Home / Young People & Norfolk SEND Youth Forum / Latest news from the Engagement and Advice Team / July's Engagement and Advice Update
Author: Kelly Drew
And just like that it’s another month gone!
 
For us, transition has certainly been a big feature of our work over the last month. It’s that time of year when there can be lots of uncertainty around what the next phase of learning looks like and for those young people with SEND, and their parents, it can be even more challenging to know what to expect.

We’ve been to a SEN transition event at a Secondary school and SEN cafes in primaries and the concerns are all very similar with parents and carers asking, ‘What does my child’s support in September look like?’

Jo said ‘It’s a reasonable question for parents to ask. Parents should know what to expect in September so that they can help their young person adjust over the lengthy summer holidays ready to make a positive start to the new term. The chances are things may be different to what they are now so finding out any information can really help’.

Laura has worked hard delivering a pilot transition project in a Great Yarmouth school that supports year 5’s moving up to High School. She has worked with small groups of SEN pupils to help them understand their rights and be empowered to know how to contribute to their own support plan when they are at their new school. We’re really hoping Laura gets to work with them again to see how things are in their new school and then this may become a feature of our work for the Summer term next year.
 
Our usual array of community events have featured too – school fetes, wellbeing events, parent surgeries, story cafes to name but a few.

But what’s been different this month is us making appearances at parent’s support groups. We’ve been to SENsational families support group and Sunbeams Play Parents group and we’ve got more lined up too. The groups were really pleased to have us along to chat to parents about their particular circumstances and provide an impartial view to the conversations. This definitely seems like an area we can support and ensure our service is accessible to parents that wouldn’t otherwise make contact with us.
If you know of an opportunity that you think we should be involved in then please email nsendiassengagement@norfolk.gov.uk
 
You can catch us at
SEND Café, Hellesdon Library, 22/7/24, 11am-12pm
SEND Café, St William’s Way Library, 23/7/24, 1.30-2.30pm
SEND Activity Café, Dereham Library, 29/7/24, 1.30-2.30pm
Stay n Play, Gorleston Library, 30/7/24, 1.15-2.45pm
Family Info Day, Thetford Market Place, 1/8/24, 11am -1pm
Family Fun Day, Hope Church Wymondham, 9/8/24, 10am -2pm
 
We’re also at the Family Hubs, Contact Family Hubs - Norfolk County Council;
North Norfolk – 22/7/24
Great Yarmouth – 5/8/24
West Norfolk – 8/8/24
Breckland – 12/8/24
Norwich – 13/8/24