Read July's edition online

In this edition get Norfolk SENDIASS updates, find out where you can find us out and about at library drop-ins and outreach, Norfolk SEND Youth Forum update and a book recommendation.

Sections

  1. Norfolk SENDIASS update
  2. Update on booking process
  3. Big Norfolk Holiday Fun
  4. Website tutorial
  5. Library drop-in sessions
  6. Engagement and Advice updates
  7. Norfolk SEND Youth Forum update
  8. Book recommendation
  9. Parent/carer feedback

Norfolk SENDIASS update

As another school year comes to an end, we would like to wish all families and professionals a very happy, relaxing, and enjoyable summer holiday.  

While many services may reduce over the summer period, SENDIASS remains open throughout the holidays. We understand that questions, concerns, and decisions around SEND can arise at any time, and we are here to support you whenever you need us. 

If you would like information, advice, or support during the summer break, please do not hesitate to get in touch and book an appointment, additionally we still have our library drop ins so please have a look where we are over July and August; our team will be ready to help and guide you.  

If you get a chance, we’d really encourage you to have a look through our website as there is a lot of resources that may help to answer any questions or concerns you may have. 

We’d also encourage you to follow us on  Facebook and Instagram. We regularly share practical tips, useful advice, key information and important updates that may support you and your family day to day. 

Our newsletter will be taking a break over August but back in September with a roundup of our year.  

Have a wonderful summer, and we look forward to continuing to support you and your family. 

Niamh Keane, SENDIASS Manager

Update on booking process

Important Update to Our Booking Process

Our booking process has changed.

When you book an appointment with Norfolk SENDIASS, you will receive a follow-up email containing a link to a consultation form.

This form must be completed before your appointment.

The information you provide helps our advisers prepare and ensures you receive the most appropriate advice and support during your appointment.

⚠️ If the consultation form is not completed, your appointment is likely to be cancelled.

Please check your inbox (and junk/spam folder) for the email after booking and complete the form as soon as possible.

If you experience any difficulties accessing or completing the form, please get in touch with us as soon as possible and a member of the team will be happy to help.

Thank you for your cooperation.
 

Big Norfolk Holiday Fun

School is out for the summer and there are still plenty of SEND-friendly activities available through the Big Norfolk Holiday Fun programme.

Activities are running from 20 July to 2 September, offering fun sessions and meals for children aged 5–16 years (or age 4 if they are attending school). For children who receive benefits-related free school meals, places are completely free and include a free lunch. Children who do not receive benefits-related free school meals are also welcome to attend, although charges may apply.

Available SEND activities include:

The BNHF team encourages parents and carers to:

✅ Contact their chosen provider to discuss their child's individual needs.

✅ Complete the online support form to help providers understand what support may be required.

✅ If their child has a Personal Assistant (PA), check whether they can attend at no additional cost.

Website tutorial

Our website has a wealth of information and resources including information on SEN support at school, Transport, Suspensions and Exclusions, Education Health and Care Plans, Appeals, Health and Social Care.  This short video explains how to navigate the search function and the information zone.

www.norfolksendiass.org.uk

Library drop-in sessions

The Library drop-in sessions are informal and friendly, our Advisor's can give you next steps advice about your child’s education, SEN Support, EHCP and other SEND processes.  

All sessions are subject to change, and any changes will be advertised on our Facebook page. Please be aware these sessions do not offer a private room to talk, we will be based in main areas of the library. As we are not taking bookings, we will do our best to speak to you on a first come, first served basis.  The sessions will be restricted to 20 minutes during busy times.

Take a look at our online calendar to check where you can find us!
Find out where you can find us
 

Engagement and Advice updates

This month, Sally and I (Emma) from the Engagement and Advice Team have continued representing SENDIASS across Norfolk. We have been lucky enough over the last couple of months to be joined by Mez and Fran – Norfolk SENDIASS’ newest Advisors – whilst they get to grips with the role. As we are approaching September, they have completed their training and will sadly no longer be tagging along with us – A big thank you to Mez and Fran for your enthusiastic support over the summer! 

Some of our visits this month included: 

 

Out and about with the Community Engagement Van 

Broadland and South Norfolk Council has a fantastic initiative called the Help Hub Van. In July, we collaborated with them at Poringland and Taverham Libraries. It is a mobile version of their resident support service, offering advice on money and debt worries, benefits, parenting, relationships and domestic abuse, health and wellbeing, bereavement support, employment, and housing or home improvements. 

We have been working alongside them to deliver our SENIDASS drop-in sessions, helping to provide a more rounded support offer for families. To find out more about what the Help Hub Van offers and where to find it, click HERE.  

Shine Youth Group – Yarmouth

Getting to visit the Friday Youth Club hosted by Shine in Great Yarmouth this month was a real highlight for us. Alongside their day-to-day work as a nursery, Shine supports young people with SEND through its Short Breaks provision. Young people can take part in a range of activities, including cooking a communal meal together each week.

We visited because we wanted to hear young people's views on school and education more generally. They were incredibly welcoming, and we are very grateful for how enthusiastically they engaged with our activities.
You can find out more about Shine by clicking HERE.

Hope Church – Wymondham

On Monday 13th July, I visited Hope Church and was pleased to see so many families enjoying and making use of the space. The group welcomes children with SEND, and there is also a quieter SEND-only session at a separate time for those who need it.

Hope Church welcomes families at several different sessions throughout the week and even runs a popular Youth Group (IGNITE) on Monday evenings for older teenagers. The team is made up of volunteers who are all incredibly friendly and clearly passionate about supporting children and young people in South Norfolk.

The building is also home to a food bank, which provides local families with access to nutritious and affordable food each week. The various youth and children's groups have now broken up for the summer but are already planning new activities for September. We hope the team enjoys a well-deserved break and look forward to visiting some of the other groups in the future.
You can find out more about what's on at Hope Church by clicking HERE.

Making Sense of SEND – Kings Lynn

The ever-popular Making Sense of SEND (MSOS) event held its Summer session in King's Lynn this month. The event was well attended, and our Service Manager, Niamh, delivered an insightful presentation on working effectively with schools to support your child.

We are always happy to discuss presentation and training opportunities for both families and professionals, so please see below for details on how to contact us.

The next Making Sense of SEND session will take place on Saturday 3rd October in Hellesdon. Hopefully, the weekend date will allow a wider cohort of families to attend.

Head to www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/making-sense-of-send-hellesdon to find out more.

Professional Engagement 

We are always delighted to work with other professionals in the SEND sector, whether this be those from independent educational settings, local authority officers, VCSE organisers or otherwise. If you would like to have a chat about what we can offer and how we could work together to further support for families, please don’t hesitate to contact us at: nsendiassengagement@norfolk.gov.uk.

Upcoming Events this month

Head to the ‘In the Community’ tab on the Norfolk SENDIASS website to see where abouts you can expect to see us next month including library drop-in sessions and outreach.  In the below video, Sally is talking about where you can find us at outreach events during August.  Please be aware these are not library drop-in sessions.

Emma Henry, Engagement and Advice Worker
What outreach events will we be attending during August?
 

Norfolk SEND Youth Forum update

This month, we were lucky enough to meet up in person for our annual 'Year Gone, Year Ahead' feedback and planning session, fuelled by pizza and brownies! 

We crammed as much as we could into the four-hour session and were so impressed by the honest, thoughtful feedback that members gave us. 

Members looked back at all of the different activities they have been involved in over the last year, from interviewing the new Engagement and Advice Officers to meeting in person multiple times and, of course, consulting with a variety of professionals from across the SEND sector.

 

Members Highlights from the year included:
  • Being a part of the judging panel for The Flourish Awards
  • People listening to what I have to say
  • Speaking to an Educational Psychologist from UEA
  • Seeing my friends achieve their goals
  • Getting good feedback from the professionals we’ve helped!
  • Getting to be on the interview panel
  • Laughing with everybody
  •  
Next year, members would like to have more:
  • Professionals explaining themselves clearly
  • Professionals providing feedback on how our opinions have been used
  • Credit for our input to a services development
  • Young people recruited to the group
  • New locations for meetups

We also shared the brand new 'Who Are Norfolk SENDIASS? Children and Young People's Edition' easy-read document with members, which they passionately reviewed. I'm pleased to say that the document has now been updated with their recommendations and is ready to be used.

Another key point that came from the discussion was how new members are recruited. We recognise that, at the moment, a lengthy Microsoft Form and email follow-up may not be the most user-friendly approach, so we'll be looking at how we can improve this for 2027.

The SEND Youth Forum doesn't meet in August, so the team now has time to properly review all of the feedback and start planning for the year ahead. We look forward to seeing everyone again on September 23rd.

If you or someone you know has SEND, lives in Norfolk, and is under 25 – They can see what the Youth Forum is like for themselves by signing up here: Registration Form | Norfolk SENDIASS. We are always welcoming new members and there is no pressure to contribute until you’re ready.

Emma Henry, Engagement and Advice Worker
Find out more about the Norfolk SEND Youth Forum

Book recommendation

Books are a great resource from local libraries in Norfolk. They can help and support children and young people with SEND, whilst creating a safe space for family communication. There are many books that can support this. Below is an example and you can discover even more for free, from your local library.

Imogen Pagendam, SENDIAS Advisor
Find your local library

Parent/carer feedback