The Cambridgeshire area SEND Inspection gets underway next Monday, March 20. And Pinpoint is making sure parent carers' voices are heard in the process.
The inspection looks at how well the area has been identifying and providing for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities since the legal reforms of September 2014.
To capture as many comments as possible, Pinpoint has an online parent survey. If your child or young person has an EHCP, a Statement or SEN Support, please give your views by Sunday March 19, so that we can pass them to inspectors on Monday.Click the blue button below to take part.
Ofsted has written to Cambridgeshire parent carers about the inspection and invited them to take part in a webinar and other discussions during the week.
Pinpoint and SENDIASS are arranging meetings for June with parents and the local authority to discuss transport - the process, parent involvement, development of a charter, quality assurance, individual surgeries, and more.
East Cambs: Tuesday June 20 at Ely Library, 10am to 2pm
Cambridge City: Wednesday June 21 venue to be confirmed, evening, 6.15- 9pm
Huntingdon: Tuesday June 27 at the Maple Centre, Huntingdon,10am to 2pm.
South Cambs: Friday June 30, at Papworth Trust, Papworth,10am to 2pm.
Fenland: Monday July 3, at Oasis Centre, Wisbech, 10am to 2pm.
Pinpoint and county parent groups have teamed up to organise a series of meetings around challenging behaviour.
Share your experiences of your child with SEND Specialist Services Manager Marian Cullen; learn about the new training for workers and parents that will be coming to Cambridgeshire; and help develop this service with your knowledge and expertise.
With Little Miracles Cambridge, Ely and Newmarket
Wednesday March 22. 10am to 12 noon, Ely Community Centre, High Barns, Ely, CB7 4SB.
With Cambridgeshire SEND
Wednesday March 29, 7 to 9pm Broad Leas Centre, Broad Leas, St Ives PE27 5QB
With Welcome 2 Our World
Friday March 31, 10am to 12 noon in Wisbech. For venue information please contact Welcome 2 Our World
Our monthly groups help parents and carers who have children with ADHD and Autism with or without a diagnosis. So if your children are accessing services, are on the waiting list, or have had a referral turned down, come along for practical advice and ideas on how to boost your resilience and work with your children at home and help manage their behaviour.
Ely
April 21: 12.30-2.30pm at Ely Children’s Centre, CB7 4RB. Blue badge parking bays and parking on road outside of centre. Guest is Jane Tuck, special needs Family Worker from Highfields School.
Histon
April 24: 10am to 12 noon at Histon at the Early Years Centre, New School Road, Histon CB24 9LL. Parking on roads adjacent to centre. None at actual venue. Dr Anna Conway-Morris - Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist will be joining us for an ADHD medical information session.
Peterborough
April 20: 10am to 12 noon, speaker to be confirmed, Family Voice Peterborough, The Goldhay Community Centre, 105 Paynels, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, PE2 5QP
Huntingdon
April 25: 10 am to 12 noon at Hunts Forum, The Maple Centre, 6 Oak Tree Drive, Huntingdon PE29 7HN. A free car park is located next to the Oak Tree Centre and some parking is available outside the front of the centre. If you are using your Sat Nav, the postcode is PE29 7LB (please use this postcode as it will bring you directly to the main car park near the Golden Knight pub). Core Assets will be with us to talk one page profiles.
Would you like to know more about supporting your teenagers to recognise healthy and unhealthy relationships?
Tough Love is a play, followed by a discussion on the issues raised, being shown in mainstream secondary and special schools across the county. And Pinpoint parent carers can get a special viewing all to themselves - at our Preparation for Adulthood meeting next week, on Tuesday March 21.
Come along at 10am to Tesco Bar Hill community room - but please book ahead as spaces are limited.
Do you run a parent support group? Or would you like to start one in your area?
Next week we have a Local Groups Day to meet up with other parents and professionals who run a Parent Support Group for parent/carers of children up to the age of 25 with disabilities and additional needs across Cambridgeshire.
The workshop is free to attend and includes lunch. It's being hosted by Pinpoint and Contact A Family at Papworth Trust Bernard Sunley Centre, CB23 3RG on Wednesday March 22, 10am to 2pm.
Parents are wanted to help with autism, emotional wellbeing and mental health research.
TV production company betty is looking for people to take part in a new Channel 4 programme about autism. The company - makers of The Autistic Gardener and The Food Hospital - wants to recruit people who think they show autistic traits, but have not been diagnosed. Details on our website
Cambridge autism researcher Ezra Aydin wants to recruit mums-to-be- for a new project. Ezra, who works with Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, is researching whether there are any physical characteristics in pregnancy that might be related to later autistic traits in childhood. The overall aim is to help support children who might be later diagnosed with ASC and their families from as early as possible. Details on the website
YoungMinds and NHS England have launched a survey to hear views from parents and carers It's a chance to influence the way that schools, youth groups, CAMHS and other support services work with you and your children. Any parent or caregiver for a child aged 25 or under – whether or not your child has used mental health services in the past – can take part. There's a chance to win a £50 Love to Shop Vouchers at the end. Take part
Easy Fundraising for Pinpoint
If you are buying online, please don't forget that your purchases raise free donations for Pinpoint through Easy Fundraising.
From pet food to weekly groceries, Easter treats to holidays, your shopping can raise £s to help our work with Cambridgeshire families with children and young people with additional needs and disabilities. There are over 3,000 shops and sites on board ready to make a donation, including Amazon, John Lewis, Aviva, thetrainline and Sainsbury's – it doesn't cost you a penny extra!
2. Every time you shop online, go to easyfundraising first to find the site you want and start shopping.
3. After you’ve checked out, that retailer will make a donation to your good cause for no extra cost whatsoever!
There are no catches or hidden charges and Pinpoint Cambridgeshire will be really grateful for your donations.
Thank you for your support.
Good to knows ...
Mailing list: have you changed e-address?
Are you changing your email address ? Know a friend /Pinpoint subscriber that has? Please let us know as we are spring cleaning our mailing list and we have a lot of "bounces" to old addresses. Email your new details to info@pinpoint-cambs.org.uk and we can make sure you continue to get all our news, event invites and information straight to your inbox.
British Blind Sport's Swimming Gala
Entries are open for British Blind Sport's Swimming Gala - the only VI-specific youth swimming competition in the UK - at Birmingham on May 6. And as well as competitive swimming events, there is free one to one swimming lessons for 5-7 year olds. More on our sports section swimming page
Young gardeners wanted!
Eddie's gardening project is welcoming new members. It's open to adults with learning disabilities (18+) and runs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The team works in the gardens of Anglesey Abbey, a National Trust property near Cambridge and also maintains gardens for a number of properties in Milton village. Details
Holiday ideas
Fancy some fresh air with the family? You Can Bike Too is back for a new season at Milton Country Park. It offers different adapted bikes for fun family sessions on Sundays, 11am to 1pm. Support/carers ride for free and helmets are provided. Find out more
Eddie's Artworks is running during the Easter holidays, from April 3 to 13. The ‘UP, Up and Away’ themed sessions include art, drama and cooking; and will involve anything from hot air balloons making to butterfly cakes.Sessions run 10am to 3pm and flexible booking options include half and full days. The club is aimed people with learning disabilities, aged +18 years. For more information please contact Artworks on 01223 883137 or artworks@eddies.org.uk
And finally...
Happy Easter everyone
It's been a hectic March so far, so thank you to all Pinpoint parent carers for supporting our groups and events and your input and energy in our work sessions and focus groups - we know how busy you are too. With end of term looming, we wish you all a happy Easter holiday. The Pinpoint office will be staffed at least two days a week through the break, so please leave us a message and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
the area has been identifying and providing for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities since the legal reforms of September 2014. 
Are you changing your email address ? Know a friend /Pinpoint subscriber that has? Please let us know as we are spring cleaning our mailing list and we have a lot of "bounces" to old addresses. Email your new details to 
