March 2023 Kirklees SEND Newsletter
Has the Local Offer helped you?
Have your say on the Kirklees Local Offer website, which brings together support and services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
We are looking to make even more improvements to the Local Offer - and your views will help us to shape future ideas.
It’s already a one-stop-shop for supporting children, young people and families, featuring activities, advice, information and details of local organisations that can help.
The Local Offer survey is now up and running. Closing date: 31st March 2023. Please visit to give your feedback. It only takes a few minutes.
In creating the Local Offer, the council worked closely with PCAN (Parent of Children with Additional Needs), KIAS (Kirklees Information Advice and Support), plus parents, children and a range of professionals.
To take part in the survey please open the survey using the link below:
If you would like a PDF version of this newsletter then please use the download link below.
Kirklees SEND Newsletter March 2023 (downloads PDF) (opens link in new window)
Ambitious schools’ proposals agreed by Cabinet
Plans to increase support for children and young with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) have been approved by Kirklees Cabinet.
The decision will bring new investment in local education and increase the amount of SEND support in the district’s mainstream schools.
Extra targeted and specialist support will be provided for those who need it, meaning more pupils with additional learning needs can attend a mainstream setting.
The new places are called ‘Additionally Resourced Provisions (ARP’s) and are part of the council and its partners’ wider work to transform SEND services in Kirklees. They provide small, nurturing specialist environments to support the learning, behaviour and social and emotional needs of each pupil. The new places will build on the excellent provision which already exists in Kirklees.
Cabinet members have agreed to establish new Additionally Resourced Provisions at Netherhall St James CE (VC) Infant and Nursery School, Netherhall Learning Campus Junior School and Netherhall Learning Campus High School. The support will be for pupils with Complex Communication and Interaction Needs.
The other proposed Additionally Resourced Provisions would be at Academy schools, which must follow a different process in partnership with the council and the Department for Education. These are Beaumont Primary Academy and Carlinghow Academy, which will support primary-aged children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs, and Old Bank Academy, where children with Cognition and Learning Needs will be supported.
It was also agreed to remove the registered Additionally Resourced Provision for Physical Impairment at Netherhall St James CE (VC) Infant and Nursery School and Netherhall Learning Campus Junior School, which has not been operational for two years due to a different approach being taken in supporting children in local schools.
The proposals for each setting were developed in partnership with the schools. A public consultation took place last year to seek views, especially from families who are affected by SEND.
Neurodiversity week
Neurodiversity Celebration Week, 13 - 19 March 2023, is celebrated across the world to challenge what people think about neurological differences. It aims to make more people aware of neurodivergent people and how they can be supported by schools, universities and organisations. It also aims to make more people aware of the talents and advantages of being neurodivergent, and for differences to be accepted and celebrated.
What does neurodiversity mean?
Depending on how our brains are wired, we think, move, process information, and communicate in different ways. We sometimes call these differences neurodiversity. Many people in our community use neurodiversity as an umbrella term used to describe alternative thinking styles such as Dyslexia, DCD (Dyspraxia), Dyscalculia, Autism and ADHD. But regardless of labels, neurodiversity is about recognising the strengths of those who think differently. And no matter whether you are a school, university or organisation you can benefit from different thinkers!
Approximately 15-20% of the population has a neurological difference (or can be described as neurodiverse). Instead of labelling people with deficits or disorders, when we use the term neurodiversity, we take a balanced view of an individual’s unique strengths and challenges. Many ‘challenges’ neurodivergent people face is more to do with the environment and systems they are placed in, often designed by a majority population.
In Kirklees there is lots of support available for children and young people, families and professionals - visit the Kirklees Local Offer for more information.
National Supported Internship Day
March 27th is National Supported Internship Day.
What’s a supported internship? I
t is a work-based study programme for young people with SEND.
In Kirklees we have a supported internship program called Project Search. This is a unique, one-year internship programme for students with learning disabilities and autism with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Project Search is for young people aged 18-24 in their last year of education and matches their skills to roles within a business. Project Search is run by Kirklees College and Kirklees Council.
Students participate in three internships to explore a variety of career paths. Each student works with a team that includes their family, an instructor, job coaches and host business mentors to create an employment goal and support their transition from education to work.
The programme is creating life-changing opportunities and transforming outcomes for young people, with 60% of graduates securing a paid job of over 16 hours per week. As well as gaining transferable and marketable job skills, students also build their personal and professional relationships, confidence, and self-esteem.
If you would like a PDF version of this newsletter then please use the download link below.
Kirklees SEND Newsletter March 2023 (downloads PDF) (opens link in new window)