What's happening in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

Latest news and updates about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Bromley

Coronavirus

For the latest information about service changes affecting children and young people with SEND and their families during the Coronavirus pandemic visit our  pages at: SENDMatters: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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SEND Matters newsletter

Our SENDMatters newsletter is designed to give you that latest news and update from the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms happening across Bromley right now.

View previous editions of SENDMatters newsletters

Holiday activities and food programme

The Bromley holiday activities and food (HAF) programme is for children who are in receipt of benefits related free school meals, including specific provisions available for children with SEND or additional needs.

Learning disability service - complex needs day services

We are delighted to announce that from August 2021 Eleanor Nursing and Social Care will be providing the complex needs day service for people with a learning disability at the Astley Day Centre. The current provider Certitude will continue to run the service until this date and will ensure a smooth handover to the new provider.

More information and regular updates will be posted on the Eleanor Health Care website 

Day services – other building based day services

Care managers are now contacting all non-complex individuals who previously attended Astley to discuss the alternative day services that are available to them.

Respite – 118 Widmore Road

118 Widmore Road remains closed to planned respite stays due to the Covid restrictions but we are hopeful of being able to reopen this service for planned respite on 19 July in line with the government guidelines.

To register your interest in a stay or to find out more about the services call: 0208 464 3920 or Tafara.Gumbo@Ambient.org.uk or contact Widmore Road WidmoreRd@Ambient.org.uk

If you would like to ask us any questions you can email LD.Transformation@bromley.gov.uk.

Support for people with autism

As Covid restrictions slowly ease and our lives begin to return to normal we recognise how the changes over the last year may have made people feel more anxious or concerned about returning to everyday life.

The Bromley All-Age Partnership and Board will continue to listen, support and respond to our autism community and will work to bring you resources to inform and support you through this time.

Our latest BAAB newsletter provides the latest information about the initiatives and support on offer locally in Bromley.

Find out what the autism team at NHS England and NHS Improvement are doing on the NHS website.

You can read about all the work being done by the learning disability and autism programme to support autistic people and you can also watch the new NHS.UK video We are autistic, written by autistic people to increase understanding of autism. 

Parents wellbeing sessions

Being a parent can be both challenging and rewarding.

Prioritise self-care can sometimes be something that we forget to do. The childrens wellbeing service from Bromley Mencap would like to invite you to join them for some well-deserved me time sessions running through June and July 2021. Find out more at Bromley Mencap.

The Signpost from Bromley Y

Bromley Y has announced the launch of its new text chat service called The Signpost.

This free, anonymous text chat service is for young people aged 11-18 who would like some advice from our wellbeing practitioners around the emotional difficulties they may be facing.  This is not a crisis line.  Text lines are open 9am to 5pm on weekdays (closed Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays).

For referrals to Bromley Y and more information about the  mental health and emotional wellbeing service, please visit the BromleyY website.  

SEND Network Champions

Our Bromley SEND Network Champions initiative brings together professionals and parents across Bromley who have the common goal of making a difference to Children and Young People with SEND.

Through our most recent event we heard presentations from the team at Bromley Y who delivered exciting information about their new Bromley Y services which now include the innovative The Signpost text service for young people looking for mental health support, advice and help.

We also learned about the latest developments around the commissioning of short breaks for children and young people with SEND

For more information, to request a copy of the full presentation and If you are interested in becoming a SEND Network Champion please email localoffer@bromley.gov.uk