Welcome to our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) newsletter!

The newsletter provides families with the information they need in an easily accessible format. This newsletter is part of our exciting developments for Haringey children, young people and their families. As always, we welcome your feedback - please let us know how well it works for you.

You can send us any comments or ideas of topics you would like information on via email at sendnewsletters@haringey.gov.uk

If your child is in Year 6 (born between 1 September 2010 and 31 August 2011) you will need to apply for a secondary school place for them by 31 October 2021. If your child receives SEN support, you will need to apply for a school place online. If your child has an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) you will receive a form from us which you will need to complete and send back to us.

Choosing a secondary school is a big decision and it is important to visit the schools you are thinking of as well as including your child in the decision. The best way to visit the school is to contact the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) and arrange an appointment with them. You can find their details on the school website or through the school office.

This year we have expanded the number of choices of schools you can make for your child to 3. You must include your Local School (as defined by school admissions processes) as one of your 3 options. Please carefully consider your choices and seek advice from the people who know your child best - this might be their class teacher, school SENCo or a health professional.

If your child has an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP), please find below copies of the letter and application form needed:

• Application form
• Letter to parents

They can be returned to: sendphasetransfer@haringey.gov.uk

We have published our draft Haringey SEND Strategy for public consultation. This strategy outlines how we plan to further develop the SEND offer in Haringey over the next 3 years.

The consultation runs until 7 November 2021. Please take the opportunity to both promote and complete the online consultation.

"I like to get out and about when I can and went along to Bruce Grove Youth Space a few weeks ago to meet with young people and our Youth Work Team.

"Whilst I was there, I joined the Sanjuro martial arts class for children and young people with SEND. I gave it a go and it was a great session, although I realised just how unfit I am! I spoke with some of the young people who attend the class who told me about how important this class was to them, the support they receive from the staff who ran the session and the confidence and friendships they made by coming to this class.

"If you are not aware of this provision, I would thoroughly recommend it, the session is adapted for all abilities, Glenn and his team are really welcoming and it's free!"

Find out more about Sanjuro and their inclusion classes.

Jackie Difolco
Assistant Director - Early Help, Prevention and SEND

The Butterfly Project is a 6-week programme primarily aimed at young women and girls. The activities are designed to increase confidence, raise aspirations and develop a sense of community. Activities will help young participants with:

• boosting their self-esteem and developing a positive mindset
• finding a safe space for creative expression
• building their confidence and learn new skills

Details: 

• Where: Bruce Grove Youth Space, 10 Bruce Grove, Tottenham N17 6RA
• When: weekly on Thursdays from 4 November, 5.30-6.30pm
• Ages: 11-18 (girls only)

For more information and to register/refer a young person, visit The Gifted website or email info@thegifted.org.uk

We are delighted that our inclusive digital orchestra is now booking workshops in schools. Using cutting-edge accessible technology and our musical skills our young people can now participate fully in this digital orchestra.

Our digital theremins, Skoogs, synthesizers, percussion box and many other instruments offer a great way to interact, communicate and make music together. We hope to visit all schools by the end of the term to start building an original piece, which will be premiered at the Royal Albert Hall in April 2022.

In July, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) conducted a joint inspection of Haringey to judge our effectiveness in implementing the disability and special educational needs reforms as set out in the Children and Families Act 2014.

The inspection report was published on Friday 8 October - you can find out more and read the report on our Local Offer pages.

Advice on how to apply for secondary school places

The school admissions team are running a series of online meetings to help parents and carers apply for secondary school places. Each talk will last approximately 30 minutes, and families can ask questions afterwards.

You can join the talks by clicking on the links below at the scheduled time of the meeting. All talks will be held on Microsoft Teams.

Please note: these sessions are not aimed at families of children with EHCPs as they apply through the process outlined above.

Free consultations with an educational psychologist 

Are you worried about your child’s development, learning, emotional well-being or behaviour?

Then book a free 40-minute session with an educational psychologist from the Haringey Educational Psychology Service. They can talk through your concerns with you, help you make a plan of action and signpost you to sources of help and support.

• Where: Markfield, Markfield Road, London, N15 4RB
• When: Wednesday 20 October | Wednesday 17 November | Wednesday 8 December

If you have any queries or would like to book a phone or in-person consultation, please contact Family Admin at Markfield:

• Tel: 020 3667 5233
• Email: familyadmin@markfield.org.uk

The Brook Special primary school choir

Six of our children went up to London as guest singers at the Thanksgiving Service of the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers. The children travelled by minibus to St James of Garlikhythe Church which was built by Christopher Wren (although it is not round).

They sat in the choir stall in front of everybody and then walked through the congregation to the piano where our Expressive arts curriculum lead, Maria Preftitsi, played for them.

They sang 5 songs in different languages and were loudly applauded by the audience. Their behaviour was impeccable and we were so proud of them. On the way home, we stopped off for a treat at Macdonald's to celebrate this special event. Congratulations to Sofiya, Jerolain, Ola, Daniel, Jhonatan and Flora.

Brighter Beginnings workshops 

Contact is a charity for families with disabled children and is offering a series of free online workshops. They cover a whole range of topics such as anxiety, toilet training, sleeping amongst others, and more.

Visit the Contact website to find out more:

You can also book a one-to-one telephone appointment for parents looking for emotional support through their listening ear service.

SEND Service

Telephone:
020 8489 1913

Email:
sen@haringey.gov.uk | sendnewsletters@haringey.gov.uk

SEND Statutory Assessment Teams

• Up to Year 5: 
  SENDTeam1@haringey.gov.uk
• Years 5-11:
  SENDTeam2@haringey.gov.uk
• Years 12+:
  SENDTeam3@haringey.gov.uk

Transport Team

Telephone:

• Viviane Austin - 020 8489 4376 
• Kathleen Johnston - 020 8489 5692 
• Pembe Hippolyte - 020 8489 5629 
• Ricky Morris - 020 8489 6937 

Email:
School.Transport@haringey.gov.uk

The Disabled Children's Team (DCT) including the Short Breaks Service

The DCT duty team office is open Mondays to Fridays, 9am - 5pm (contact by telephone only). 

Telephone:
020 8489 3671 | 020 8489 3672

Emergency telephone number (out of hours):
020 8489 0000

Stay up to date

We will be distributing the SEND newsletter on a monthly basis.

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