Latest news and updates about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Bromley.
Events calendar
Holiday, activities and food programme
Our Holiday, activities and food programme returns from 19 December 2023 to 5 January 2024 providing 10 days of activities and holiday club places for eligible children across the Christmas half-term.
Our holiday activities and food programme (HAF) allows children and young people, aged between 5 to 16 years old, to enjoy fun and enriching activities outside of term time that will enable them to develop new skills, build confidence and meet new friends.
Each session will allow your child to take part in some form of physical activity as well as creative and educational tasks. They will also learn about the nutritional aspect of the food they eat, whilst enjoying a free nutritious meal each day.
Parents and carers can search the activity schedule by type and postcode to find a suitable one for them. The schedule has all the information on our programme of activities and how to book.
Booking closes on: 29 December 2023.
Email: HolidayActivitiesandFood@bromley.gov.uk (For questions about the programme that are not related to booking enquiries).
Learning disability and autism big health week 2023
Join us for the learning disability and autism big health week from Monday 4 December to Friday 8 December to learn more about health and wellbeing. Take part in our fun and informative sessions throughout the week either online or in person.
Household Support Fund
Apply now to Bromley Council for £200 of support to help pay for essentials.
You may be eligible if you are:
- A Bromley resident
- Over the age of 16
- Able to provide evidence of financial hardship
And you are:
- A large family
- A single-income family
- A carer
- A care leaver
- A domestic abuse survivor
- A family with school-age children
- A household with someone with a disability including dementia and mental health
- A household experiencing financial hardship
Eligibility remains broad but evidence such as bank statements or utility arrears will need to be provided.
Find out more by visiting the website or call the council helpline on 020 8461 7999. Lines are open 9am to 12pm, Monday to Friday.
Are you someone who is good at listening?
Do you have good communication skills and want to make a difference to Bromley’s children and young people with SEND and their families?
We are running a free course for potential volunteers from January to March 2024.
IASS Bromley gives confidential, free, impartial information, advice and support to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their parents and carers.
We are seeking to recruit volunteers to work with us and the families we help. We offer ongoing training and support within a friendly team who meet monthly to discuss current cases and exchange ideas and advice.
If you would like to know more or would like to sign up, please contact Matt Barton, IASS manager, on 0208 461 7019, or email iass@bromley.gov.uk.
SEND Celebrations
During October 2023, Bromley SEND Partnership celebrated the achievements of children and young people who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This inaugural annual event shone a spotlight on the work that families, service providers, carers, school staff and anyone that makes a difference to the lived experiences of our children and young people with SEND and their families in Bromley. Children and young people celebrated their friendships, diversity, difference and hopes for the future by using their many artistic talents which were displayed at the Pavilion in central Bromley. Ian Simpson, the centre manager said “It’s been a pleasure supporting this amazing event. The exhibition has been a focal point for many customers/members.”
Information stations were set up in our Children and Families centres across the borough and a marketplace event was held in central Bromley where parent and carers could meet professionals to find out more information about the support and services available in the London Borough of Bromley. Parents and carers who attended this event said it is “incredible to know there is such a range of help available. Thank you!” Professionals who attended valued the opportunity to network with services and support parent carers face to face. “Let’s have another soon. Please!”
Celebrating SEND Stars
On Wednesday 1 November the first Bromley SEND Stars celebration was held at the Warren.
Children and young people with special educational needs and their families were joined by the Mayor, councillors and colleagues from education settings, community partners, local business and the Bromley SEND Partnership.
The event was an opportunity to share and to celebrate the achievements of our children and young people who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), their families and peers and the dedicated individuals working across the London Borough of Bromley who go the extra mile so that our children can achieve strong outcomes and have happy and fulfilled lives.
Congratulations to all the award winners and nominees!
The celebration was the final event of a month of activities to celebrate the accomplishments of Bromley children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and to shine a spotlight on the work of families, service providers, carers, school staff and anyone that makes a difference to the lived experiences of our children and young people with SEND and their families.
OFSTED reports identify excellent support for pupils with SEND
In September 2019, the Education Inspection Framework (EIF) replaced the Common Inspection Framework (CIF), changing the way Ofsted inspects schools, colleges, further education institutions and early years settings in England.
OFSTED Inspection reports provide parents and carers with a wealth of information about schools including how school leaders cater for different needs, such as disadvantaged or pupils with SEND. Schools are working hard to adapt their teaching to strengthen and deepen pupils understanding whilst supporting pupils skilfully in reducing any barriers to their learning.
Within the Local Authority, each school has a single point of contact within the SEND Advisory service. This team of specialist teachers support schools with pupils with SEND. This can be a phone call, an email, or a school visit but they are instrumental in providing the specialist SEND support that schools may require.
The SEND Advisory team have completed a review of 8 school Ofsted reports published during this term.
The review identified both the Inspection grade and judgements relating to SEND. All schools inspected this term were rated good.
Feedback from OFSTED includes:
‘Leaders make sure that pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are given the help they need to complete activities successfully during lessons.’
‘Leaders identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities at an early stage. They place a strong emphasis on ensuring that these pupils are included and access the same curriculum as other pupils. The highly effective support that these pupils receive enables them to achieve as well as their peers’.
For more information parents carers can access SEND information reports of school websites.
Bromley Y webinar events
Bromley Y are running a series of webinars. These include sessions for both parents and carers and young people. The webinars looks at some of the most common worries and sources of anxiety children may face when transitioning to secondary school.
b-Hive
A new website for parent/carers to support them with their child’s communication development, physical skills and independence.
Created by local health services and Bromley Council to pull together the range of therapies that support the communication development, physical skills and independence of children, teenagers and young adults in Bromley.
The guide incorporates a collective range of therapies, such as: emotional wellbeing and mental health; occupational therapy; physiotherapy; speech and language therapy; and special educational needs (SEN) advisory service.
The b-HIVE is shaped around six core areas of child development which support the child
Visit the new b-Hive website www.bromleytherapyhub.org.uk
Family support through the Bromley Children Project
Our new front door is live, should you wish to make a referral to the Bromley Children Project for 1:1 family support or light touch intervention please telephone the Bromley Help, Support & Safeguarding Hub for Children and Families on 020 8461 7373/ 7379/ 7026 or email mash@bromley.gov.uk
There is no change to how you can access the wider offer from the early intervention and family support service (EIFS) provided by the local authority which includes:-
• The wide range of parenting courses, seminars, webinars
• The wide range of activities at the Children and Family Centres,
• Information advice and support service
• ASC family support worker, and the BCP parenting hotline (telephone 020 8461 7259)
Transformational reform begins for children and young people with SEND
The SEND and alternative provision improvement plan published on Thursday 2 March confirms investment in training for thousands of workers so children can get the help they need earlier, alongside thousands of additional specialist school places for those with the greatest needs - as 33 new special free schools are approved to be built as at the time of publishing.
Read more about the plans ahead for children and young people with SEND.
There is an easy read version of the SEND and alternative provision plan.
New Changing Places facility opens at Princess Royal University Hospital
Need2Change - a group of Bromley Mums who have children and young adults with complex disabilities, were at the recent opening of a new Changing Places toileting facility at Princess Royal University Hospital.
Need2Change said: “We are delighted that more Changing Places are being built in the area, enabling us to access places that we need to, and want to, visit. They make such a difference to daily life - making trips out not only possible, but far more dignified and less stressful too. It is a pleasure working with Bromley council officers, NHS teams, and voluntary sector organisations to bring more of these specialist facilities to our borough.”
You can find out more about the facility at PRUH, other venues which have Changing Places and the work of Need2Change by following their social media pages.
For further information or to find a Changing Place please visit https://www.changing-places.org/.
Autism assessment pathway
SEL Integrated Commissioning Board (which replaced the Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group July 2022) are seeking parent and young people’s views on how they can improve the experience of the autism assessment pathway.
Please select the appropriate link to access the survey.
Survey for children and young people
Education, health and care plan (EHCP) eligibility guidance for schools
Following recent discussions and meetings with school colleagues, partners, and parent/carers, the council has published a document outlining our education, health and care plan (EHCP) eligibility guidance for schools.
The London Borough of Bromley works closely with educational settings and other partners to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities can access the right support at the earliest possible opportunity. Please speak to your school SENCO if you would like further information on SEN support and the graduated approach.
Leisure activities
Find out more about leisure activities clubs and schemes.
Send Matters newsletter
Our July 2023 SEND Matters newsletter provides parents, carers, young people and professionals with information and updates that inform you of the latest news, developments and services for children, teenagers and young adults (aged from birth to 25 years old) who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Bromley.
In this edition you’ll learn more about how your feedback and views have shaped the development of new services, new project initiatives and new partnerships alongside upcoming events.
View previous editions of SEND Matters newsletters.
Disability Living Allowance for children
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) have produced two playlists of information videos that explain Disability Living Allowance, the process for applying for it, what happens after you have claimed and what happens when a child turns 16. DWP Disability Living Allowance information videos
These are also available in British Sign Language. DWP Disability Living Allowance videos in British Sign Language.
National Disability Strategy
The government's National Disability Strategy, outlines its plans to make our country better for the 14 million disabled children and adults in the UK.
This ambitious strategy sets out 100 immediate commitments supported by £1.6bn of funding alongside an ambitious agenda for future reform.
Watch the National Disability Strategy overview video
National autism strategy for England
The government has published its autism strategy, which sets out how it plans to support autistic adults and children in England over the next five years.
Read the national strategy for autistic children, young people and adults 2021 to 2026
Co-Production Survey from Learning Disability and Autism Programme London
The Learning Disability and Autism Programme, London are seeking responses to the following survey on Lived Experience to inform a report on co-production for autistic people and people with a learning disability.
New information from the Bromley All Age Autism Partnership
The Bromley All Age Autism Strategy (PDF - 9.65 MB) has recently been updated along with an easy-read version (PDF - 2.06 MB). This sets out local priorities for people of all ages with autism in Bromley.
The strategy has two main aims: To make sure there’s equality of access to universal services for people with autism and to make sure specialist services can support people with autism.
Also, the ‘Do you know – social communication and autism guide' (PDF - 1.87 MB) is a guide for families with children and teenagers who have social communication difficulties including autism which can be downloaded and printed.
‘One Bromley’ Keeping Your Child well this winter
Advice on managing common ailments and symptoms and when to seek medical advice.