Additional Resources
SEND Transport resources
To access Essex County Council’s SEND transport policy and application process visit the link below.
School transport: Apply for school transport – Essex County Council
A video has been produced which tells parents and carers about SEND transport.
It covers:
- How to apply
- Travel options
- Travel allowance
- Travel training
- Shared vehicle transport- This is by licensed transport providers. It will be a taxi or a minibus.
- Passenger assistances Passenger Assistants
- Settling in and route planning
- Pick up and drop off guidance.
- Journey times
- Changes that may occur
- Behavioural support
- Parental concerns
The video will also help children and young people understand more about their transport.
Click HERE to view the video.
Below are a number of fact sheets to help support transport staff’s understanding of different needs. There are also editable cards and a one page profile to give them specific information about your child/young person.
Supporting communication- key facts
Communication Stories
A communication story is a simple story. It tells a specific situation in words, pictures or both together. It helps children and young people learn about the situation. Often, a communication story will need to be told more than once to help the children and young people understand better.
Here are some communication stories that can be changed and people’s names added. These will help your child or young person. They are about shared transport which is a school taxi or mini-bus.
The stories are at 3 different levels:
- Informal – for children and young people who have little to no understanding of language.
- Semi Formal – for children and young people who have some understanding of language.
- Formal – for children and young people who have some a solid understanding of language.
The stories help tell about changes that happen. This can be a new driver or a change in route. They also tell about traffic and noises in the vehicle. Click on the link below to access the stories.
Essex family Forum held a webinar with SENTAS on SEND home to school transport. The following document highlights some questions and answers arising from that session.
Click HERE to view the document.
Mental Health
The Southend, Essex and Thurrock Child and Adolescents Mental Health Service (SET CAMHS) provides advice and support to children, young people and families who are in need of support with their emotional wellbeing or mental
health difficulties.
To find out more click the link below
Is your child/young person struggling to attend their education setting because of Mental Health difficulties?
Click HERE to access the guidance from the Department for Education on how to support school attendance where there is a pupil experiencing social, emotional or mental health issues.
The examples of effective practice document shows how some schools have supported children to build up their confidence and help them to attend regularly.
This guidance is for:
- school staff
- academy trustees
- governing bodies
- parents and carers
- local authorities
To find out more about this process in Essex visit the Local Offer HERE
GP Services
All young people, over the age of 14, with a Learning Disability and on the Learning Disability Register, should be offered an Annual Health Check by their GP.
You can find some useful resources on the links below;
Pre health check questionnaire
What should a health check include?
To find out more about the Learning Disability Register, please click on this link The learning disability register – how to sign up and why you should – United Response
Does your child have SEND? Do they require more care and support than expected of a child or young person of their age?
If the answer is yes, even if you are a parent to that person, it is extremely likely that you are a Carer, whether you were aware of it or not.
Do you realise you can register with your GP as a Carer if you are providing this support on a regular basis? If your GP surgery is aware that you are a Carer they can monitor how caring may be affecting your health or emotional well-being and signpost you to additional support. You may also be eligible for free vaccines and health checks or support with appointments.
Action for Family Carer’s has designed a universal form you can complete and give to your GP in order to register as a carer. CLICK HERE to access the form.
Specialist Equipment
The Essex Family Forum Equipment Survey, designed by our Family Champions, demonstrated a need for better information on the equipment service for families.
As a result, Essex Family Forum co-produced the new Equipment Guidance Document – which can be found by clicking on this link.
It is an in-depth guidance document on equipment including the process for assessments, types of equipment, how children and young people receive equipment as well as contact details for key organisations.
Medication
Important information regarding Medication for the treatment of ADHD.
There is currently a shortage of some of the medicines used to treat ADHD. These supply problems are expected to resolve at various dates between October and December 2023.
Which medicines are affected?
Not all medication is affected. The following medications are in short supply, and at times may not be available, but their availability is changing daily:
▪ Methylphenidate
▪ Lisdexamfetamine
▪ Atomoxetine
▪ Guanfacine
What should I do as a parent or Carer?
Parents and carers are being asked to only order prescriptions when there is 7 – 10 days’ supply of medicine left for your child.
The NHS are asking that you do not stockpile medicines and have stated your prescribing clinician will not be able to issue your prescription any earlier.
Stocks of medication will vary between community pharmacies. If your usual community pharmacy is not able to supply your medication, please try calling or visiting other local pharmacies.
What should I do if the medication my child or young person is taking, is not available?
Your pharmacist in the first instance may be able to advise you when new stock is expected or in certain circumstances, may be able to arrange an alternative medication in the short term.
If you are unable to obtain your medication, then you should contact your prescribing clinician this could be, community paediatrician, ADHD Nurse/services, or your GP, for advice of what to do next.
All schools in Essex have been notified about the potential shortage in ADHD medication. If your child or young person’s medication is affected (including needing to be changed), we recommend speaking to their education setting, requesting that everyone involved in supporting and/or teaching your child/young person is made aware and discuss what additional strategies need to be put in place until the situation is stablised.
Contact Details:
Mid and South Essex – Maldon, Braintree, Chelmsford, Basildon, Brentwood, Castle-point, Rochford, Southend or Thurrock
If you live in Mid and South Essex they have a helpful webpage with useful information: https://www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk/news/supply-shortage-of-medicines-for-adhd/
Suffolk and North East Essex
If you live in Suffolk and North East Essex (Colchester and Tendering) below is some useful contact numbers:
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
(Colchester, Clacton, and Harwich hospitals): Tel: 07907 576486
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust:
northessex.adultadhd@nhs.net (E-mail is preferred method of contact)
Tel: 01268 2435555
- NSFT Adult ADHD Services:
East Suffolk: Eastsuffolkadultadhdteam@nsft.nhs.uk or Tel: 01473 279200
West Suffolk: adultadminadhdwest@nsft.nhs.uk or Tel: 01284 733 188
- NSFT Children’s ADHD Services:
East Suffolk: Admin.ChildrensADHDteam.EastSuffolk@nsft.nhs.uk or Tel: 01473 237070
West Suffolk: ADHD.West@nsft.nhs.uk or Tel: 01284 733188
- Community Paediatric service (West Suffolk Foundation Trust):
Tel: 01284 741744
West Essex (Harlow, Epping Forest, Uttlesford)
If you live in West Essex below is a useful link:
Supply shortage of medicines for ADHD – Hertfordshire and West Essex NHS ICB