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Welcome to this SEND Newsletter.
Read below the fantastic news from our service and learn more. |
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We hope this edition of your SEND e-newsletter finds you well, and your children and young people have smoothly returned to school following the break.
Should you find you, your child or family need any additional support this year please do take a look at Northumberland's Local Offer, speak to your school and reach out to one of the teams. |
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A warm welcome to Mike Finlay
We are pleased to welcome Mike to the Northumberland Inclusive Education Services (NIES) team.
Mike has taken up the role as Senior Manager for NIES which includes Northumberland's Emotional Wellbeing and Behavioural Support service, Autism Support Service and Psycological services.
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About Mike
Mike began his teaching career as an Art teacher in a mainstream school in Northumberland. During his time, he became passionate about better understanding adjustments that he needed to make in order to better support young people of all abilities and backgrounds in achieving ambitious outcomes.
In schools, he witnessed some lowering of expectations and opportunity for those with additional needs and became driven to better understand how he could work with young people and their families to effect positive change.
He joined a MAT of Special Schools in 2012 and devoted his career to improving outcomes and opportunities for young people with SEND as a Deputy Head Teacher, SENCo, SEND reviewer, member of County Durham’s Autism steering group and school governor. He has delivered lectures to trainee teacher and SENCos and worked with the North East Local Enterprise Partnership to develop inclusive practice in regional businesses in order that our young people move into workplaces which celebrate neurodiversity as more productive, creative and successful.
He says: "I am absolutely delighted to be joining the NIES team and look forward to hearing everyone’s stories, passions and roles, either virtually or (hopefully soon) in person". |
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Proposal to relocate Atkinson House Special School approved
Cabinet has agreed the publication of a statutory proposal to relocate Atkinson House Special School to a former school site in Ponteland and to change the designation of the school to become co-educational.
Statutory consultation started on Thursday 13 January and will run until midnight on Thursday 10 February 2022.
Cabinet also approved feasibility and design works circa £250,000 to be undertaken.
Following formal consultation a final decision will be made by Cabinet in March.
Residents, pupils and staff are encouraged to take part at nland.uk/SchoolConsultations from Thursday 13 January.
To view the full report click here. |
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Northumberland Parent and Carer Forum
We have shared this information previously in our e-newsletter, but thought it was important we share it with you again as a reminder.
Northumberland Parent Carer Forum (NCPF) work with the local authority, health and social care to improve services for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and their families.
They listen to the experiences and wishes of families and make sure that those views are heard by those providing services, so that they can be part of every stage of planning and decision-making.
If you would like to hear from the NPCF and find out how to contribute to future work then please visit their Facebook page, get in touch on Twitter or contact via email at enquiries@npcf.co.uk.
In order to represent the views of children, young people with SEND and their families, they need to hear from as many families as possible.
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