Disabilities and additional needs

Lots of information is available on York's Local Offer.

This section of the website contains core information and resources to support members of the YorOK workforce working with disabled children and children with additional needs.

What's on offer for disabled children in York

York's local offer enables parents and young people to see what disability services are available in their area and how to access them.

Disability equality training

The Workforce Development Unit offers a range of courses to support all practitioners working with children, young people and families. Training aimed at practitioners working with children and young people who special educational needs and disabilities is also available. Training courses can be viewed through the MyLO (My Learning Organiser). If you haven't already, you will need to create an account when you first log in. If you can't find a course suitable for what you are after please contact the Workforce Development Unit:

Telephone: 01904 553017

Email: wdu@york.gov.uk

Local and National Guidance

Local and national policy guidance is available for further reading on York's Local Offer.

School Effectiveness and Achievement Service

. As part of the School Partnership Officer role they ensure that:

any concerns about aspects of a school’s performance are being raised proactively with school leaders, governors, MAT Chief Executive Officers and MAT board trustees so that they can be swiftly addressed;
to be the champion of vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils to ensure that they provide challenge to schools so that children with additional needs (pupil premium, low attainers, SEND, CLA, EAL) are able to achieve their full potential and benefit from a rich educational experience which comes from living in York;
to identify and share best practice to support school improvement and succession planning in York;
to inform the cycle of risk assessment and the commissioning of school to school support and CPD;
to provide advice and guidance about the statutory requirements on schools and to signpost (where appropriate) access to other support services in CYC including HR, legal, governor support services, school services, school safeguarding advice, school finance, local areas teams etc

Integrated service conferences

These are held throughout the year. Parents/carers, practitioners and partner organisations come together to inform on the latest information on disability and additional needs in York.

If you are interested in more information about the integrated services conference pleased contact the SEN team:

Telephone: 01904 554320

Email: sendept@york.gov.uk

Building confidence with parents of disabled children

Find out five top tips for building confidence with parents of disabled children. These tips have been identified through a survey of parental satisfaction.

Listen to me

The "Listen to Me" series of booklets include practical and innovative examples of how children can express
their views.. Their opinions are really important and have definitely shaped priorities for services in the City of York. Clearly some children and young people require more support to be involved and we know that parents and practitioners are eager to help them do this.

Disabled children’s access to childcare

Find out what York is doing as part of the disabled children’s access to childcare project

Personal Budgets

As a parent/carer of a disabled child you may also want to consider applying for a Personal Budget. Personal budgets are a way of arranging social care services for disabled children, young people and their families.

Personal budgets give you more control and enables you to decide who supports your child.

Personal budgets can be used to:

Employ a Personal assistant (PA) to support your child
Buy support from an agency or other organisation
Pay for day or evenings activities instead of going to a day service
Arrange a short break/respite

If you are interested in social care direct payments contact your Social Care Manager or Social Worker at the City of York Council.

If your child has Continuing Health Care funding and you are interested in a personal health budget contact your Continuing Healthcare Coordinator in the CHC team on 0300 303 8294.

National resources

Aspirations For Life is a campaign funded by the Department for Education as part of the Valuing Employment Now strategy. The campaign will raise aspirations and expectations for children and young people with learning disabilities; with a particular focus on employment.

Autism and Education

A good practice guide. Supporting autistic children in your area. A guide for local authorities and schools in England.

National Autism Society

Autism resources for teachers and Teaching Assistants.

Mindfulness resources

Here are the good practice guidelines for mindfulness teachers who work with children with Learning Difficulties.

Workforce
- Disabilities and additional needs

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