Present:
Wakefield - LC, SC, KC
York - SP, MG
Bradford - JC
Darlington - AG
North Yorks - C B-T
Barnsley - AK
Apologies - R , AW
Agenda
Food technology equipment
Casework discussion
Wakefield Handwriting Pathway
York independent Living and Transport (YILT)
Back Exchange 'Moving and Handling for Children'
Asthma UK York and Humberside regional project
Speakers and topics for next year
Food technology equipment
Casework discussion
Wakefield Handwriting Pathway
York independent Living and Transport (YILT)
Back Exchange 'Moving and Handling for Children'
Asthma UK York and Humberside regional project
Speakers and topics for next year
Food Technology Kits
Wakefield have a box of items which are lent to schools. MG has a list of items they use and is happy to circulate it to the group. A discussion took place about boards, peelers and pan holders. LC to contact the William Merritt Centre in Leeds to see if they have any recommendations.
** MG to provide food technology equipment for circulation
Casework discussion
Colleagues in Barnsley and North Yorks asked for the groups help with two children with complex needs which resulted in a discussion on the merits of predictive packages (Co-Writer and Penfriend), DragonDictate, eye gaze and the Grid 2.
** North Yorks to provide Pupil, Parent and School evaluation questionnaires for circulation
** Darlington to provide questionnaires
Handwriting Pathways
LC shared the Wakefield pathway and SP described how the North Yorkshire 'Supporting Children and Young People with Co-ordination Difficulties' folder was being used in York. The work in Wakefield has identified three groups those with cognitive impairment, those with co-ordination difficulties and those who fit in to an ASD/Dyslexia category where organisation and specific learning difficulties also impacts on recording. The identification and interventions with these children will need to be school based due to poor staffing levels in the team. To that end a clear pathway of assessment, interventions and resources has been compiled which incorporates existing publications ('Fine Motoring' by Easy Learn and 'Ready to Write' by Philip and Tacey)for a 12 week hand writing intervention. Two assessments are also available to the schools to use for handwriting and ICT, both linked to the RELEAS handwriting booklets.
York are directing their schools to the North Yorkshire Co-ordination folder and only offering support once the schools have run a two term programme from the folder.
There is a wide discrepancy in funding arrangements with Bradford and Wakefield looking at a high financial input from schools. Darlington currently ask schools for the first £250, York have a discretionary amount of £300 and North Yorks ask for £100 contributions. There is also a wide range of ways of requesting equipment.
** Wakefield to provide specialist equipment funding requests detailing the consequences of non provision for circulation
** Wakefield to provide DRAFT ICT and Handwriting assessments
York Independent Living and Transport
YILT has one several national prizes and is a self funded scheme to encourage independent travel by Children and Young people who have previously relied on taxi services. The two workers wages are funded by the savings the LA make on travel costs
** YILT brochures circulated at the meeting.
Back Exchange 'Moving and Handling Children'
AG shared the booklet from the Back Exchange (cost £15) which gives some excellent strategies and guidance to consider when faced with an unexpected problem.
Autism Education Trust
Some excellent resources on http://autismeducationtrust.org.uk/en-gb/resources/tools%20for%teachers.aspx
Presentation by Sonja Buckle Asthma UK
Sonja Buckle detailed the work going on in the Yorkshire and Humberside region to encourage schools to recognise the seriousness of asthma as a condition and to ensure that the September peak of admissions due to children not taking their medication over the summer, reduces. Sonja brought some excellent resources to share.
** Asthma UK resources and project information to be circulated by email
General discussions
- People are to be identified by their initials from now on as names have appeared on google searches
- Cricksoft booked for the November meeting
- Epilepsy Action to be contacted to give information
Lyn Clarke 21.06.11
