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Schools, Colleges & Post 16 Provision

Useful Information Coronavirus COVID-19

We have put together some helpful information and support that you may find helpful during the current Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic

These can be accessed on the dedicated page for Help and Information: Coronavirus COVID-19

Ministerial Letters during COVID-19 pandemic

To all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), their parents/carers and families, and others who support them

NEW – Minister Ford open letter to CYP-families-SEND 14.1.2021

 

Information for children, young people and families for going back to school/educational provision

Halton Borough Council

Guide for children and young people the Children’s commissioner for England has published a guide for children to tell them some of the changes they might see when they go back to school this September as well as providing tips on how to cope if they’re feeling worried or nervous and helpful resources to stay safe

Support for parents/carers with many young people returning to school for the first time in many months Parent Info has published tips for parents and carers to help their primary and secondary school children and young people cope when returning to school

Department for Education blog features frequently asked questions around children returning to school in England

Contact important information about COVID-19 for for families with disabled children

Government Guidance - education and childcare
Full list of all Government guidance for teachers, school leaders, carers, parents and students

The Education secretary, Gavin Williamson, announced the government’s plans for the full re-opening of schools in September, separate guidance for special schools, early years and childcare providers and FE colleges and providers is now available. The expectation is that children and young people with SEND will be able to return to full-time provision from the beginning of the Autumn term.

Full opening guidance available below:

Christmas Food Parcels/Gifts and Winter Warmth

Halton Borough Council has pledged to support struggling families this Christmas by providing free school meals vouchers or food hampers

Primary Schools
Secondary Schools

Secondary Pupil Referral Unit (PRU)

Special Schools & Halton Specialist Provision

NEW updated Halton Specialist Provision
Provides details of the different types of SEND provision, number of place and Resource Bases available within mainstream schools for pupils across the Borough with staff trained, qualified and experienced in specific areas of needs.

 

Colleges & Post 16 Provision
Post 16 Provision update for Local Offer
School Travel
All other Independent Special Schools and Special Post-16 Provision (Section 41 List)
Known as the Section 41 List The Secretary of State for Education has approved these under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014 for children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). The Government update this list termly.
Policy Statement about Out of Borough Provision
This Policy Statement explains Halton’s approach to Out of Borough Provision on the Local Offer.
SEMH FREE SCHOOL
Proposer Engagement Event for SEMH Free School

The Secretary of State decided that our joint bid with St Helen Borough Council to establish a Social, Emotional and Mental Health Free School in Halton Borough Council be approved to proceed to the next stage of the process, involving a trust competition

An engagement event  was held on Tuesday 21st May 2019 at the Select Stadium, Widnes. Contact: Ann McIntyre, Operational Director – Education, Inclusion and Provision  [email protected]

SEMH Free School – Update

A meeting was held on Thursday 19th September 2019 for organisations to meet with Parents and Carer representatives to discuss the proposed Joint SEMH Free School in Halton

Halton Borough Council's Update - EHC Plans
We are committed to continue to support the EHC Plan process, however, not all the assessment advice will be immediately available.  Assessments for an EHC Plan may look different as these are not currently being undertaken face to face. We have moved to do this work by telephone or video calls where possible. Our decision-making panels will still take place but this work will be done remotely. We will continue to review these necessary changes.
Special Provision Capital Fund Consultation Outcome
As required by the Department for Education, the Local Authority consulted on a proposal to provide capital investment in both the primary and secondary sectors in Halton, to assist in the reduction of placements at independent providers, particularly out of borough and associated transport costs for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

A link to the Short Plan (updated September 2019), the original consultation document and a summary of the consultation outcomes can be found below:

Consultation launched - Halton Borough Council’s Youth Provision and service update
Please see details below about the consultation to shape the future of Youth Provision in the Borough with a view to launching a new look service late Spring 2021.  The Council will continue to provide a range of services and opportunities for Halton young people until the new service is fully embedded.

Consultation launched – deadline is 30 September 2020

Halton Borough Council’s Youth Service aims to secure, so far as reasonably practicable, equality of access for all young people to the positive, preventative and early help needed to improve their well-being. We must also find out and take into account young people’s views when making decisions about future youth provision and activities for them. The Council in partnership with Halton Youth Cabinet, Youth Focus North West, and Commonplace, are consulting the young people of Halton about future youth provision throughout September.

Can you please promote the link below to young people and they need to complete the survey by 30 September 30th 2020
https://haltonyouthserviceprovision.commonplace.is

Provision Update

  • To support some of the more vulnerable young people from 1st August 2020 Halton Borough Council’s Early Help and Intervention team will provide dedicated Youth Support and Treatment to these young people in a holistic family way. For any young person needing 1-1 support for substance misuse please contact iCART: The team can be contacted during the hours of 9am to 5pm from Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4pm on Friday, call 0151 907 8305. If you have an urgent (safeguarding) concern outside these hours, please call the Emergency Duty Team (EDT) on 0345 0500148.
  • The Council and the Youth Focus North West will support the Youth Cabinet and the Youth Parliament from 1st August ensuring they can still continue to meet and represent their members.
  • Support has also been arranged for a number of other key groups that young people have advised are important to them including LGBTQI and Special Educational Needs.
  • With support from the NW Region Duke of Edinburgh Awards team and through our registered local schools and settings this important programme will continue to be available in Halton.
  • Finally as we know that there is a huge amount of good innovative work with young people happening within our local communities we are going to offer the opportunity for local organisations to apply for a small grant between £5,000 and £10,000 in late summer early Autumn.