Durrington C of E VC Junior School

Support and Information for families and parents

of Pupils with Additional Needs and/or Mental Health difficulties

Please scroll down the page to find any information that may be useful to you and your family.  The most current posts are to be found at the top of this page.   

WELCOME BACK to Term 3                                                                                          January 2022

I hope you all managed to have a restful break over the Christmas holiday. We are now well into the new year and back at school things are as busy as ever. It is so lovely to see the children having more mixed class opportunities in school again.

I will continue to post new and relevant materials linked with Additional Needs, Mental Health and SEND Wiltshire support materials   I encourage you to scroll down to the bottom of the page again as there are a number of materials from last year which continue to be useful. 

As usual if you have any queries or questions about SEND at Durrington CE Junior School which can't be answered from reading our website, Facebook page or by reading our SEND Information Report, please don't hesitate to contact me at school Monday to Wednesday. 

Mrs Jessica de Vries

SENDCo and Senior Mental Health Lead

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Please encourage children to visit this page and watch the video if you feel your child needs support with their feelings and thoughts at present. 

Thoughts and feelings getting you down? When to seek help - BBC Bitesize

Please use this story and the worksheets below to support your child with their return to school on the 8th March 2021.

Returning to school in March, suggestions for parents:

https://parents.org.uk/covid-19/education/im-worried-about-my-child-going-back-to-school/

https://mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/media/2295/tracking-my-feelings.pdf

Here is a really good site for parents/carers with children who have additional needs.

https://www.scie.org.uk/care-providers/coronavirus-covid-19/learning-disabilities-autism/carers-family

Please open the letter below (dated 22nd January) to parents and carers of children who have EHCPs.  Please continue to communicate with the school about your child's progress at this time. 

Please use the NSPCC site for support at this time...

www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/coronavirus-supporting-children-special-educational-needs-disabilities/

Please do check out Wiltshire Parent Carer Council, WPCC for guidance and support for parents who have children with additional needs.  They are able to sign post for all types of support and they have their finger on the pulse with regard to lots of opportunities for young people with additional needs.  

Below is a specific page you may find useful at this time.  Do check out the rest of their website for other support. 

http://wiltshireparentcarercouncil.co.uk/en/Signposting_-_Support_for_families_-_Support_for_parents_%26_carers_-_SSENS_Team_Support_and_Information_Resource_Pack_for_Parent_Carers

The Grab and Go guide has been designed in partnership with people with learning disabilities, families and nurses.
It gives the information that doctors and nurses will need if you go to hospital because of COVID-19 and, for example, are struggling to breathe or communicate.
It is not a replacement for the everyday, detailed hospital passport. You should update your hospital passport and take that to hospital along with the Grab and Go guide if you need to be admitted.
If you haven't got a hospital passport you can download your local passport by searching on the internet for (hospital name) hospital passport or choose one you like from here:
https://www.autism.org.uk/about/health/hospital-passport.aspx
https://www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/health/health-guides

https://senresourcesblog.com/2020/05/29/11-resources-to-help-children-settle-back-into-school-after-lockdown-plus-a-free-downloadable-social-story-for-returning-to-school-after-lockdown/

Here are some good ideas to support children with more complex needs prepare for returning to school.

Face Covering Exception Rules for People with Learning Disabilities and Autistic People (see attached template)
As of Monday 15th June 2020, everyone must wear a face covering when on public transport if they can, but importantly there are exemptions for those who need it.

People with certain health conditions, disabled people, people who are autistic, people with learning disabilities and children under the age of 11 will not be required to wear a face covering if to do so would cause them distress, harm or cause problems for people who need to lip read or use facial expressions to communicate. This exemption also applies to others whose wearing of a face covering would cause distress, harm or communication problems with the person they are travelling with.

Photosymbols has produced an exemption card template for people to use: simply cut out the relevant card and keep it on you to show while travelling. Please see the attached template you can cut out and use.

https://www.elsa-support.co.uk/

Many free resources can be found on the ELSA Support Website.  In schools an ELSA is an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. ELSAs support children with their social skills, emotions, bereavement, anger management and self-esteem by using social stories, therapeutic stories and counselling skills. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources/online-science-pe-wellbeing-and-send-resources-for-home-education#special-educational-needs-and-disabilities-send

This list of SEND resources has been developed with a focus on accessibility and inclusivity and is based on the recommendations of trusted organisations, charities, multi-academy trusts and special education headteachers.

https://www.sibs.org.uk/about-sibs/sibs-services/

Sibs is the only UK charity for children and adults who are growing up with or have grown up with a disabled brother or sister. We provide information, support and training on sibling issues for adult siblings, young siblings, parents and professionals.

https://en.calameo.com/read/000777721945cfe5bb9cc?authid=Xu9pcOzU3TQx

Everybody Worries - An E picture book for children who are worried about the Coronavirus

Useful Websites for Parents