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I hope you are looking forward to the summer holidays and that you'll find some useful ideas, support and advice in this edition to help make the most of the weeks ahead.
At Kent County Council, we're continuing to work with families, schools and organisations to improve support for children and young people with SEND. I've thoroughly enjoyed visiting schools and meeting young people at various events across Kent recently. One of the highlights was the KsENT Games Festival of Sport, where it was wonderful to see so many children and young people taking part in different inclusive sports, developing new skills and, most importantly, having lots of fun.
For those preparing for a new school in September, we know this can be both an exciting and anxious time, I hope some of the tips and advice in this newsletter come in handy. It's also been lovely to hear from some young people at The Marsh Academy, who've shared their own experiences of moving to secondary school and offered reassurance to others about to make the same journey.
I'd also like to wish all young people receiving GCSE and A-level results this summer all the very best. Results day can bring a range of emotions, but please be reassured that support and guidance are available whatever the outcome
I hope you enjoy reading this edition and that you have a happy, relaxing summer.
Beverley Fordham
KCC Cabinet Member for Education and Skills
Kent's SEND Local Area Inspection: Update and thank you
Kent's SEND Local Area Inspection has now taken place. Inspectors from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) met with families, young people, professionals and local leaders to understand how well education, health and care services work together to support children and young people with SEND.
Thank you to everyone who completed the Ofsted survey and shared their experiences. Your feedback helped inspectors hear directly from Kent families and played an important role in the inspection.
Ofsted and the CQC will now review the evidence gathered and publish their report in the next month or two. We will share the findings with families as soon as they are available.
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Hundreds of pupils enjoy inclusive sport at biggest KsENT Games yet
Nearly 300 young people took part in the KsENT Games Festival of Sport at Medway Park on Tues 16 June. The event welcomed pupils from 29 schools and gave children the opportunity to try a wide range of activities, including athletics, table cricket, boxing, inclusive tennis, wheelchair basketball and even a silent disco.
The festival highlighted the benefits of sport for children's wellbeing, confidence and social development. KCC Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Beverley Fordham, attended the event and praised the enthusiasm and teamwork on display, recognising the importance of creating opportunities for all children and young people to get active and feel included.
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More education and SEND news
You can read more education and SEND News on the KCC website, including:
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Imago
Imago are running a number of Short Breaks Family Days in; Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Maidstone, Swale and Thanet. They also provide holiday activities and weekend groups for young people aged 8 to 19 years old in Ashford district.
If you’re interested please refer your child through the short breaks service.
Visit Imago's website to find out more. |
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We are Beams
We Are Beams offer a range of support services to children with SEND and their families living in Dartford, Gravesham and Sevenoaks and the surrounding areas. These services include activities such as holiday clubs, play schemes, family fun events, parties, workshops and theatre trips.
Visit We Are Beams website to see what activities and short breaks are coming up. |
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SNAAP
If you have a child with SEND aged 0 to 25 years old and you live in the Canterbury district then SNAAP can provide information and support to you and your family. During school holidays they offer a range of activities which you can book.
Visit the SNAAP website to find out more about school holiday activities. Be aware that spaces are limited. |
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We are continually working to improve SEND support and greatly value all the feedback we receive. Alongside our SEND newsletter and information on the KCC website, we have been increasing the number of SEND-related posts shared across KCC social media channels to help families access information in a variety of ways. We also regularly read comments on our social media posts, as these provide valuable insights into the information and support that parents and carers need.
Recently, one parent commented that they would like more information about Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA). In response, we were able to signpost them to an upcoming webinar being delivered by Kent Educational Psychology Service, helping them access specialist advice and guidance on this important topic.
We also received feedback that the start time of one of our SEND roadshows made it difficult for some parents and carers to attend because of the school run. We shared this feedback with the venue and were able to extend the roadshow finish time, making it easier for families to come along after the school run..
By listening and responding to your feedback, we can continue to make SEND information, events and support more accessible for Kent families.
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Tell us what you think about the SEND Newsletter!
We want to make sure this newsletter is a useful and informative resource for you. Is the information relevant to you? Is it easy to understand?
Please take a few minutes to fill out the SEND Newsletter survey and help us to keep improving.
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Kent Residents' Newsletter
Did you know that you can also keep up to date with the latest news happening across Kent County Council by subscribing to our residents' e-newsletter?
You’ll receive:
- updates and news
- information and guidance about our activities and services
- advice and suggestions on where to get help and support.
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