest), Karin Gray on 01453 755475.

are holding a free family fun day at SPRINGFIELDS FUN PARK and PONY CENTRE , , TR9 6HU 6th September Arrive at 10.30am Bring a picnic or there is a café in the grounds You must be a registered member of Parent Carer Council to attend, if not join by contacting Kay Henry Places are limited so booking is essential with [email protected] or 07973763332

Free course Time out for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Need some friendly advice but don’t know who to ask? We are running a course for parents/carers and families with children aged 5-12 years who may have been experiencing difficulties in managing their concentration, energy levels and/or challenging behaviour, the course will run over 10 sessions.

The course covers: Starting: Tuesday 16th September 2014  Increased understanding (not including half term)  How ADHD affects the individual Venue: St Dennis Children’s Centre  Practical suggestions to try at home  Support and advice Time: 9.30am- 12pm  Includes rewards, routines and rules that work and much more! For further details please contact: Lorna Searle: 07872 809577

Email:[email protected]

SUMMER 2014 ACTIVITIES

Sunday July 13th The Lost Gardens of Heligan. There are 300 acres to discover including the Victorian gardens, sub tropical jungle and the new wildlife project. Meeting time is 12 noon. Address: Pentewan, St Austell. PL26 6EN

Sunday July 27th Tehidy Country Park. This is the largest woodland area in West Cornwall with 250 acres of peaceful woods and lakes to explore. We will be taking part in a nature trail and tree bark rubbing activity. Picnic lunch at the café. Meeting time is 12 noon at the south drive car park

Tuesday July 29th Departing from , and St Austell stations we will take the train to Exeter for a visit to the Royal Albert Memorial Museum. This world class museum has stunning new displays, fabulous exhibitions and a ride range of accessible galleries. We will also visit the Sense Café 55 for some lunch. Times will be confirmed when booking.

Wednesday August 6th Hidden Valley Discovery Park in Launceston. Attractions include a Light Railway, Hobbit Trail, Secret Garden, Maze, Fountain Trail and Explorers Path. There is also a fishing lake and a range of shops and cafés. Meeting time is 12 noon. Address: St Thomas, Launceston PL15 8SJ

Monday August 11th - Wednesday August 13th Sense Cornwall Branch camping holiday in . Cornwall Blind Association have kindly funded 3 days of fun and adventure in the grounds of the Dragon Centre in Bodmin. Outdoor activities will be provided by Tempus Leisure and include coasteering, surfing, archery and camp fire singing. We also have full indoor access to the Dragon Centre swimming pool. This activity is open to GOT group young people who‘s families are active members of the Sense Cornwall Branch.

Monday August 16th Trevaskis Farm, . We will have a full guided tour to learn all about the crops, vegetables and exotic fruits that are grown on the farm. The farm is also home to many rare breed animals. No visit would be complete without the chance to pick your own fruits including strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, plums and apples. Meeting time is 12 noon Address: Gwinear, Connor Downs , Hayle TR27 5JQ

Saturday August 23rd Bodmin Air Field Flying Day. The Douglas Bader Foundation has very kindly offered members of the GOT group the opportunity to experience a free day of flying at Bodmin Airfield. Flights will be approximately 20 minutes long in Cessna 152 and Cessna 172 four seater aircraft. The event will also include a free picnic and for all those flying a Bader Brave certificate will be awarded. Please note the event is subject to weather conditions on the day. Meeting time is 10am at Bodmin Airfield, Bodmin PL30 4BU. Please give plenty of time due to A30 holiday traffic

Thursday August 28th We will be visiting Goonbell riding stables for a morning activity. Start time is 11.30 am for a 45 minute hack around the beautiful St Agnes area. Following the horse riding we will be visiting Pizza Hut in Truro for lunch and unlimited ice cream! Address: Goonbell, St Agnes, TR5 OPN Saturday September 6th Tall ships / Plymouth Sound Cruise. All aboard the tall ship Cornubia as we set sail out into the English Channel. The 3 hour cruise will provide the opportunity to help raise the sails, steer the ship and learn all about marine life. The ship departs from the Mayflower Marina in Plymouth at 12 noon.

Email [email protected] GOT Group Mobile 07798 882 496 Web Site www.getouttherecornwall.org

Please indicate 1,2, 3 on the activity list. 1 as the most preferred activity. We will be in touch shortly with further information about each activity once selected

Sunday 13th July Lost Gardens of Heligan_____

Sunday 27th July Tehidy Country Park______

Sunday 29th July Exeter Museum ______

Wednesday 6th August Hidden Valley______

Monday 11th August Camping Holiday______(Branch Only)

Monday 18th August Trevaskis Farm______

Saturday 23rd August Bodmin Air Day______

Thursday 28th August Goonbell Riding ______

Saturday 6th September Tall Ships ______

Do you find your child's behaviour difficult to manage? Would some friendly support and advice be helpful?

If you would like to be able to talk in confidence and meet other parents experiencing similar challenges, then do come along. Your child does not need to have a diagnosis Or statement for you to attend this group Worried about ADHD, ADD, ASD?

Want more help with behaviour?

We are here to help and support you!! FREE Drop-in Support Group for all Parents/Carers

You can attend both venues:

St Austell Children’s Centre St Columb Minor Children’s Centre, 9:30 – 11:30am Newquay 12:30 – 2:30pm Thursday 4th September Wednesday 17th September Thursday 2nd October Wednesday 15th October Thursday 6th November Wednesday 19th November Thursday 4th December Wednesday 17th December

For more general information please contact: Claire Johnson: 01726 824974 E.Mail: [email protected]

Below is a list of activities for the summer. As you can imagine CAAP has doubled in size since last summer so we have to be really clear about how activities are booked and paid for. Please remember that the committee is completely voluntary and we all have disabled children of our own so if we happen to get something wrong or miss something please be patient with us.

All Activities can only be booked through this email account [email protected]. No bookings will be accepted on the facebook page and even if you click you are going to an activity you will not be booked on unless we have had an email.

A note of the date of booking will be made and payment is required within 2 weeks of this date or sooner if the activity is sooner. We have NO money to waste on places not filled so this is really important. Payment can be made by chq sent to: 2 Trethiggey Crescent, Quintrell Downs, Newquay, TR8 4LF payable to CAAP or electronically by contacting Sandy Lawrence for our account details.

I will not chase for payment so your child will automatically be removed from the list if we do not receive it. We always hold reserve lists so places will be given to the next family on the reserve list.

SO - here is the timetable:

Tuesday 29th July Dairyland Newquay Free for DC and Carer all others £4.95 payable on the day

Wed 30th July Porthpean DC & Siblings £15 each

Fri 1st Aug Tubing at Plymouth £5 DC and Sibling

Mon 4th Aug Gorge Walking Delaware £15 DC and Sibling

Tues 5th Aug Beach Ranger Newquay £10 DC and SIbling

Thurs 7th Aug Flowrider DC and Sibling £7.50 Fri 8th AUG Fishing Course at Bake Lake £15 for three weeks dc FOR THREE FRIDAYS and sibling

Sat 9th Aug FUND RAISING CAKE SALE IN TRURO ALL cakes gratefully accepted

Tues 12th Aug Wingz Bird Sanctuary Free for DC and Carer all others £3 payable on the day

Wed 13th Aug Power Kiting Perranporth DC and Sibling £5

Thurs 14th Aug Porthpean DC and Sibling £15

Friday 15th Aug second week of fishing

Tues 19th Aug Surfing with Wave project £15 DC first Siblings if space

Wed 20th Aug Bull Pen, Dairyland with PCCC £2 per child 5.30-7.30

Thurs 21st Aug Gorge walking Delaware £15

Friday 22nd Aug Third week of fishing

Tuesday 26th Aug Porthpean DC and Sibling £15

Wednesday 27th Aug Phoenix Fire Truro £7.50

Friday 29th Aug Flowrider DC and Sibling £7.50

Monday 1st Sept Celebration Party Gwealantops Free

New £30 million fund for more than 1,800 independent supporters to help parents navigate the new special educational needs process.

More than 1,800 champions will be on hand from this September to help parents navigate the new special educational needs process following a £30 million funding boost, announced by Children and Families Minister Edward Timpson. The £30 million will be used to recruit and train a pool of ‘independent supporters’ - champions drawn from independent voluntary, community and private organisations to help the families of children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) through the new process following comprehensive reforms to support. Edward Timpson, Minister for Children and Families, said: Our new £30 million fund will allow families to access help and support from more than 1,800 fully-trained champions across the country. I know from speaking to many parents how much they value any support in helping them access the services their children need. Independent supporters will be able to spend one-to-one time with families giving them the independent help and advice they need to progress through the new SEN assessment and education, health and care planning process. This will ensure that every child and young person with SEN can take full advantage of our reforms. Independent supporters will be available every step of the way for families as they navigate the new system, which will provide much greater integration of vital services and one system for children and young people with SEN from birth to 25. Where there is disagreement, independent supporters will also make sure councils understand what families want, and help families to challenge decision making so children with SEN receive the support they really need. The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) will ensure that a range of organisations provide this totally independent help, overseeing the recruitment and training of the independent supporters - around 12 per area - in time for the implementation of our comprehensive SEN reforms. Christine Lenehan, Council for Disabled Children Director, said: Council for Disabled Children is pleased to be leading on this piece of work alongside its remit as the department’s strategic reform partner. Independent support will become a valuable resource to help and support parents of children with SEN and young people, parent partnership services and local authorities, as we all move towards implementing the reforms and local offer. We look forward to working with a wide range of private, voluntary a community sector partners as we develop proposals further. The Children and Families Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament, will make significant improvements to the support available for children with SEN, including:

 replacing SEN statements and learning disability assessments with a new birth-to-25 education, health and care plan - setting out in 1 place all the support families will receive  requiring better co-operation between councils and health services to make sure services for children and young people with SEN and disabilities are jointly planned and commissioned  giving parents and young people with education, health and care plans the offer of a personal budget - putting families firmly in charge  requiring councils to publish a ‘local offer’ showing the support available to all disabled children and young people and their families in the area - not just those with educational needs  introducing mediation for disputes and trialling giving children and young people the right to appeal if they are unhappy with their support  introducing a new legal right for children and young people with an education, health and care plan to express a preference for state academies, free schools and further education colleges - currently limited to maintained mainstream and special schools.

Parent Carer Council will keep you updated on Independent Support in Cornwall. Details when available will also be posted on the Family Information Services website.

On behalf of everyone at Parent Carer Council we wish you a safe and enjoyable summer

Disclaimer Every effort is made to ensure the information in this newsletter is correct. Parent Carer Council can accept no liability for errors or omissions and we cannot recommend products or services. Views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Parent Carer Council.

Contact Details E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 07973 763332 Website: www.parentcarercouncilcornwall.org.uk