Welcome to West Berkshire Parent Carer Forum's October Newsletter! We hope you find it informative, and would love to hear what you think of it. Let us know Here
There's lots going on at the moment, so please do take a look, and hope you are all having a g reat half-term so far!
If you would like to get in touch, either call me on
07860 942280
Or Email me at
fionaworby@roseroad.org.uk
I look forward to hearing from you, and hope you find the newsletter useful.
Our popular pumpkin carving event is back... this time for 7 days! Pick up a pumpkin and get creative in our carving tent this October Half Term.
Come rain or shine our pumpkin carving tent is ready for action, open from Monday 23rd to Sunday 29th October!
Monday - Saturday 10am - 4pm (last entry 3pm)
Sunday 10am - 3pm (last entry 2pm)
Choose the perfect size pumpkin from our farm shop, pay for it and your entry ticket at our farm shop tills then head over to our carving tent where you'll find all the tools required to make your very own masterpiece ready for Halloween.
Entrance to the carving tent is £3.50 per child and includes a complimentary Halloween treat and squash to keep those creative juices flowing!
Event Terms & Conditions: We provide all the tools required to create your carving master pieces but children must be supervised by an adult at all times. Please be aware that at busy times there may be a wait to enter our pumpkin carving tent but we will do our best to make this as short as possible. Entry into our carving tent requires 1 x Cobbs Pumpkin and 1 x Ticket; to be purchased from the farm shop. Only food and drink purchased from Cobbs Café can be consumed in our garden - strictly no external picnics allowed.
The ICE Youth Group in Hungerford will be open again on the 31st October.
The group is for any child on the SEN Register who is in School Years 6 -13. We welcome all types of SEN, and have a great group of parent volunteers who run the group each week.
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The Youth Group is held in John of Gaunt Youth Club every Tuesday night (term time) from 6.30 - 8.30pm. There is a chill out room, X Box, Crafts and we all make full use of our outside area by playing dodge ball, having water fights, rounders and now there is Air Hockey!!
Entrance is £2.00 per child. There is also a tuck shop open where crisps, sweets and drinks can be purchased.
Would you like to help? We are looking for new volunteers to join us to help run the club, it doesn't have to be every week, but any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. Just drop in or contact us on Facebook if you would like to know more:)
Join our Facebook Group to find out what's on each week, and for more information about volunteering. Click HERE to be taken straight to the FB Page
Working Families are holding a survey for parents of disabled children/young people who work or who wish to work. They are interested in hearing your views and experiences of combining paid work and your caring responsibilities. They will use the findings of this survey to influence government and employers about how they can make it easier for parents of disabled children/young people to undertake paid work. Your answers will be anonymised and will remain confidential; you will not be identifiable when the findings are presented.
This survey should take you no more than 15 minutes to complete. Please answer as many of the questions as you are able to but if there are any you would prefer not to answer then please just leave them blank. Thank you very much for your help. Please click on the link below to participate
See an autism friendly screening of The Lego Ninjago Movie on Sunday 29th October at 10:15am, at the participating ODEON cinemas listed below.
See a trial autism friendly screening for older audiences of Thor Ragnarok (TBC) on Monday 30th October at 6pm. This is at nine selected ODEON cinemas.
To be aware of
ODEON Wester Hailes is closed for refurbishment in October
ODEON Epsom’s autism friendly screenings begin at 11am.
Tickets for the latest releases may come with a small Blockbuster charge of £1, on top of the normal ticket price.
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West Berks SENDiass
(Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service)
What we do
The Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service for West Berkshire provides:
free and confidential service, provided independently from education, health and care providers
Impartial information, advice and support relating to special educational needs and disability (SEND)
Advice and support from independently trained Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service staff
Support through the statutory processes relating to Statements of Special Educational Needs and the new Education Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment and planning
Information and practical support to find the answers to your questions in relation to education, social care and health services
Who we can help
We can provide information, advice and support to:
Parents or carers of a child or young person (aged 0-25) with a disability and/or special educational needs
Parents or carers who are worried that their child or young person may have a disability or special educational needs;
If your child has questions, we can help them too
Young people aged 16-25 who have a disability and/or special educational needs
Our service is for people who live in West Berkshire. If you don’t live in West Berkshire, but need support, we can put you in touch with your local IAS Service.
How we can help
We aim to provide you with help that is right for you. We can help by
Listening to your views and concerns
Helping you feel more confident to express your views
Explaining your options, rights and responsibilities
Help in preparing for meetings and/or attending meetings with you;
Answering your questions about Statements of Special Educational Needs and Educational Health and Care (EHC) Plans;
Supporting you through a needs assessment or review
Support to resolve disagreements
Developing networks and links locally to provide solutions to your individual queries
Monthly Openings:
Wednesday 6pm – 8pm
Over 9s group
(the 3rd Wednesday of the month)
Friday 9.30am – 11am
(the 1st Friday of the month)
Friday 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Over 9s group
(the 1st Friday of the month)
SIBS Groups:
Friday 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Year 6s and over
(the 2nd Friday of the month)
Saturday 10am – Midday
All welcome
(the 3rd Saturday of the month)
Are you, or is someone you know, providing much-needed care for a loved one?
Get free access to a range of support and services – right when you need it most.
Call us: 0118 324 7333
Carers Trust provides timely, personalised information and support via the Reading & West Berkshire Carers Hub to make caring for a loved one easier.
The Carers Hub can offer:
Information, advice and guidance
Signposting to other organisations
Short break accommodation
Access to Carers support groups
Free health and well-being memberships
Access to Carers breaks
Free training and caring support
Carers Smart’ benefits and discounts
Carers grants
Peer support
Are you wondering if you are a Carer?
You may not see yourself as one, but if you are looking after someone – whether it be an adult or child – who fits one or more of the example descriptions below, then you are a Carer.
They:
are elderly and frail
are physically disabled
have a learning disability
have mental health problems
have a history of substance misuse
have a long term health condition
have a sensory impairment
There is a range of support available to you, which will help you look after yourself as well as the loved one you care for. Carers Trust provides a range of support and services which can be accessed via the Carers Hub – funded by: Reading Borough Council, West Berkshire Council, North & West Reading CCG
South Reading CCG, Newbury & District CCG.
Reading and West Berkshire Carers Hub runs a friendly support group for carers in West Berkshire, which meets on the First Wednesday of each month. All carers welcome.
Please call 0118 3247333 if you would like any further information about the group.
WHERE: Pangbourne Small Village Hall, RG8 7DY
COST: Free
CONTACT: Reading and West Berkshire Carers Hub 0118 324 7333
The Local offer sets out provision which is available for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), aged 0 to 25, including education, health and social care services.
Where you see the green West Berkshire Local Offer flag, on the top, right corner of a record in this directory, you will know that the service or provider has submitted information on what they can offer a child or young person who has SEND. This is known as their Local Offer. Please do take a look, there are providers of a range of services which may be useful to you.