Our Voice

‘Bringing us Together’ are running a series of six free workshops on anxiety and overwhelm.  The second of these workshops will take place on Tuesday 13th December, with a different workshop every month until Tuesday 11th April 2023. All workshops will run from 10.30 am to 1 pm.

For more information see here and for any questions and to book any of the workshops please contact tony@bringingustogether.org.uk

About the project  https://nnpcf.org.uk/2021/06/23/autism-schools-project/

Booking links:
I can’t go to school
 Thursday 1^st December 10.30 am  https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__1SIXJv3TESSabMFYRyfhw
Thursday 1^st December 7.30 pm https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FBSw_v7iS8GruKPPYzfTJQ
 
Autism acceptance: A young person’s perspective:
Wednesday 7^th December 7.30 pm https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_j_LcU5-fSdOEPv4l-3Zw8w
 
Lessons I wish I’d learned growing up autistic
Friday 9^th December 10 am https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MHHi4HsUSAKsGavxZ7ow-w
 
Screen internet use and children with special educational needs and disabilities
Monday 12^th December 7.30 pm https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_waIomBI0QVOYspI9sZ4ukQ
Special Educational needs and teenage years and how to navigate extreme behaviours
Wednesday 14^th December 10 am https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KyE2eM9gTxesYJ0GAT0f1A

Additional links:

I can’t go to school – a non-school attenders workshop: https://www.happyinschoolproject.com/i-cant-go-to-school/
Spectrum gaming - https://www.spectrumgaming.net/
Autistic not weird https://autisticnotweird.com/
Newbold Hope https://www.newboldhope.org/
 

Information for families of children due to start Primary School in September 2023: 

Our Voice recently held two videoconference sessions in conjunction with SENDIASS and the Enfield SEN Team looking at choosing a primary school for your child with additional needs. You can see the most recent version of the presentation here, including additional sources of information. 

• For children with an EHCP the deadline for confirming your preference to the SEND Service is 30th November. The process is set out in this booklet. If you are unable to return your preference by this date (e.g. if you have yet to visit schools) please advise your case co-ordinator in SEN Services. 
• For children without an ECHP applications must be submitted by 15th January. 

You can see additional information about special schools and mainstream schools with specialist provision here. 

Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty returns with a Sensory Adapted Performance!

Get priority booking for the Sensory Adapted Performance of Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty Sun 8 Jan 2023, 2pm 
Sadler's Wells Theatre

New Adventures and Sadler’s Wells are thrilled to announce that there will be a Sensory Adapted matinee performance of Sleeping Beauty on Sunday 8 January 2023. 

We are pleased to offer you priority booking at a discounted ticket rate of £20 per ticket for a maximum of 4 tickets for this performance, which can be booked online by clicking here. 

You can also book by calling Sadler’s Wells Ticket Office and quoting MOUSETRAP20 on 020 7863 8000 (12-6pm Mon-Sat). The priority booking period runs until Thurs 17 Nov, so we recommend booking early.

About Sleeping Beauty

Now established as a firm favourite in the New Adventures repertoire, the award-winning Sleeping Beauty has enchanted international audiences throughout the UK and across the globe.

Enter a wondrous world of magical fairies and vampires, where the timeless tale of good vs evil is turned upside-down, creating a supernatural love story that even the passage of time itself cannot hinder. Will Princess Aurora ever find her true love again?

With an unforgettable score, sumptuous sets and costumes, evocative lighting and masterly storytelling, the beloved fairy tale is brought to life by the uniquely talented New Adventures company. Get ready to be transported in time from the halcyon days of the late Edwardian era through to the modern day in this dazzling gothic romance.

Please note that the age rating for Sleeping Beauty is 5+ (some scenes may not be suitable for young children), and the running time is 2 hours including a 20-minute interval.

See more information including a trailer for the show here.

About Sensory Adapted Performances

A Sensory Adapted Performance is an extension of a Relaxed Performance. A welcome, less formal but supportive environment is created, and the show is modified by:

· Reducing sound levels and special effects
· Making other technical adaptations to soften contrasts within the show
· Create empty seated spaces to allow free and easy movement within the auditorium.
· Support noise and movement within the auditorium during a show
· Allow re-entry when needed so house lights are left on throughout
· Offer a separate chill-out space for anyone who might need it at any time during their visit
· Provide a Visual Story so people can familiarise themselves with the theatre and key details about the show in advance
· Ear defenders are available on request at Ticket Office
· Extra staff are on hand to support you with any queries

Sensory Adapted Performances are suitable for those who may be on the autism spectrum, have sensory sensitivities, epilepsy, learning disabilities and/or difficulties, experience neurodiversity, and anyone that might benefit from a more supportive environment.

Hear about sensory adapted performances here

Do you attend the Disability Swimming sessions on Sundays at Edmonton Green Leisure Centre? If you do, and are available to attend on Sunday 27^th November, and happy to be interviewed, we would like to hear from you.

The Local Authority has commissioned a short film about how they respond to the views of children and young people, featuring the swimming sessions which came about directly as a result of children and young people asking for this activity.

The plan is to talk to families as they arrive on Sunday 27^th November about the swimming, why they like it and what the benefits are. If all families feel comfortable, they may also film in the pool (but don’t worry, no one will be filmed without explicit consent!).

If you are interested,  please contact Sarah McLean at sarah.mclean@enfield.gov.uk to let her know that you plan to attend.

You can download a consent form here. Please complete the consent form and take it with you on the day. 

You can see details of the swimming sessions here. 

Are you trying to choose a primary school for your child with additional needs?

Our Voice Parent Forum is hosting two Zoom information sessions for parents and carers, in conjunction with Enfield SENDIASS.

These sessions will look at how to choose a primary school for children with additional needs, and expressing your preferences for children who have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). We will talk about what the process is, how you can get information about primary schools and what to look out for when making decisions. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions, in advance and also as part of the session.

Book your place for Tuesday 8^th Nov 10-11.30 am here or for Tuesday 15^th Nov from 1– 2.30 pm  here

See our event flyer here.

If your child was born between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019, you will need to apply for a primary school place by 15 January 2023, ready for your child to start reception class in September 2023. This workshop will be particularly useful for parents of children in this age group, but you may also wish to attend if your child is a year or so younger, so you can start thinking about the choice of school early.

Mousetrap Theatre Projects are offering a very limited number of £10 tickets for three upcoming Access performances of 'Marvellous' at the West End Venue @sohoplace (usually between £25 and £65). 

Tickets are available for:

• an audio described performance on 17th November at 7.30 pm
• a relaxed performance on 23rd November at 2.30 pm 
• a captioned performance on 25th November at 7.30pm 

Book here. 

Our booklet on what's on this October half term can be seen here - it's full of information on SEND playschemes, leisure activities and days out, in and around the Enfield area.

The Local Authority's booklet on playschemes and activities updated for Winter 22 -23 is here.

Preparing for adulthood is the process of moving from childhood to adulthood (including from child to adult services) and the resources and events to support you and your young person through that process. You can see information about the process here and the latest booklet (for 2022 – 23)  outlining the process is now available on the Local Offer here.

We recommend that you start to attend Preparing for Adulthood Events when your young person reaches year 9 (although you can start earlier if you wish). These events provide opportunities to talk to professionals and other parents who can give you advice and information to help you and your young person. 

To launch the programme for 2022-23, there will be an in-person Preparing for Adulthood launch event on Thursday 20^th October at Waverley school from 10 am to 12.30 pm. 

At this event, you will be able to hear about the transition from childhood to adult services and the support available for the transition and attend a market-place style session where you can meet key providers and support organizations, including members of the Our Voice team.

This is a really important event for anyone whose child is in year 9 or above (or even earlier if you wish) to help you understand everything you need to know about this critical transition.

See the full details in the booklet here. 

On 26th September Our Voice will be holding a workshop on EHCPs and Annual Reviews. 

You can see the presentation from the workshop here

A Q&A from the session will be added to this page shortly. 

You can see additional information about the EHCP process in this Presentation on EHCPs from the Our Voice Parents' Conference workshop held in November 2019. 

Our Voice has produced a useful video Education Health Care Plans: Helping to plan your child's future together. This was produced in anticipation of the transfer from statements to EHCPs, and it still refers to Transfer Review meetings. However, the information it contains is still relevant if you replace the term Transfer Review meeting with Annual Review meeting.  

The Council for Disabled Children good practice guidance on EHCPs can be found here. 

Information from the Local Authority on EHCPs can be found here including videos giving young people's perspectives on contributing to their EHCPs here.