Parental Support

Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust - Neurodiversity information

The NSFT Psychology in Schools Team is offering an online parent/carer workshop programme that addresses childhood neurodivergence and covers key topics that families have identified as most helpful. These free workshops are offered to support families on the neurodevelopmental (NDD) pathway in Suffolk. You can book a place on upcoming live workshops using this link: Neurodivergence online parent/carer workshops - Suffolk SEND Local Offer. You can also access previous childhood neurodivergence workshop recordings, slides and resources using this link. By registering for any of the childhood neurodivergence workshops, even if you are unable to attend the workshop live, you will receive a copy of the workshop recording, slides and resources.

Clever Never Goes - the updated guidance for stranger danger

Click here to view a parent leaflet all about Clever Never Goes. It highlights an important rule we can teach children and explains why it has changed from stranger danger.

Did you know that Suffolk Sendiass have a YouTube channel?

Click here to view some of the information videos that have been shared with parents/carers. Sendiass provide Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service.

Holiday Activities for Young Carers and children with SEND

Please see the links and PDF below regarding some holiday activities your child may be eligible for.

These include Young Carers Schools and Colleges - Suffolk Family Carers  and Young Carer Short Breaks - Suffolk Local Offer and children with SEND Activities Unlimited Service Offer PDF (Part of Suffolk Local Offer).

Funding for courses - parents/carers

Are you interested in completing a fully funded Level 2 qualification? This can be completed online to fit around your lifestyle. To see the long list of courses which are available and how to apply, view the information poster from AIM here.

Pharmacy First Service

Pharmacy First is an NHS service being provided in pharmacies across England for adults and children. Please see this video for more information.

Radicalisation and extremism awareness workshops

Please see this flyer regarding free radicalisation and extremism awareness raising sessions for parents, carers and front-line practitioners. The sessions will be run by a former reformed Extreme Right-Wing (ERW) activist and mentor who now supports people to leave extremism and help build resilience for the future. There are 4 dates in total for attendees to choose from. These sessions have been commissioned by Groundwork following a successful joint application by Suffolk County Council and Norfolk Community Safety Partnership to the Home Office Preventing Radicalisation Fund.

NDD referral information

Please see this guidance if you are interested in understanding how the NDD referral works.

Suffolk County Council's Friends and Networks (FaN)

This is a new DfE-funded project to support children with emotional based school avoidance (EBSA) and/or special education needs and disabilities (SEND), who are experiencing difficulties in maintaining a full-time education placement. You can find out more information from their flyer here.

Supporting young people's mental health

During Spring there are some 60 minute free virtual workshops taking place to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents/carers can support the young people in their life. To see which sessions are available and how to book, see their flyer here.

Childhood Neurodiversity PST workshops 

The NHS are offering parent/carer workshops between January and May regarding childhood neurodiversity including: language and communication; planning organising and remembering; sleep difficulties; social relationships and using technology. More details can be found here.

Free NHS funded online mindfulness course

The NHS are offering FREE NHS mindfulness courses for parents. These will be available in January and will teach techniques on how to incorporate mindfullness throughout the day. To see more information and find out how to apply, you can view the flyer here.

SENDIASS sessions for parents and carers

Booking is open for: Supporting children and young people to manage their emotions. You can view the informaiton flyer here.

Keeping Children Safe in Sport - NSPCC

Sport is a fantastic thing for children and young people. It helps them socialise, keeps them fit and more importantly can introduce them into an interest for life. One which will increase their quality of life far into the future, setting good habits and instilling values and self-discipline. Engaging with them in this manner can show them new directions for their lives and expand their opportunities. Unfortunately there are, like with anything, risks attached. Away matches, interactions with non-school staff such as coach drivers, out-of-school coaches and other personnel can create vulnerability windows that could be exploited. To help head off these potential problems, the NSPCC has created a page dedicated to offering guidance on how to keep pupils safe in sporting environments. To find out more please click here.

Does your child suffer with sleep issues?

The national sleep helpline  are here to offer support and guidance. To find out more information including how to contact them, you can view their flyer here.

Young Wellbeing Hub

Click here to view information regarding the pathways and services offered by the Young Wellbeing Hub.

Parents / Carers Cyber Choices and Online Safety Events

Cyber Protect are running a series of free cyber choices and online safety events for parents/carers. Please note there are two parts to the events, and you will need to register for each independently. Both are 1 hour sessions and are suitable for parents/carers of children in Year 5 (age 9) and above.

Parents Event - Pt1 - Introduction to Cyber Choices and Online Risks

Tickets can be book directly via:

Wednesday 12th March       10:00 – 11:00 - Link
Tuesday 22nd April                 13:00 – 14:00 – Link
Thursday 15th May                 16:00 – 17:00 - Link

Tuesday 10th June                  10:00 – 11:00 – Link
Wednesday 9th July               19:00 – 20:00 – Link

Monday 8th September        14:00 – 15:00 – Link
Thursday 16th October        16:00 – 17:00 – Link

Tuesday 25th November      10:00 – 11:00 - Link

 Parents Event - Pt2 - Tools and techniques to improve the cyber security of your family

Tickets can be book directly via:

Wednesday 19th March       10:00 – 11:00 - Link
Monday 28th April                  13:00 – 14:00 – Link
Thursday 22nd May                16:00 – 17:00 - Link

Tuesday 17th June                  10:00 – 11:00 – Link
Wednesday 16th July            19:00 – 20:00 – Link

Monday 15th September     14:00 – 15:00 – Link
Thursday 23rd October        16:00 – 17:00 – Link

Tuesday 2nd December       10:00 – 11:00 - Link

A reminder of Emotional Wellbeing and Childhood Neurodiversity Parent and Carer Workshops

The Psychology in Schools Team from Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT) would like to remind everyone that there are a series of free workshops they have coming up over the next few months to help provide advice and support to families on topics, such as, supporting young people with challenging behaviours, and helping children and young people manage big feelings. There is also a programme of workshops that explore nurturing the unique strengths of neurodivergent children and young people.

To view all workshops available and to book a place, please go to the Family Wellbeing page which can be found on the Wellbeing in Education website: www.suffolk.gov.uk/wellbeingeducation

Measles / MMR vaccination
Measles cases are rising across the country, with over 102,000 children starting primary school in England being at risk of catching the disease. We are asking education settings to share key messages from the NHS about MMR / measles and how to get vaccinated.
The Back to school MMR Guidance from the NHS includes information to share, as well as example social media posts which can be found here: NHS Vaccine Poster and NHS MMR Poster.
Measles is highly infectious and if left unvaccinated nine out of ten children in a classroom can catch the disease if just one child is infectious. Please share these resources with colleagues, parents, and where suitable, community organisations to increase awareness and encourage parents to get their children vaccinated.

Realise Futures
Realise Futures is a fantastic local education provider for adults and their families. They offer a wide variety of courses that are often free to access.

Please see the leaflet for further information.

Pharmacy First

Pharmacy First is an NHS service provided by pharmacies across England for children and adults. Please see this video for more information about their services.

Is my child too ill for school?

Please see the guidance from NHS regarding when to send your child to school and when to keep them at home.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/ 

Update to the Neuro-Diverse pathways:

Please note that referrals to the NDD pathway will now only be taken for those children who require an assessment for either ASD or ADHD.

GP's and Health Care professionals can also take the lead on referrals.

The referral is now in 2 parts, Part 1 is for parents to complete and Part 2 is for completion by the Lead Professional.

Please see the link for further https://infolink.suffolk.gov.uk/

Behaviour Safe At Home training - new course dates

Behaviour Safe At Home supports parents, carers and family members living with children who display extreme behaviours, to improve the safety of everyone. The focus of the programme is on early intervention, to help prevent the behaviour escalating and to reduce the need for restrictive interventions. Meaningful and focused guidance is given to help parent/carers make appropriate positive choices when managing difficult behaviours.

Two-day courses will be delivered by Bells Croft Consultancy on the following dates:

• 16th and 23rd January 2024 – Sudbury

• 6th and 13th February 2024 – Bury St Edmunds

• 5th and 12th March 2024 – Ipswich

Full address and details provided with enquiry or booking

Prices are:

£30.00 for one parent/carer

£50.00 for two parent/carers

Please note these courses are heavily subsidised with the original cost being £200 per person. Therefore, the booking fee is non-refundable.

Please contact us at aufamilyadvice@suffolk.gov.uk for a Booking form or to go on our waiting list.

 Forthcoming parent workshops from The Psychology in Schools Team and the Under 18s Wellbeing Team