Welcome to your latest update from HPCI. Our newsletter lets you know what’s happening with SEND in Hertfordshire. This week we’ll cover:
HCC SEND summit – how to share your views
SEND has been identified as a priority for the new leadership of HCC. Last week they announced plans to hold a SEND summit in September to gather views. The council have invited families to get involved by:
As soon as we have further details, we will let you know. In the meantime, you can sign up to participate in pre-summit engagement activities.
HPCI response to Education Select Committee
The HPCI written submission on “Solving the SEND Crisis” has now been published on the Parliament website. In it, we’ve explained clearly our view that the problem is not that legislation change is needed, but that the existing system needs to work better, and with greater accountability. If you want to read the full document, it’s available via the Parliament website.
Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) – year 2
The PINS programme has been renewed for a second year, and an additional 18 mainstream primary schools will be involved in Hertfordshire. We’ll update with a list of the schools involved as soon as we can. We’re delighted that our amazing two HPCI/PINS reps Elaine & Lynn will be continuing, taking all their experience from last year into the expanded project. For more information about the national project, you can click here.
This week is Carers’ week!
HPCI is here to represent the views of parent carers, with the aim to improve the services that our children and young people with SEND need. But we know that having support for parent carers is also vital. In Hertfordshire, we have got the excellent Carers in Herts providing support and assisting carers to access help. You can find out more about how they can help you by clicking here.
Other information about support is available on the HCC website.
You might also be interested in a free online information session for people with caring responsibilities happening tomorrow (June 12). The Office of the Public Guardian is hosting a session about lasting power of attorneys (LPAs) and deputyship – tickets are available here.
Welfare reform consultation
Carers UK has launched an open letter to the Prime Minister asking that the Government reconsiders the welfare reforms included in the Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working. They are asking carers and any others to sign the letter so that they can deliver it to Downing Street with thousands of signatures. It is likely that the Government will be introducing legislation in June. You can read and sign the letter here.
You can read more about the concerns these proposed reforms have raised on the Contact website and in this Special Needs Jungle article.
Family Fund grants
National charity Family Fund has grants available for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child, on a low income. They’ve asked us to let you know that, in addition to their usual programme of grants, they are currently taking applications for their Your Opportunity programme. If you’re the parent or carer of a disabled adult, aged 18 to 24, who lives at home with you, you may be eligible for a grant which can range from digital devices, membership to a club, sports equipment, education materials, or even a musical instrument – whatever is needed the most.
To check if you’re eligible, and find out more about what other grant programmes are available please visit the Family Fund website.
Reminder about MHST survey – closing soon
The SEND Mental Health Support Team (MHST) works in schools to support students with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. They have asked us to host a survey for them, to help understand how schools support mental health and emotional wellbeing and what families would like to see in the future.
The survey is open until 13 June and should only take five minutes to complete.
Finally, last week was volunteers’ week
HPCI couldn’t do the work we do without our amazing team of volunteers – our directors and our parent carer representatives. Everyone at HPCI is a parent carer, so we really do appreciate the time they give up. (We know how precious “spare” time is!)
We also want to thank our members. We rely on you taking the time to share your experiences and complete our surveys. Thank you for helping make a difference, so that we can continue to represent Herts families with children or young people with SEND.
