September 2024 Kirklees SEND Newsletter
Cluster working - what are we trying to achieve?
We are passionate about children and young people in Kirklees, and we want them to be the best they can be.
We want to work together with schools, the council and families to identify the needs of young people. We want to help schools share their knowledge and be as creative as possible when supporting young people who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
We have developed a new approach called cluster working. This is where mainstream schools work together in small groups or clusters. This will give schools more flexibility to meet the needs of young people.
This will help them to get the right support at the right time and in the right place. Working in this way will help schools to support each other by sharing how to do things in the best way possible.
To do this, we are changing the way funding is provided to support young people with additional needs in a way which increases the number who may receive support. This means that more young people with additional needs can benefit from funding, not those solely with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
You can find more information about cluster working in Kirklees on the Local Offer.
Outdoor learning at Little Deer Wood
Have you heard about Kirklees Council’s Outdoor Learning Team?
They deliver a wide range of activities and learning opportunities for young people of all abilities, helping them to develop life skills and gain new experiences outdoors.
The offer includes the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, along with lots more activities during school holidays. Activities are being added over the coming months.
The team also work closely with schools and community groups, so please get in touch if you would like your pupils or group to access what’s available.
The fantastic venue is Little Deer Wood in Mirfield, where opportunities include team building, corporate activity days and first aid programmes. The site can also be hired for activities or meetings.
The Outdoor Learning Team are always on the lookout for volunteers too - if you or someone you know can help to deliver activities, or support with maintaining the site, please get in touch.
All details can be found on the Local Offer Little Deer Wood webpage (opens link in same window).
Healthy Child Programme in Kirklees
Kirklees Council’s Public Health team are continuing to work with the Locala 0-19 Service, who provide health visiting and school nursing services, to develop the Healthy Child Programme.
The focus is on supporting families from before their baby is born up to the age of two and a half years. This is important because it helps to identify any special educational needs and disabilities at an early stage.
As a result of the work, more families are having contact with the health visiting team within the timescales set out nationally.
Previously, for example, only 8 per cent of families were receiving a visit within 14 days of their baby being born - but this now stands at 77 per cent. Previously, visits at the 12-month stage were 68 per cent - but this is now 89 per cent.
Health visitors offer a wide range of support, including with a child’s growth and development and with concerns the family may experience.
For more information, please visit the Locala website (opens link in new window)
