Changes to SEND legislation by the DfE – effective from 1^st May

The DfE have made some temporary changes to the laws around EHCP’s as a result of the pandemic. Click here for details. Alternatively, the DfE produced a more user friendly presentation for Parent Carer Forums.  

Health Services Update click here.

St. Helens Lockdown Weekly Activity Calendar
Click here for a SEND friendly daily activity planner produced by St. Helens Council’s Short Breaks team.

Home Learning Resources
Click here for home learning resources recommended by St. Helens Council.
Click here for links to online sessions being run by St. Helens GoActive and Sports development
Click here for link to useful resources from St Helens Library Service
Click here to access online stories, music sessions and activities by Children’s Centre

Children’s Centre Facebook Page 

St.Helens Youth Service New Instagram Activities Page
New page for all young people (age up to 25 for those with SEND) click here

Covid-19 Testing now available for Unpaid Carers
Service Update from St. Helens LASC Team (Language, Autism and Social Communication)
 

Online resources to support your wellbeing and your child’s wellbeing during the Coronavirus outbreak (see below).   Coronavirus and Your Child’s Wellbeing Autistica Coping with uncertainty for autistic people and their families. The Anna Freud Centre Supporting young people’s mental health during periods of disruption.     The Mental Health Foundation Talking to your child about scary world news.  Young Minds  Blogs aimed at young people on wellbeing and Coronavirus.  ​​​​​​Coronavirus and Your Wellbeing  Mind -  your wellbeing during the Coronavirus outbreak  - click here  The Mental Health Foundation - looking after your mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak - click here  The NHS - how to look after your wellbeing whilst staying at home - click here  The NHS - list of helplines if you need to speak to someone about your mental health  - click here  British Association for Counselling Psychotherapists - how to look after your mental health and wellbeing during self-isolation - click here Service updates on Local Offer Website Click  here here for Health Services latest update Click  here here for Social Care latest update Witherslack Parent Carer Webinars Click  here for details of upcoming webinars and for recordings of previous webinars. Useful Information from IPSEA Guidance on SEND Risk Assessments Update from National Network of Parent Carers Click on the link to see how what we say locally is taken forward nationally here

Cerebra

Please find below an extract from Cerebra's website with a link to a useful downloadable guide:

"Our Accessing Public Services Toolkit Workshops are designed to help families access the services that their children need, and are entitled to.

Our popular Accessing Public Services Toolkit aims to support disabled people and carers, as well as their families and advisers, who are encountering difficulties with the statutory agencies in relation to the provision of health, social care and education support services. The toolkit aims to unpick these problems and to develop effective strategies for resolving them."

Download Guide here

Mind Ed

This free resource is aimed at both families and professionals.  It is suited for use by schools, children’s care homes, health professionals, social care, Grandparents, advocates and many more.  It offers specific modules around autism, learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges

Please share this resource widely to help families, wider workforce, volunteers and advocates to be best prepared and skilled to support young people with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism.

Taste Buddies

What is Taste Buddies?
Taste Buddies is a community-based group programme, run by dieticians, for parents/carers of children with restricted diets who are registered with a GP in the Knowsley or St. Helens area.
Using the latest evidence around restrictive dietary intakes and by consulting with experts in occupational therapy, speech therapy and specialist teachers we have developed a group to support your child’s needs.  View/download further information below.

Useful Websites

St Helens Carers
Language, Autism and Social Communication Service (LASCS)
​​​​​Autism Links

For information about St Helens IASS (Independent Advice and Support Service) Please view/download leaflet below.