NEW LOOK! SEND Local Offer Newsletter Winter 2023  - Click Here to view

It’s here! The Winter edition of the new look SEND Local Offer Newsletter 2023. It’s packed with lots of information including blogs from:-

• Amanda Mavunga, Clinical Lead and CAMHS Specialist Mental Health Practitioner, with professional registrations and accreditations which include Mental Health Nursing, Health Visitor, and Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapist.
• Shagufta Ali ACRE/Alafia Family Support Worker - Alafia supports Ethnic Minority families caring for children and young people (0-25) on a wide spectrum of disabilities or additional needs
• News items, what’s on/events available throughout the Christmas holidays
• Early Years – updates from the sector
• Preparing for adulthood – 16-25 updates
• Short breaks, support services and much more…  please remember, this is just a snapshot of the wealth of information that can be found on the www.readingsendlocaloffer.org   

Please feel free to give us feedback on this latest edition, all suggestions are welcomed! If there are any topics you would like us to include in the next newsletter, please do let us know.

Information can also be found here SEND Local Offer - Newsletter | Reading Services Guide

Short Breaks for the Christmas Holidays can be found here - SEND Short Breaks (all ability activities & overnight breaks) | Reading Services Guide

SEND Local Offer 16+ Guide - SEND Local Offer 16+ Guide | Reading Services Guide

Please keep visiting the SEND Local Offer for updates on local services www.readingsendlocaloffer.org

• Parenting Special Children have a number of workshops and events coming up. For more details go to:  parentingspecialchildren.co.uk

• The national charity Contact have a number of virtual workshops for families of children with additional needs from finances, educational support and handling meetings effectively as a parent. See for more details Family workshops | Contact

• The Reading Family Carers Card

Many people are family carers and support someone who relies on them to collect shopping, prescriptions and other essential items. You may not identify yourself as a carer because you are firstly a parent, a wife, husband, daughter, son, grandchild, friend or neighbour.

Reading Mencap have produced The Reading Family Carers Card it’s available to carers for FREE and it will identify you as a family carer in order to help shorten the time you might have to spend queueing for a shop, a pharmacy or even a health appointment. It is supported by Reading Borough Council.

Please click on the link below to the Reading Services Guide information page about the Reading Families Carers Card.

https://servicesguide.reading.gov.uk/kb5/reading/directory/advice.page?id=FiM1gU0NzYk

• Reading Information, Advice & Support Service for SEND (Reading IASS) 

This service was formerly called the Parent Partnership Service. It offers free confidential and impartial advice and support to Reading parents and carers who have children (up to the age of 25) with special educational needs or disability. Here is a link to their website where you can find further information.          https://www.readingiass.org/                      

SEND Short Breaks & Holiday Activity Fund Programme Christmas Holidays 2023

SEND Short Breaks December 2023 Session - Reading Play, Ranger Station

Reading Play welcomes you to The Ranger Station as your SEND half term provider, we will be holding two sessions on Thursday 21st December 2023.  We will be hosting a range of activities for the sessions which include:

 Session one

10am – 12:30pm Age 4 to 7 years

• Low ropes
• Art and crafts
• Bird box making
• Soft archery
• Mini golf

 Session two

 1:30pm to 4pm – Age 8 to 12 years

• Climbing wall
• Archery
• Mini golf
• Fire pit and marshmallow making
• Dodgeball

 Some activities listed above maybe weather dependent, therefore we will ensure that we have alternative activities planned.

 Important

Please be aware that any young people attending will be supported within a ratio of no greater than 1:4 and to participate in the activities young people will be offered instructions and be supervised by instructors, where we feel a young person is unable to participate in our range of activities or has not settled to the point we do not feel we can provide the level of enjoyment we wish, we will contact carers and parents and this may result in collection.

Reading Play T:0118 937 3283 E: reading.play@reading.gov.uk

Further information and booking can be found here Reading Directory | SEND Short Breaks December 2023 Session - Reading Play, Ranger Station

SEND Short Breaks -Chance to Dance Stars CIC - Dance and Multi Activity Program

Short breaks are available for Reading children aged 5 years to 18 years old. 

We cater for children 5 years to 25 years at all our activities. (discounted short breaks not available for 19-25yrs)

Chance to Dance Stars CIC will provide group activities for children & young people with disabilities to have new experiences with sport and dance, to have fun and to build upon social and physical needs.

Sundays 10am to 2pm

Session Information

12^th, 19th and 26th November
3rd and 17th December.

*Christmas Holiday Camp 27th and 28th December*

Contact: Victoria Andrews  07736 343570 or sendanceclub@hotmail.com

Further information and booking instructions can be found here Reading Directory | SEND Short Breaks -Chance to Dance Stars CIC - Dance and Multi Activity Program

Christmas SEND Holiday Clubs 2023 - Make/Sense Theatre

Make/Sense Theatre's popular holiday clubs are back for Christmas 2023!

We will be running sessions for young people aged 4-25, with moderate learning difficulties (MLD) as well as more complex, medical needs.

Our highly-trained members of staff will design sessions perfect for all ages, and integrating a love of performing arts with opportunities to socialise, meet other young people, play games and have fun! 

Rosie Durance Tel: 07554664825 email: rosie@makesensetheatre.com

Further information and booking details please click on the link Reading Directory | Christmas SEND Holiday Clubs 2023 - Make/Sense Theatre

Holiday Activities and Food scheme (HAF)

Brighter Futures for Children co-ordinates the Holiday Activities and Food scheme on behalf of Reading Borough Council, funded by the Department for Education.

Please note: HAF registration is only open to children eligible for pupil premium free school meals.

Further information and booking details please click on the link Holiday Activities and Food scheme (HAF) - Brighter Futures For Children

Link to Short Breaks page Reading Directory | SEND Short Breaks (all ability activities & overnight breaks)

For parent carers who need information on childcare, holiday clubs, childminders etc for the school holiday – www.readingfis.org/childcare

View the SEND Local Offer Newsletter here