- Wakefield SEND Local Offer
- Newsletter
- Summer 2024 Newsletter
Summer 2024 Newsletter
August 27th is International Makaton Awareness Day. Find out more by visiting
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/something-special
You can also enquire about British sign language by visiting local services:
https://www.wakefielddeaf.org.uk
September 25th is International Ataxia Awareness Day
Find out more about ataxia by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ataxia/
We share information about local services, activities and training opportunities on the WESAIL and Local Offer Facebook page. Follow our page by visiting https://www.facebook.com/WakefieldWESAILandLocalOffer
We always appreciate your feedback. We use your ideas in our newsletter and on our Facebook page. Please help us by filling in our quick survey
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BGZWXML
Happy reading,
Wakefield Early Support Advice Information Liaison (WESAIL) Service
What’s New - Find these services and groups on the Local Offer
Daisy Chain
https://bit.ly/3wTSsby. Service – support and
workshops for parents and carers of autistic children
and young people.
Designability Wizzybug
https://bit.ly/4cfr9HZ. Service - powered
wheelchairs provided free of charge to young children
in the UK.
Disability Access Fund
https://bit.ly/3X2I7VC. Service – additional funding
for early years settings who provide places for children
in receipt of Disability Living Allowance.
Lumi Nova
https://bit.ly/3yEyB0y. Service – app to support
children aged 7 – 12 who experience worry and
anxiety. See Page 6 for more information.
Relaxed Openings Castleford Museum
https://bit.ly/455R0iX.
Relaxed Openings Pontefract Museum
https://bit.ly/3yOgaXd.
Relaxed Openings Wakefield Museum
https://bit.ly/3VgHRRk. Things To Do – adapted
sessions at the museums to support sensory needs
Xuberdance
https://bit.ly/3KjQK6s.
Things To Do – additional needs streetdance classes.
Many thanks to the Wakefield Parent Carer Forum for sharing their information on reasonable adjustments.
You can find their leaflet by visiting https://www.wakefieldparentcarers.co.uk/reasonable-adjustments
West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust have partnered with BFB Labs to offer free access to Lumi Nova for families living in Wakefield.
Lumi Nova: Tales of Courage is a digital therapeutic intervention that helps with the symptoms of worries or anxiety for children aged 7-12 years.
It helps them learn skills to self-manage their worries in an engaging intergalactic adventure game on the app. The app is for children facing mild to moderate difficulties with fears, worries or anxiety. It is not suitable for children who have severe anxiety, are in crisis or have suicidal thoughts.
The benefits of using Lumi Nova to support a child are:
• Learn life long skills to self manage their worries
• Learn how to break down big worries into smaller, manageable challenges
• Increase resilience and confidence
• Better understand and talk about worries through
• A playful experience
• Get instant access to a highly effective evidence based therapy
How Lumi Nova works
• Shortlist 3 goals with your child from a list of 15 different goals related to separation anxiety, social anxiety and phobias.
• Goals are broken down into smaller, manageable challenges that gradually get harder.
• Complete in-game challenges to help build confidence before tackling real life challenges.
• Learn about anxiety and how to face fears and worries through fun, story based psycho-education
• Complete worry scale scores before and after every challenge to record your progress
• Only one challenge can be completed per day & game play is limited to avoid binge gaming
Further information
https://luminova.app/parents
For instant access sign up here - https://luminova.app
Contact Information -
Website - https://luminova.app/wakefield
Email - luminova@bfb-labs.com
Wakefield Shout Out for Change - Youth Participation Group
What is participation
Participation is about having the chance to be part of the decisions that are important to you. Some people call participation youth voice.
Shout Out for Change members use their lived experience of SEND to share ideas which will help to make things better for the future.
Who we are
• We are a group of young people aged 14 – 25
• We all have a special educational need or disability (SEND)
• We all want to have our voices heard to make things better for all young people with SEND.
What we do
• We meet three times a year
• Between our meetings we keep in touch through our Facebook page and WhatsApp group
• We talk about what is important to us as young people with SEND, using our lived experience
• Sometimes we join our friends from Kids to talk about things at national level
What we have achieved… so far
• SEND Youth Group meeting at Five Towns Resources Centre every week in addition to the All Stars group at Crofton
• Raised the need for co-production with senior leaders from the council, public health, health and voluntary sector
• Contributed to the council’s response to the SEND Review
• Let the government know our views on the SEND Green Paper, transitions and mediation
• Worked with Museums and Libraries service to improve the visitor experience for people with SEND
• Influenced how we could make residential short breaks better
• Contributed to the Council’s successful bid for extra short breaks funding
• We have spoken to Ofsted and the CQC about what it is like to be a young person with SEND in Wakefield
“Children and young people have the right to be heard in decisions that affect them and to take part in decision-making.”
Article 12 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Join Us
If you want to make a difference for young people with SEND in Wakefield
Contact us
send@wakefield.gov.uk
Please put Shout Out for Change in the subject line
Family Hubs are venues across the Wakefield district. These are places with people on hand to talk to you to find the help you need. They provide specialist services so that you can access help. You can meet other families by taking part in activities or joining a group.
View a map of locations on the Family Hubs website.
1. Sunbeam Family Hub
Lupset Crescent
Wakefield
WF2 8RH
01924 302333
2. Stanley Family Hub
Long Causeway
Stanley
Wakefield
WF3 4JB
01924 303181
3. Butterflies
Wakefield Road
Normanton
WF6 1BB
01924 307835
4. Oakhill
Hardwick Road
Featherstone
WF7 5JB
01977 723923
5. Castle Family Hub
255 Barnsley Road
Wakefield
WF1 5NU
01924 303376
6. Kendal
Kendal Drive
Castleford
WF10 3SP
01977 723543
7. Pomfret
Rookhill Road
Pontefract
WF8 2DD
01977 722644
8. Cedars
Barnsley Road
Hemsworth
WF9 4PU
01977 722215
9. Havercroft
Cow Lane
Wakefield
WF4 2BE
01924 3063129
What Family and Youth Hubs Offer
Family Support
ASPIRATION & WELL BEING Support for coping with stress, anxiety or low mood. There are separate sessions for children and parent/carers.
BEAM Recognising anger cues and triggers, working toward gaining control.
WHO’S IN CHARGE group for parents/carers giving concrete strategies to change behaviours and attitudes which will produce behaviour change in children.
FREEDOM explores violent and abusive behaviours.
It can help women to recognise when they are being controlled and the effects that domestic abuse has upon children.
COFFEE MORNINGS an opportunity for parents and carers to meet practitioners from the family hubs and learn more about the groups and sessions offered in preparation for attending.
ONLINE PARENTING provides parents and carers the opportunity to learn more about parenting tools at a time that suits them in their own home, includes Triple P programmes.
Youth Hubs Offer
Youth hubs are friendly and accessible places that provide support to 11 - 24 year olds. You can chat to a youth worker to access the help you need. Youth workers can link with local groups and support.
SKILLS AND EMPLOYABILITY PROGRAMME
Weekly sessions run with Wakefield Families Together partners, supporting young people to access education, employment and training.
NEET OUTREACH
Weekly outreach to engage Not in Education, Employment or
Training (NEET) age 16+.
ENGAGMENT INTERVENTION
Bespoke one-to-one Engagement Worker support to ensure that young people are able to access the right support at the right time.
ONE-TO-ONE SUPPORT
WORKER LED Communication Support, Emotional Wellbeing,
Pol-Ed, Healthy Relationships, Online Safety, Life Skills, Emotionally Based School Avoidance.
YOUNG CARERS Group session for young carers.
OPEN ACCESS YOUTH PROVISION Open access youth sessions for 11-13yrs and 14-16yrs, delivered by partners from the VCSE.
STREET BASED YOUTH WORK Twice weekly Youth Worker led detached, community-based youth work sessions.
District wide programmes and interventions:
• BRANCHING OUT
• BRANCHING OUT IN SCHOOL
• DUKE OF EDINBURGH
• STRIPES
• YOUTH PARLIAMENT
• BUILD OUR FUTURE
ALL STARS YOUTH CLUB For young people with
SEND. The club offers positive activities and informal learning opportunities within a safe space. A place to meet new friends and in a safe and welcoming environment.
FIVE TOWNS YOUTH CLUB
For young people with SEND. The club offers positive activities and informal learning opportunities within a safe space. A place
to meet new friends and in a safe and welcoming environment. This group runs in the Five Towns area.
How to find out more
Find more information by visiting https://www.wakefieldfamiliestogether.co.uk/family-hubs/
Each Hub has a What’s On Guide where you can find dates and times for each group, activity and club.
You said you would like more information on SEND-friendly things to do that are open evenings or
weekends. Thanks to everyone who has suggested these ideas.
The below groups and places all offer evening or weekend sessions. Visit their page on the Local Offer
or contact them directly for more information.
Cloud 9
Age: 0 - 10
The Old Auction House, Illingworth Street, Ossett, Wakefield
Phone: 07396 688866
Website: https://cloud9ossett.co.uk/
Elephant Club
Age: 0 - 7
Wild At Heart Stay & Play Room, 13, The Precinct Station Lane, Featherstone, Pontefract, WF7 5BX
Email: wildatheartsap@gmail.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/wildatheartstayandplay
Farsley Celtic Deaf Colts FC
Age: 5 - 16
Farsley Celtic FC, Newlands, Farsley, Leeds, LS25 5BE
Phone: 07897 484879 - texts only
Email: farsleycelticdeaffchead@gmail.com
Flexi Totz Gymnastics
Age: 3 - 7
Unit 8, Skinner Lane, Pontefract, WF8 1HG
Phone: 07307 614141
Email: flexitotz@gmail.com
Website: https://flexi-totz.classforkids.io
Gravity
Age: 18 months upwards
Castleford Xscape, Colorado Way, Castleford, WF10 4TA
Phone: 01977 529920
Website: https://gravity-global.com/active/activities/sen-sessions
Growing Works
Age: 0 - 12
Crow Nest Park, Heckmondwike Rd, Dewsbury, WF13 2SG
Phone: 07883 905899
Email: info@growingworks.org.uk
Website: http://www.growingworks.org.uk
Little Fishes Soft Play
Hemsworth Methodist Church, Westfield Road, Hemsworth, WF9 4PU
Email: Littlefisheshemsworth@outlook.com
Website: https://www.littlefisheshemsworth.com
NLY Community Sport
Age: 6 - adult
Crofton Community Centre, Wakefield, WF4 1LD
Phone: 07842 903018
Email: info@nonleagueyorkshire.com
Website: https://www.nonleagueyorkshire.com/disability-football
Normanton Sports Acro
Age: 18 months to adult
152 Castleford Road, Normanton, WF6 2EP
Phone: 07773 704735
Email: normantonsportsacro@googlemail.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/people/Normanton-Sports-Acro/100064813983561
11
Open Country
Age: 18 years / adults
Community House, 46 East Parade, Harrogate, HG1 5LT
Phone: 01423 507227
Email: wakefield@opencountry.org.uk
Website: https://www.opencountry.org.uk
Run Riot (The Old Quarry Adventure Playground)
Age: 5 - 25
93 Sycamore Avenue, Knottingley, West Yorkshire, WF11 0PJ
Phone: 01977 670953
Email: hollycorbettoqap@outlook.com
Website: https://www.theaddy.org
Sensory Planet
Age: any
A1 Business Park, Knottingley, WF11 0BU
Phone: 01709 919036
Email: knottingley@sensoryplanet.co.uk
Website: https://sensoryplanet.co.uk
Snowzone Disability Sports
Snozone, Colorado Way, Castleford, West Yorkshire, WF10 4TA
Phone: 0333 0030 520
Email: enquiriesyorkshire@snozoneuk.com
Website: https://snozoneuk.com/disabilitysnowsports
Stride Theatre
Age: 1 - adult
Ridings Shopping Centre, Unit 10, Almshouse Lane, Wakefield, WF1 1DS
Phone: 01924 806024
Email: rebecca@stridetheatre.co.uk
Website: https://www.stridetheatre.co.uk
Thornes Juniors Football Club
Age: 6 - 16
Queens Drive (Near Holiday Inn),, WF5 9BE
Phone: Pete - 07516 306163
Email: thornesjfc@gmail.com
Website: https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/thornesjuniorsfc/
Thornes Park Stadium – Bicycle Hire
Thornes Park Athletics Stadium, Wakefield, WF2 8TY
Phone: 01924 369631
Email: thornesas@wakefield.gov.uk
Website: https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/sportsand-leisure/sport-activities-and-classes/disability-sport-and-fitness
Wakefield Parent Carer Forum (WPCF)
SEND soft play, children’s craft sessions, LEGO club and gaming club.
Unit 2, Airedale Business Centre, Kershaw Avenue, Castleford, WF10 3ES
Email: info@wakefieldparentcarers.co.uk
Website: www.wakefieldparentcarers.co.uk
Xuberdance
Age: any
Castleford academy Ferrybridge Road, Castleford, Wf10 4JQ
Phone: 07732 894932
Email: xuberdance@gmail.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/xuberdance
Yorkshire Visually Impaired Cricket Club
Age: 11 upwards
Horbury Academy, Wakefield Road, Horbury, WF4 5HE
Phone: 07769 909906
Email: JohnGarbett7@gmail.com
Website: https://www.bcew.co.uk
WF Happy Healthy Holidays aims to keep children and young people active during the school holidays by providing free activities and healthy food for school age children (Reception to year 11) who receive Income-Related Free School Meals.
The programme has several providers who offer support for children with SEND in a mainstream
settings. If your child requires extra support due to SEND or any other needs, please have a conversation with the provider in the first instance to ensure that they are able to support your child’s at the session.
To book please visit https://wakefieldcouncil.coordinate.cloud/
Please note that spaces are not guaranteed but are subject to availability when you book.
For more information visit https://www.wakefieldfamiliestogether.co.uk/community-upport/happyhealthy-holidays
Thanks to the parents and carers who sent in more suggestions about where to go with your Max Card:
Monkey Maze, Garforth
https://monkeymazeplay.com
0113 2872766
Rainbow Playrooms, Wakefield
https://www.happity.co.uk/rainbow-playrooms-ltd
01924 682135
National Coal Mining Museum
https://www.ncm.org.uk
01924 848806
The Secret Garden, Horbury
https://www.secretgardenhorbury.com
01924 270011
Swithens Farm
https://www.swithensfarm.co.uk
0113 282 8828
Have you got a Max Card?
It can help you go on days out for free or with a discount. A discount is when you get money off the usual price.
A Max Card lasts for 2 years.
A Max Card is free if you join the Information Network. This is also called the IN. You can join the IN by visiting https://wakefield.mylocaloffer.org/informationnetwork/how-can-i-join
For places you can visit, go to https://mymaxcard.co.uk
If you have lost your card, or it has expired (this means the date has run out) then contact the IN. They will help you get a new one. You can email them at informationnetwork@wakefield.gov.uk
You can also ring them on 01924 302 471