If you require a paper copy of the information on this website please contact the Centre for a free copy (0121 533 5806)

Good To Know Newsletter - 22nd May 2020

COVID 19 UPDATES

Please view the following documentation for parents and carers

Back to school letter for parents and carers

Covid 19 Letter to parents and carers from the Director of Education

Please click here to read an interesting interview with Shani Dhanda who was born with a rare genetic condition called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, more commonly known as Brittle Bones.

Please click here to view a Coronavirus Lockdown message from your local community police

Please click on the link for your child to access free yoga video lessons to practice at home during the Coronavirus Lockdown.

Good To Know Working With Families Article - 17th April 2020

Sandwell Prevent Team Newsletter - April 2020

Resources for parents /carers: Parenting ADHD and Autism.com

Covid-19 Content: ThinkNinja

Helpful resources for parents/carers for communicating issues regarding Coronavirus.

Emerging Minds - resources for managing children's anxiety: https://emergingminds.org.uk/recommended-resources-supporting-children-and-young-people-with-worries-and-anxiety-links/
National Autistic Society – guidance and helpline for parents’, young people and staff: https://www.autism.org.uk/services/nas-schools/vanguard/news/2020/march/coronavirus-(covid-19)-advice.aspx
Mencap - Easy Read guide to Coronavirus: https://www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-03/Information%20about%20Coronavirus%20ER%20SS2.pdf
Place2Be – Guide to helping parents answer questions from their children and to support family wellbeing: https://www.place2be.org.uk/about-us/news-and-blogs/2020/march/coronavirus-information-for-children/
Young Minds - Talking to your child about Coronavirus and 10 tips from their Parents Helpline to support family wellbeing: https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/talking-to-your-child-about-coronavirus/
Carers UK - Guidance for carers: https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/health/looking-after-your-health/coronavirus-covid-19
Covibook – an interactive resource designed to support and reassure children aged 7 and under, designed to help children explain and draw the emotions that they might be experiencing during the pandemic: https://www.mindheart.co/descargables
Amaze - information pack for parents https://amazesussex.org.uk/faqs-about-the-coronavirus-for-parent-carers-of-children-with-send-brighton-hove/
Public Health England have produced an easy read version of their Advice on the coronavirus for places of education. You can download it here.
Here's a video on supporting neurodiverse children during self-isolation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXPtqmHKNoE&feature=youtu.be

The following apps are free for a month:

Shape Coding (to develop language) :https://www.moorhouse.surrey.sch.uk/news/?pid=0&nid=1&storyid=59
Widgit (symbol software): https://mailchi.mp/widgit/wo

FAO Parents of Key Stage 3 pupils - please note that pupils can now access Whizz to complete Maths work.

Parent Information from CEOP and Parent Zone

Please click on the link to view COVID-19 Free School Meals Guidance

Supporting information from Sandwell Educational Psychologists

Physical and Mental Health Advice Support Services for Students.

Services to support students health and wellbeing continue to operate (as listed below).

School Nurse Services (Chat Health): ChatHealth, a confidential text messaging service that enables children and young people (11 year olds plus) to contact their local Public Health nursing (school nursing) team and is available on 07480 635486

Kooth: Free, safe and anonymous online support for young people (11-19 years plus) available at all times https://www.kooth.com/ and includes accessing online counselling support (Monday – Friday: noon – 10pm, Saturday – Sunday 6pm – 10pm)

Beam Drop in-service (anyone under 19): All face-to-face services have been cancelled; updates will be placed on Twitter @beamsandwell

Health For Teens Website: For general health advice https://www.healthforteens.co.uk/

DECCA: Sandwell Drug and Alcohol Services are still available as and when needed. Please phone 0121 5692201 or email decca_team@sandwellchildrenstrust.org.uk

Brook (Sexual Health Support: 11 years old plus): Are contacting young people directly to discuss the appropriate mode of support for their personal circumstance.

Childline: Website is operating https://www.childline.org.uk/ and the counselling service is still available; please call 0800 1111

Papyrus (Youth Suicide Prevention charity): Still operating. Please call 0800 0684141 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org

Please click on the https://youngminds.org.uk/ to view parental support while self-isolating

Connexions Sandwell

Please click on the link below to visit Connexions Sandwell website.

At present there is a Connexions drop in at The Council House in Oldbury from 1pm - 5pm every day except Wednesday. If you have any questions please contact our Connexions Advisor, Pauline Jackson.

Please email: Pauline_jackson@sandwell.gov.uk or telephone 07855 036965.

https://www.connexionssandwell.co.uk/

PLEASE NOTE IF YOU ARE IN RECEIPT OF FREE SCHOOL MEALS, WHETHER OR NOT YOUR CHILD TAKES A MEAL IN THE CENTRE, PLEASE LET US KNOW. WE COULD BE LOSING VALUABLE FUNDING.

Operation Encompass is a police and Education early intervention safeguarding partnership that supports children and young people exposed to Domestic Abuse. It aims to ensure Schools are notified in a timely manner of any Domestic Abuse incident where child/ren are present or registered at the address. This early notification should mean that, in the majority of cases, schools are alerted in readiness for the children arriving at school the first working day following an incident.
Operation Encompass went live week commencing 1 October 2018 and the aim is that schools will know as close as possible to the start of the school day that the child has been or may have been exposed to a domestic abuse incident.

Summer School Leaflet

Please click on the click to view Changing Our Lives Events

Changing Our Lives Events

Please click on the link below to read the Good To Know article:

Please click on the following link for details about Sensory Issues and Daily Living - Sandwell, Tipton

Link to Autism West Midlands - Upcoming Events

Please find the new Parental Bulletin 2019 by clicking the link below:

Parental Bulletin Summer Term 2019

Many children and families struggle during the school holidays when free school meals are no longer available. Information for parents / carers - food poverty and holiday hunger guidance can be found by clicking on the link below:

https://route2wellbeing.info/

Sandwell's food banks are listed in the Emergency Help (incl. food) section. There are also a number of ther locations where food is shared in Sandwell e.g. temples and gurdwaras.

Please click on the link below regarding an article on Alternative Provision:

https://www.tes.com/news/love-what-breaks-through-alternative-provision

https://www.fearless.org/professionals/resources/gangs

https://www.youandco.org.uk/crime-info/violent-crime-facts/gangs-and-street-violence

https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-is-county-lines

https://www.spurgeons.org/

https://twitter.com/natonlinesafety/status/994235062852997124

Parents