1. DSPL 8 – Dacorum area – Autumn Newsletter for parents and Spring Term courses for parents
Hertfordshire schools are currently divided into 9 areas for SEND education under a system called Delivering Special Provision Locally (DSPL). Each area puts on courses and events for parents who live in that area or whose child is at school/college in that area.
DSPL 8 covers the Dacorum area that is Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted & villages, Tring and villages and Kings Langley and villages. Their latest newsletter and brochure of courses for parents is available to download via their website. Please note that there are some courses/sessions (under pink heading) that are run by Families in Focus and open to parents across Hertfordshire.
LINK: http://www.dacorumdspl.org.uk/online-resources-for-parents-and-carers-2/
2. Adult Respite new consultation and petition
HPCI recently informed our parent network that HCC (Herts County Council) Adult Services were consulting about the proposed closure of 3 overnight short breaks services for adults with a learning disability. Following responses to the initial consultation the consultation has been revised and now includes a different respite unit, the Bishops Stortford one instead of the Hoddesdon one. The consultation closes on 21st January 2020.
If you would like to respond to the new one then here is the link:
https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/about-the-council/consultations/adult-social-services/additional-short-breaks-respite-consultation.aspx#
A number of concerns about the assumptions made in these consultations have been raised by both individuals and organisations in Hertfordshire (including HPCI).
As a result a petition has been launched which Hertfordshire residents are entitled to sign up to. The concerns reflected in this petition are ones that HPCI also shares.
You can find the petition at:
https://democracy.hertfordshire.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=54&RPID=1543345&HPID=1543345
3. Inclusion East Family Carer’s Forum
Inclusion East would like to invite you to the Eastern Region Family Carer’s Forum on Tuesday 14th January 2020 10.30am to 2.30pm at Cambridge Professional Development Centre, Foster Road, Cambridge, CB2 9NL
The forum offers peer support to families of people with learning disabilities of all ages and is an opportunity to share the latest national information and examples of good practice from around the region.
Free parking is available and lunch will be provided.
To book a place please email sara.kent@ntlworld.com or call Sara on 0790 1837854
Finally – there will be another email with opportunities for getting involved in different work streams and projects as an HPCI parent rep so please keep a look out for that.