Disabilities and additional needs

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.

Local resources

Disability equality training

All staff working with children need to ensure that they have a good awareness of the needs of disabled children and those with additional needs. Level 1 training can be accessed through the disability training website. You'll gain a certificate when you've completed this.

If you'd like to access level 2 training, please speak to your line manager, as this training is delivered to teams and services. The training can then be booked through the workforce development unit.

There's also a bespoke web based training for taxi drivers on the disability training website

City of York Charter for Disabled Children 2013 - 2016

The City of York Council have signed the national Every Disabled Child Matters Charter (an accessible version is available to download). The good practice in York is recognised in the ‘Positive Impact of Every Child Matters Charter’

The partnership of agencies in York through the YorOK board has gone further and developed a local charter which sets out what those working with children, young people and families have committed to doing to improve outcomes for disabled children in York. 

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

Please find the latest presentations and information from the conferences

• Thursday 7 March 2013 – Burnholme Community College.
• Tuesday 4 March 2014 - City of York Council West Offices

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.

• Listen to me - Guidance enabling participation and listening to children and young people
• Listen to me - Booklet 1 (0-5 years)
• Listen to me - Booklet 2 (5-11 years)
• Listen to me - Booklet 3 (11 years+)
• Listen to me - Taking an active part in meetings with your child

Disabled children’s access to childcare

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

Parent Mentoring Service

The Parent Mentoring Service uses trained volunteers to provide one to one support to families in York who have a disabled child/young person or child/young person with additional needs.  Please see the referral information document and referral form.  Please contact Michelle Porter on 551399 or michelle.porter@york.gov.uk for further information.

Autism

Please download the City of York Council's Autism Strategy and the Executive Summary.

Autism conference 2013 - download slides and resources from the 2013 autism conference taking place at Askham Bryan College.

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

You can get more information on personal budgets including a step by step guide to employing a Personal Assistant and a guide to writing a job description and interview questions by clicking on the personal budgets pdfs on the right hand side of this page.

 

For further information about personal budgets:

If your child has an Education Health and Care Plan contact the SEN team:

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.

For more information go to:
http://www.valeofyorkccg.nhs.uk/your-health/personal-health-budgets/

 

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.