An Information Service For Parents Of Children And Young People With Special Educational Needs And Disabilities in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire The IRIS Magazine Winter 2018/19 Inside this issue 2019 Including Parents Conference Guest Announcement See page 4 Your Invite to the Special Prom! See page 6 Independent Travel Training Awards See page 20 08000 85 85 20 [email protected] 2 Contents Introduction 2 Introduction 2 Short Breaks Offer Welcome to a new year and a However, while it’s been busy at IRIS new IRIS magazine! HQ making changes and taking your feedback on board, we still want 3 Hot Topics This issue is quite exciting for us – more! Please continue to tell us what we’ve had plenty of chance to get you want to see more of (and less of) 4 Share What You your feedback and take it onboard, by either completing our poll at Know hopefully shaping the magazine www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/iris_poll into something you look forward to or you can email us on receiving each quarter. [email protected]. 5 2019 Including Parents Conference So, what’s new? Include Royle Visitor The events section has undergone a face-lift and we’re introducing 6 some interactive sections to get Special Prom Invite you and your family involved in the community, including a photo gallery 7-15 Events and Activities and the opportunity to tell us what you know. 16 Half Term Activities to do at Home 17 Notts County Sensory Rooms Short Breaks Offer 18 Let’s Get Digital 20 Independent Travel What is it? How to access it Training Awards 2018 As part of the Local Offer, Nottingham City Council offer a both the City and County guaranteed minimum of 2 hours of 22 What’s Going On? Councils offer short breaks for activities per week to SEND children living in the area. To claim more disabled children and young hours, you will need to complete an 23 Get Ahead and Move people. application. To do this online, please Ahead visit: A ‘Short Break’ can range from a few City residents: bit.ly/LION_Breaks hours, to a few days and is designed County residents will need to match to ensure that children with Special eligibility criteria and complete and Educational Needs and Disabilities application process: have access to fun, stimulating and bit.ly/ncc_short_breaks educational activities which give them the opportunity to access Alternatively, you can contact provisions independently or with Ask Us by emailing their family and help to develop [email protected] or call the skills which will increase their helpline on 0800 121 7772 during the overall independence. The break following times: may take place within your home, at a specified place, such as a museum Monday 09:00 – 13:00 or in a short breaks facility. Tuesday 13:00 – 17:00 Wednesday 09:00 – 13:00 For parents and carers, these short Thursday 13:00 – 17:00 breaks offer the opportunity to take Friday 09:00 - 13:00 a break from caring and are designed to let you take a step back and For more information, please visit spend quality time with other family your Local Offer Website, Ask LION members. or Notts Help Yourself. 3 Hot Topics Things parents and young people have been asking us about this quarter... Transitioning to Adult Care Making the change from pediatric care to adult care There is also a wide range of groups and support can be overwhelming. However, there are lots of services in the city, across the county and operating resources available to help you and your child to across the country, offering contact for information on prepare and navigate the transition smoothly. the transition between child and adult care, including: The Ask Us and IRIS Website has plenty of factsheets and links which are a good start. You can find these by going to www.ppsnotts.org.uk and searching for ‘transition’. A Place to Call Our Own The Transition Nottinghamshire (APTCOO) – Mansfield Information Network – Transitions Team – National Countywide This group supports young people transitioning into adulthood to Based in London, the network Nottinghamshire County Council become more independent and is free to join and provides Transitions Team is made up of able to make informed choices information and options for young Social Workers and Community and decisions. Young People with people who are approaching or Care Officers who provide qualified staff will identify personal going through the transition to planning, assessment, advice and aspirations and goals in a positive adult care, including a monthly support services for young people and creative way. APTCOO are e-bulletin. preparing for adulthood. They work working with young people offering with young people who have an all types of work experience and Telephone: 020 7843 6006 impairment and require social care opportunities to develop their skills E-mail: [email protected] support that cannot be accessed in the APTCOO Learn, Work and through community services already Earn Centre. https://councilfordisabledchildren. in place. Telephone: 01623 629902 org.uk/transition-information- network Telephone: 0300 500 8080 www.aptcoo.co.uk www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/care/ adult-social-care/moving-to-adult- services Accessing Funding If you need help with the cost of equipment, These include: medication or day-to-day living as a result of a • DTD Charity disability or illness, there are plenty of options • Lord Wandsworth Foundation available. A good place to start is Turn 2 Us (https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk) where you • Nottingham Gordon Memorial Trust for Boys & Girls can search for local grants and funds to apply for. • The Perry Trust Gift Fund • The Family Holiday Association In Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, there are a range of charities and organisations who accept • Always Look on the Bright Side of Life Charitable applications for funding. Trust 4 Share What You Know! They say knowledge is power, and that’s never truer than when a little bit of information could make a challenging situation much easier. This section has been designed to share parent and carer recommendations for places that go the extra mile in offering support for people with additional needs and their parents. All information on this page has been submitted by parents like you – and we couldn’t put this together without you. So, if you discover a business or organisations offering something special – whether it’s physical support, discounts or just great customer service – let us know! The National Civil War Museum The museum, in Newark, offers support for children with additional needs in two ways: Quiet Hour Sensory Backpacks Starting in January, these monthly sessions will give These contain a range of things, which can help children children and young people the opportunity to interact with sensory needs to enjoy the museum experience with displays and enjoy the museum experience in a to the max. The backpack contains ear defenders, a supportive environment. These sessions will be held on: notebook and pen, as well as a variety of sensory and engaging toys and activities. In addition, the backpack LAUNCH - Wednesday 9th January 4-5.30pm is weighted, with the option to add more weight if Sunday 10th February 10-11am necessary to make children feel comfortable. Wednesday 13th March 5-6.30pm Sunday 14th April 10-11am Afternoon sessions will be open solely to quiet hour customers, while morning sessions will be run alongside the general public admission, though all visitors will be aware of the session. National Theatres – including the West End The theatres in Nottingham are well known to IRIS readers for their accessible and relaxed performances, but this month we have heard from parents who have discovered discounted tickets to performances across the country – including London’s West End, by simply calling ahead to theatres and asking what they offer – a great tip for anybody planning a short break or holiday! East Midlands Designer Outlet Quiet Room and Changing Places Facility The quiet room at McArthur Glen is for guests to get The quiet room is available during centre trading hours away from the hustle and bustle of the centre. It is and parents of children with additional needs are multi-functional, so may be used by those looking for a welcome to use the room as a respite area. quiet place to feed their babies, pray, or just to have a break from the crowds. Guests can have a glass of The shopping centre also has a Changing Places facility, water or hot drink on request. This room is also used in which contains the necessary equipment for guests with circumstances where first aid is required, to give patients additional needs to use the facilities in comfort and privacy. safety. You will need a R.A.D.A.R. key to access this facility, but guest services are happy to provide one to families who may not have theirs with them. 5 2019 Including Parents’ Conference includes Royle Visitor! The annual ‘Including Parents’ Conference which takes place at Bestwood Lodge Hotel on Wednesday 15th May, will feature a keynote speaker with Royle connections. No, it won’t be that frequent visitor to Nottingham, Prince Harry, but a rather different Henry… Writer, poet, TV and film producer, Henry Normal. Born in St Ann’s, Nottingham, Henry was responsible for co-creating and writing the first series of The Royle Family, which starred Caroline Aherne and Ricky Tomlinson. He co- wrote and script edited The Mrs Merton Show, again working with Caroline Aherne. His other credits include co-writing with comedian, Steve Coogan and executive producing such classics as ‘Gavin and Stacey’, ‘The Mighty Boosh’ and ‘Red Dwarf’.