Reaching high for the best for your child

School Blog SEND SUPPORT

School Blog

SEND SUPPORT

The blog for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Free Mental Health and wellbeing day in support of Mental Health Week

By Mental Health lead, in SEND SUPPORT - Wednesday, 10 May 2023

Free Health & Wellbeing Day supporting Mental Health Awareness Week

A great, free event for parents and carers. Pop along and explore the stalls to gain ideas and support for your own mental health and the mental health of your family members. 


Tuesday 16th May 202310:00 – 15:00
Healthy Hub Stevenage, Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre


Join Hertfordshire Talking Therapies for a fact-filled day of stalls and workshops hosted by local charities and services including: 

• NHS Talking Therapies
• Mind in Mid-Herts
• Triangle Community Gardens
• Healthy Hub Stevenage, Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre

• Holistic Health At Home
• Newleaf Recovery and wellbeing College
• The Living Room
• Foodshed/Babyshed
• Pixie & Pickles Therapy Ponies!

The Early Help Team - Parenting When Separated course

By Mrs Jeffries, in SEND SUPPORT - Wednesday, 10 May 2023

The Parenting When Separated programme is a practical and positive evidence-based course for parents who are preparing for, going through or have gone through a separation or divorce.

It is a six-week course that highlights practical steps parents can take to help their children cope and thrive, as well as coping successfully themselves.

The course commences on Tuesday 13th June and will be held from 10.00am - 12.30pm at The Shephall Centre, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG2 9XR.   Parents can request if they prefer to access the course online or in person on the referral form.

Course details

The course consists of six group sessions for up to 12 parents, each session will last 2 hours 30 minutes with a 15 minute break. We will meet all parents for an individual introductory meeting prior to the group starting to discuss your goals for the course.

How to register

You can be referred by a professional or parents can self-refer https://surveys.hertfordshire.gov.uk/s/5SHI7N/

Tune inToGether from Tune into Autism

By Mrs Dunthorne, in SEND SUPPORT - Tuesday, 25 April 2023

This on-line event, which is being held on Wednesday 10th May from 7.30-8.30pm via Zoom is open to all adults, whether they are Parents, Educators, Adults with additional needs, family members of people on the Autistic Spectrum or with related condition. Everyone is welcome.  

This free zoom session is an opportunity for hosts and guests to explore, share ask questions or just listen to others. Cameras can be on or off and microphones can be muted or unmuted. People can access the session in the way they feel most comfortable.  

To register to attend, please visit the website www.tuneintoasd.com or contact them at letstalk@tuneintoasd.com 

MHST Parent Workshop - Emotionally Based School Avoidance

By Mrs Dunthorne, in SEND SUPPORT - Tuesday, 25 April 2023

The Stevenage Mental Health Support Team (MHST) are running an on-line workshop on Friday 19th May from 10.00 - 11.00am for parent/carers needing support with emotion based school avoidence (EBSA).  Click here to book your place.

Kai's Corner

By Mental Health Lead, in SEND SUPPORT - Friday, 21 April 2023

Looking for new books to read at bedtime to support your child's emotional development and wellbeing?

The 'Sandbox' website has a lovely section called 'Kai's corner' which is full of book recommendations for children aged 5-8 and 9-12. 

Follow the link and scroll down to find it:

https://sandbox.mindler.co.uk/theresourcezone/?#lp-pom-block-655

Each book has a short description so you know what aspect of wellbeing and mental health the text focuses on. Why not see which texts are available at your local library? 

Some examples of the themes are: 

  • A book about things getting better with time and not being afraid to ask for help
  • A book about a hedgehog who limits himself because of worry and how he learns to manage those worries
  • A book about grief and healing following the death of Kai's dad

HENRY Healthy Families Programme - Starting w/c 24th April

By Mrs Dunthorne, in SEND SUPPORT - Tuesday, 18 April 2023

The HENRY programme helps families to learn how to keep their families healthy and provides everything you need to help your child get off to a great start.  It is completely FREE for families whose children are 0-5 years old.

The programme runs on-line (1 hour session) or face-to-face (2 hour session - there is a creche available to parents).

Session 1 - Let's get started (what's a healthy person? Goal setting)

Session 2 - Balancing acts (balance of foods and looking after self in terms of 'me' time)

Session 3 - Needs and demands - parenting strategies

Session 4 - Tuning into mealtimes - healthy habits

Session 5 - Time to be active

Session 6 - Eating Healthily - lunchboxes, portions and food labels

Session 7 - Let's focus on feelings (listening and empathy)

Session 8 - The way forward (celebrating what parent has achieve and handing out certificates) 

 

 

 

Balance meditation app free for a year

By Mental health lead, in SEND SUPPORT - Thursday, 30 March 2023

The mental health team would like to share a great well-being deal we have come across and some of our teachers are already using ✨

If you have never used Balance app, they are offering a free year, full access to new members. It’s a really good guided meditation app to help with relaxation, reduce stress, sleep and other areas. 

You can choose to listen to different sounds, follow a guided meditation or guided stretch and there’s a kids section too! There are many wonderful benefits to including meditation as part of your routine for you and your family. Even a few minutes a day can make a positive impact. 
 
The sessions range from 3 mins - 20 mins and build up depending on the plan you choose so can start off small to give it a try.
 
You can access via this link: 
https://www.balanceapp.com/referral-email
Or open in apple apps:
 
Happy meditating

Parent/Carer Motor Development Information Sessions

By Mrs Dunthorne, in SEND SUPPORT - Tuesday, 28 March 2023

When do children develop particular motor skills, such as riding a bicycle or using a pen? 

How can you help your child to develop these skills?

What can you do if your child is struggling with a skill?

The NHS are running on-line sessions for parents or carers of children aged between 4-8 years old who would like to understand more about their child’s motor development and how to support this. 

The session will share information about the typical ages when children develop different motor skills. It will explain how to breakdown an activity such as pulling on a jumper into simple steps to help your child complete this independently. You will also get advice on activities and simple things you can do at home to support your child’s motor development.

Please see attached flier for more details and how to book.

 

Coffee morning

By Mrs Jeffries, in SEND SUPPORT - Thursday, 16 March 2023

Don't forget, it's our SEN coffee session tomorrow at 23pm in the Upper hall. The main focus of the session is to chat about SATS in Year 6 but is open for all. We can talk about anything you like - see you there!

Family Lives Summer Programme 2023 

By Mrs Dunthorne, in SEND SUPPORT - Tuesday, 14 March 2023

Families Lives are running a series of really helpful on-line groups this summer, the details of some are listed below:

Bringing Up Confident ADHD/ASD Children (6 weeks) - Tuesday 18 April to 23 May 2023, 7.00 – 9.00pm

If your child has ADHD/ASD, or you think they might, join our online 6-week group where you will receive support from other parents and gain a comprehensive understanding of ADHD/ASD and learn strategies to improve life at home and at school.

Sessions will cover :

  • ADHD/ ASD - a whole-family issue
  • Understanding your child’s behaviour
  • Helping your child manage their feelings and outbursts.
  • Balancing support of siblings
  • Learning about structure and routines.
  • Supporting your child at school

Sorting Out Arguments in your Family (6 weeks) - Thursday 18 May to 29 June 2023, 7.00 – 9.00pm

Do you feel everything ends in an argument and you are constantly trying to keep the peace? Join our free online 6-week group to help improve family communication, reduce the reactions which lead to arguments and create a culture of teamwork in your family.

Sessions will cover :

  • How parents and children can be affected by conflict
  • Strategies in handling and resolving conflict and anger.
  • Parents role when there is sibling rivalry and jealousy, fostering cooperation rather than competition.
  • Effective communication, implementing boundaries and how to negotiate

Less Shouting, More Cooperation (6 weeks) - Wednesday 7 June to 12 July 2023, 9.30 – 11.30am

Do you feel you are constantly nagging or shouting at your child to get what you need? Are you tired of losing your cool and want a calmer house?  Join our free online 6- week group to learn how you can change the way you communicate with your child, respond better, and feel more in control

The sessions will cover:-

  • Exploring what helpful discipline is
  • Recognising the triggers and responding more effectively
  • Learning new parenting tools to challenge children’s behaviour.
  • How to negotiate and implement effective boundaries and family agreements.
  • How to hold boundaries and gain co-operation 

Getting on with Your Pre Teen/Teenager (6 weeks) - Thursday 8 June to 13 July 2023, 7.00 – 9.00pm

Is your teen feeing anxious or isolated in the wake of Covid-19? Are you concerned about their mental health and struggling to get help? Maybe you have an FFA/CIN/CP in place and need more support.   Join our free online 6-week online group to learn how parents can best emotionally support their teen and feel confident and prepared for whatever challenges might arise.

The sessions will cover:-

  • Learn tools to help teenagers manage difficult emotions & avoid drama and become more emotionally resilient.
  • How to change parenting styles to meet the developmental needs of your teenager & remain effective
  • How to talk to teens so they will talk to you and build strong relationships
  • How to set effective boundaries to stop problem behaviour
  • How to give teenagers more independence whilst keeping them safe; make good choices and avoid peer pressure.

Family Lives accept referrals from professionals as well as self-referrals.  Please click here referral form for the online referral form.

You can also email services@familylives.org.uk or call them on 0204 522 8700 or 0204 522 8701 for more information.

More information about Family Lives can be found at https://www.familylives.org.uk/