Your Summer 2024 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities newsletter

Welcome to your Summer 2024 SEND newsletter
Dorset Council news about services for children & young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
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Summer newsletter
Welcome to your newsletter, co-produced by Dorset Council, NHS Dorset and Dorset Parent Carer Council (DPCC).
In this edition you'll find information about:
* Avon Heath special open event - 8 August (#Avon)
* Summer in Dorset (Holiday Activity and Food Programme) (#HAF)
* Beach huts for hire!
(#Beach huts)
* Mental Health Schools Team Wellbeing (#MST)
* Support over the summer (#Summer Support)
* Let's Talk SEND (#Let's Talk)
* Let's Talk - in person events, hold the date! (#Let's Talk in Person)
* Family Hub summer events (#Family Hubs)
* EchoFest (#EchoFest)
We hope you find the articles and news contained useful in supporting you along your journey. Please share with anybody who you think might benefit and they can sign-up HERE
With best wishes for the summer holidays.
Dorset SEND Partnership
(Dorset Council, NHS Dorset & Dorset Parent Carer Council)
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Do you visit Avon Heath Country Park with your children? Then help create Avon Heath’s future playground!
You can share your ideas through our online survey at Avon Heath Play Area Survey - Dorset Council - Citizen Space
. Or you can come along to Dorset Council's event on August 8th, 10.00 am-3.00 pm. Your input will help to create an unforgettable play experience!
There's an Easy Read version of the survey if you would prefer this.
The council is particularly keen on creating an inclusive playground for children of all abilities. There’s 1 hour free parking when you attend the open event! (To claim please go to the Avon Heath Visitor Centre on arrival).
If you have any questions, get in touch with Avon Heath Country Park on 01425 478082.
Or email avonheath@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Share your ideas
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Are you searching for fun ways for children and young people to have a happy and healthy Summer holiday?
Summer in Dorset is a Council initiative designed to bring high-quality, accessible and affordable activities to families in Dorset over the Summer holidays. The majority of our activity providers offer additional SEND support.
All activities, events and holiday clubs participating in Summer in Dorset are free for children who receive benefit-related free school meals. This is thanks to the Department for Education's Holiday Activity and Food Programme funding.
Click on the link to see what’s on offer: Summer in Dorset 2024
You can filter for SEND activities, or if you see a listing you think your child would like that is not on the SEND list, please do contact the provider to discuss your child’s needs.
There are activities that can offer support for children with:
* Autism / Neurodiversity and Learning Disabilities
* Hearing Impairment
* Limited Mobility
* Visual Impairment
Providers are offering a variety of fun activities, ranging from sports clubs and paddle boarding to forest schools, as well as getting creative with arts and crafts, drama workshops or cookery.
There are holiday clubs designed to create an engaging environment for your children, developing their physical creative and social skills with qualified and supportive staff and facilities.
Check out our newest provider Inclusive Music and Theatre Intensive who have sessions running from 27th to 29th August in Weymouth - click here to view details and book Inclusive Music & Theatre Intensive (helpandkindness.co.uk)
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Who wants to spend their summer holidays at the beach? 🙌
The Dorset Parent Carer Council (DPCC) are giving their SEND families the amazing opportunity to hire their beach huts this summer.
The DPCC are offering 3 beach huts that are available to rent daily over the summer.
The DPCC's beach huts
are reserved only for families with children with disabilities who are also members of the DPCC.
The beach huts cost £8 for one day. The DPCC have beach huts in Weymouth, Swanage and Lyme Regis available for hire.
Hire a beach hut
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School’s out for Summer! Whether you’re already on Summer break or finish this week, we’ve got everything you need for an action packed holiday.
The Mental Health Support team have created a Summer Wellbeing Journal which is full of tips and tricks on how to stay happy and healthy over the Summer following the five steps to wellbeing: connect, get active, take notice, learn and give. Download via the link in our bio or visit: Summer Wellbeing Journal
Summer Wellbeing Journal PDF
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You can still get the support you need when school is out for summer. Our team at Dorset Council are still working over the holiday period – if you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at: 01305 228866
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Our ‘Let’s Talk SEND’ online events give people in Dorset with children who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) a chance to come together and hear from the SEND team at Dorset Council. The sessions always include plenty of time for questions and answers (Q and A).
Our next online "Let's Talk SEND" session is scheduled for 12:30pm on 25 September.
See the link to a write up of all our previous Q&A sessions and sign up for the next session at:
Let's Talk SEND - Dorset Council
Ask us a question
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Dorset Council, in partnership with the Dorset Parent Carer Council, will be holding an information event at Kingston Maurward on Monday 21 October.
There will be a range of information on offer and the chance to meet other parents in a welcoming environment.
Let's Talk Week will be from Monday 21 October to Sunday 27 October. Throughout the week there will be smaller, regional events happening across Dorset.
Save the date!
More information coming soon.
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Family Hubs are now open in five locations, offering essential support to Dorset families.
The Family Hubs, currently in Wareham, Swanage, Wimborne, Ferndown and Bridport, are providing families with support for social, emotional, physical and financial needs.
The idea behind the Family Hubs is to provide a safe and welcoming space where families can access support in one place, conveniently located in the centre of their local communities.
Some of them are running launch events across the summer, with fun and inclusive events for all the family. Keep an eye on Dorset Council's social media for details.
Find out more about Family Hubs
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Echofest is an exciting new free music and arts festival for 11 to 16
year olds, set to take place on August 8, 2024, between 1pm and 5pm in the picturesque grounds of Carey Outdoor Education Centre.
Come join us for a day filled with music, food and fun! Get ready to dance to the beats of amazing artists and enjoy delicious eats from the Friendly Food Club. Don't miss out on the opportunity to make memories and create echoes of joy with all your friends. This vibrant event promises an unforgettable day of creativity, music, and culinary delights.
Secure your spot by booking free tickets via Eventbrite: Echo Fest Tickets
How to get here:
Carey Outdoor Education Centre Carey Road Wareham Dorset BH20 7PB
Need a Ride? - we are running a free minibus shuttle service from Wareham train station to the festival to get you there and back – see flyer in the link below for details.
EchoFest Flyer
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Need help? Here's who you can contact:
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If any of the articles in this month’s edition have made you think about help you might need, and you’re a bit unsure as to where to go first then we have put together information about some of the key places for resources and helpful people to speak to:
Phone the Dorset Council team
Contact us if you're struggling and need help and guidance. Phone 01305 228866.
SEND Local Offer website
Our Local Offer provides information, advice and support for children and young people aged from 0 to 25 years with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families.
Visit SEND Local Offer HERE
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)
SENDIASS is a free, impartial and confidential service which offers information, advice and support for parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This service also directly helps young people. SENDIASS.
Visit SENDIASS webpage HERE
.
Your Education and Early Help SEND locality teams
These are the area-specific Dorset Council staff who can offer local support and advice.
You can find your locality contact details HERE
Educational psychologists
We offer parents and carers of children age 3 to 18 years (25 if the young person has Special Educational Needs & Disability) the opportunity to speak with a Dorset Educational Psychologist (EP). For younger children talk to your Health Visitor or early years provider first.
This is for people that:
- live in Dorset
- have a query or concern about learning or behaviour
- have worries about wellbeing and emotions
You can book a telephone consultation online HERE
Text.
Useful information and resources
Visit your SEND local offer website
Visit SENDIASS
** SENDIASS: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service
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All age Neurodevelopmental review
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