Providing Community Support and Social Inclusion for Disabled Children and Young People
at the Ann Tayler Centre
on Thursday 4th December 2008
17 parents attended the group
Professionals attending
Scilla Morgan
Bev Rolfe
Pat Howley
Kunbi Jones
Jenny Menzies
Gillian Goodchild
Deborah Walsh
Azhar Rahman
(+ interpreter)
Observer from Orthodox Jewish community
Nick Holt: Extended Schools Coordinator
Donna Thomas: Strategic Manager, Children's Centre Services
Bev Rolfe facilitated the meeting.
1. Introductions from the speakers and parents:
Bev welcomed everyone to the group and introduced the speakers.
2. Nick Holt: Extended Schools Coordinator
Nick works with primary and secondary sectors to provide school-based activities for children before and after school. The aim is to stretch the school day from 9 - 3.30 to cover 8am - 6pm. This applies to all schools and will need to be in place by the end of 2010. Government is strongly promoting this. The goal of extended schools is
- To provide childcare from 8-6 for all children aged 5-16 for 48 weeks per year, thus enabling parents to access education or work opportunities
- To provide additional learning opportunities for children, including leisure, play, sporting and social opportunities as well as curriculum support
Of the 10 secondary schools in Hackney, some provide after school and holiday schemes, but many don't, though with training they might. The Youth Service also offers after-school opportunities, so activities don't have to be school-based.
In answer to questions Nick added the following points about extended schools
- They are not necessarily staffed by teachers, who are re-focusing on teaching and learning, but by skilled other staff of equivalent status, including LSAs or others.
- As schools have school councils which include pupils, the children's opinions are heard and these can influence what is on offer in extended school programmes. In some clusters young people have been granted funding to commission some after-school services. There may be a problem in hearing the voices of those children and young people (often those with SEN) who are not on the school council.
3. Donna Thomas: Strategic Manager, Children's Centre Services
Donna began by asking parents if they were familiar with some publicity materials about Children's Centres - most parents were not and only three parents actually use Children's Centres. Donna therefore concluded she had some work to do in disseminating information and raising awareness!
She explained that the service is constantly evolving and changing in response to parental consultation and feedback. She described Children's Centres as being a focus for all services for children <5; e.g. portage workers, health visitors, teachers, plus visiting services such as housing. The Children's Centre is a hub for the families' service needs and is about coordinating these services.
She added that Children's Centres will not just stay under the one roof, but will deliver services from other venues within their 'cluster' (geographical area) if this is more convenient for parents. Parents need not stay in their own cluster but can go to any Children's Centre, although we would encourage parents to access services in their area.
Children's Centres have some specific outcomes; they concentrate on
- Speech and language development
- Children achieving their full potential
- Reduced infant mortality (a problem in some parts of Hackney)
- Increasing the take-up of immunisation programmes
There were then some questions to Donna:
Q. What about >5s with special needs?
A. Not at all Children's Centres, but through children's services (though some equipment might be available via the toy libraries. Area D does have a special needs toy library doing outreach work within the cluster)
Q Can a parent access services for him/her self via a Children's Centre? E.g. a depressed parent?
A. Family support is provided in its broadest sense. Tier 2 social workers are based in each cluster, either in a Children's Centre or an extended school, and they have a family support worker within their broader team. The multi-disciplinary team will discuss a family's needs and then put into place a range of support - e.g. respite, outreach, family support worker etc. So a parent might be able to access services via Children's Centres because they work collaboratively with other services.
Q. So how do parents know that they can access Tier 2 services?
A. Can be via the extended school, as social workers are linked. Or via referral.
4. Group Discussion
Barriers to accessing extended schools and Children's Centres and what can be done about these?
Group 1 - Secondary schools
- Parents expressed a preference for their children accessing mainstream extended schools, as this gives the opportunity for positive social and behaviour influence.
- Some children are not accepted by mainstream settings
- Can children access local settings if they are educated out of borough?
- Transport is a HUGE problem - getting to provision, getting home etc - less likely to all be 'on the doorstep'
- Access to activities wanted monday-friday
- Both staff and school children need SEN awareness training, possibly makaton (or other communication) training and to be patient in developing their understanding of the children's communication
- Disabled young person may need social support in order to develop the confidence to access extended school provision. A mentor or befriender to facilitate their inclusion into a group or play activity?
- Possible role for educational psychology in developing child's confidence?
- Physical and toileting needs of child should be met, with sufficient staff training to be aware of learning difficulties, nappies etc
- Social needs should be addressed. E.g. staff need to be patient and need training and support to be able to see things from the child's perspective and be aware of each child's triggers.
- Extended schools staff could use the IEP to make for more fluid communication between playworker/teacher/parents.
- Attitudes of other children (and staff). Bullying can be a problem - parents are fearful of this and both children and parents need to be confident that this will be dealt with.
- Transport a major barrier to accessing after-school activities and getting home again!
- Parents of all children with disabilities should be able to access Children's Centre services
- Family learning opportunities should be available and accessible for parents and disabled children
- Children's centre workers to be skilled in engaging parents of both disabled and nondisabled children - confidence building
- Special services for parents of SEN children, including support groups to help with confidence, enabling parents to share concerns, issues with other family members etc.
- Many issues are raised but nothing is done!
- Teachers should have training on children's behaviour and also medical training.
- The Huddleston Centre provides a great youth club
- Transport a major issue - children and young people in all parts of borough and beyond.
For Nick:
- To review one or more after-school club with good inclusion provision, by the end of March 2009, to use as best practice to promote across Hackney Schools.
- Extend the senco model of training to extended school staff, on a rolling basis.
- Transport
- Guarantee a fixed number of places at extended schools for children with SEN
- Parent support groups to be available in each cluster area
- Family learning groups for parents of children with SEN
- Improved dissemination of information leaflets to reach larger number of parents.
Hackney Play Association has a new inclusive play project, which will provide 6 playworkers and 3 facilitators to promote and support the inclusion of disabled children in afterschool activities at 3 adventure playgrounds in the borough: Apples and Pears, Shakespeare Walk and Homerton Grove. Parents can contact HPA on a Monday for further information. This service is weekday term-time only.
The new resource service at Hackney Ark, jointly set up by Kunbi and Scilla, is opening soon. There will be 3 information and advice officers to answer questions, signpost to other services, assist with form-filling etc. They are rolling open slowly as services are still developing and the official launch will be later in 2009. In the meantime, opening hours are 10-12, 2-4 for drop-ins (to be extended at a later date). There are two computers with electronic programmes and aids that children might be using at school, so parents can familiarise themselves with these, plus a soft play corner - still awaiting completion. Children and young people are welcome to come along with their parents to have a look. Information about the service and the official launch will be in The Key.
There is a new club at the Clissold leisure Centre for young people with disabilities.
Details and contacts for all these to be included on the next HFT flyer.
7. Next Meeting
The meeting on 29th January will be slightly longer and will include lunch, as it will include some consultation of parents on how to spend the new short break money coming into Hackney.
HFBU never make direct appeals to the public for funding. If you receive an e-mail requesting
financial assistance that you think might be from us please contact us immediately.