Letter to be circulated to parents and carers by Northamptonshire County Council
Inspection of Northamptonshire County Council local area’s effectiveness in identifying and meeting the needs of, and improving outcomes for, children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilitiesfrom 15 May 2017 to 19 May 2017
Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will carry out jointly an inspection of your local area. Under the Children and Families Act 2014, the government placed new duties on the local health, social and education services that provide for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The inspection will evaluate how effectively the local area:
identifies the needs of children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities
meets the needs of these children and young people so that their outcomes and chances of participating fully in society improve.
The views of children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the views of their parents and carers will be gathered during visits to a number of early years settings, schools, colleges and specialist services. These views are critical to the inspection process. During the inspection, Ofsted and CQC inspectors will be keen to speak to as many children and young people and their parents and carers as possible.
The inspection will also include an online webinar to allow other Northamptonshire County Council parents and carers to contribute. The webinar will take place at 7.30pm on Monday 15 May 2017. It will led by the lead inspector, who will ask parents and carers about their views and experiences on how effectively Northamptonshire County Council is fulfilling the above responsibilities.
While we understand that many parents and carers may have views on their experience that extend before the introduction of the reforms in September 2014, it is important that this date is used as the start for gathering evidence about the impact of the reforms. We would also like parents and carers to understand that we will not be able to follow up or comment upon individual cases.
Summer SENDsation at Northampton College, Booth Lane Campus
Sunday 11th June 2017 – 12-4pm
Summer SENDsation is back! The exciting FREE event for local families (who have a child or young person with special educational needs and disabilities) .
Summer SENDsation welcome local families for a fun-filled day of sports, activities, music, and relaxation with the chance to learn about the county’s best services for children and young people with SEND.
DSGN will be holding a stall on the day, we are looking for volunteers to help, please contact Kirsty if you could offer a bit of time.
Fundraising
Thank you
Black Tie Ball held on
18th March 2017
Raised £30,000
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO RAISED MONEY FOR DSGN IN 2016/17
Cobblers Down Syndrome Football Coaching, continuing every Sunday morning 10.30-12pm – term time only, there is a small charge per week. The team are looking for new players to join, age 5-25 years, girls and boys. This is run by Russell Lewis from Football in the community.
Sports4Fitness CIC, a disability multi-sports club for all children with SEN or SEND and their families to participate in a variety of sports, £4 per child or £6 per family. Venue: Fernie Fields Sports and Social Club, Fernie Fields, Moulton, NN3 7BD. Held on Sunday 28th May, 9th and 23rd July, 6th and 20th August 2017. Please contact Mark Flaxman 07811371569, or email info@sports4fitness-cic.co.uk. Website www.sports4fitness-cic.co.uk
Northampton Sailability, Pitsford Reservoir, Brixworth, Northampton NN6 9DG – Sailing for the Disabled. Sailing is available every Monday and Friday (except Bank Holidays) from April to the end of October for individuals. Sailing is also usually available on the first and third Saturdays of each month from April to October. www.northamptonsailability.org.uk
Berzerk Indoor Play Area 4 Clayfield Close, Moulton Park NN3 6QF – Friday 23rd June from 6.30-8.30. This event is FREE to all the family. We are hiring the venue for DSGN’s exclusive use (hence the late time). This will be a great chance for the children to play and get to know each other and also an opportunity for parents to chat, share stories and offer support, refreshments will be provided. Please contact: 07952 579 380 or email: sec@northamptonsailability.org.uk. Website: www.northamptonsailability.org.uk
Movie Afternoon at The Picturedrome – Sunday 21st M ay and Sunday 8th October, please arrive for movie to start at 3pm – The Picturedrome, 222 Kettering Road, Northampton NN1 4BN for a family movie, suitable for all ages. Meals and juice will be provided for the children/young adults, there is also an opportunity for parents/carers to purchase meals at their own cost. This is a FREE event for all the family. Sweets will be sold at these events raising money for DSGN. Invites for these events will be sent separately. Please contact Vanessa email: NDSGN007@yahoo.co.uk
Whipsnade Zoo – Sunday 2nd July – Adult price £11, Child price £8, on this occasion we ask that you pay for person with DS but each family will receive one free carer. A Coach is being provided at a small cost of £2 per person, leaving Northampton at 9 am and Leaving London Zoo at 5 pm collection point will be The Upper Mounts car park, coach bay, if you prefer to find your own way to the zoo that is fine. DLA proof may be required.
Summer BBQ – Sunday 10th September, Venue: The Freemason’s Hall, Lodge Farm Industrial Estate, Duston, Northampton NN5 7UL. 1-4 pm. A separate invitation will be sent nearer to the event.
Halloween Party – Friday 27th October 6.30-8.30 pm at Berzerk Indoor Play Area, Invitation will be sent nearer to the event.
Cadbury’s World – Saturday 11th November, Adult price £4 (15 years and over), Child price £3 (up to 15 years), person with DS goes FREE. A coach will be provided for this event at a price of £2 per person, leaving Northampton at 9 am and leaving Cadbury’s World at approx. 3pm, collection point will be The Upper Mounts car park, coach bay, if you prefer to find your own way that is fine. DLA proof may be required.
Christmas Party – Saturday 9th December, 12-3pm at County Cricket Ground Old Speckled Hen Suite Invitations will be sent nearer to the event.
Panto – ALADDIN – Sunday 17th December 1pm – Jump aboard a high-flying magical carpet headed for Old Peking. Starring musical and television star Paul Nicholas, Union J’s Jaymi Hensley and Three Degrees singer Sheila Ferguson, follow Aladdin, his hapless brother, and of course his mother Widow Twankey, on a spectacular adventure featuring a beautiful love story, flying carpets, a wish-granting genie, an evil sorcerer and a lamp packed full of spectacular family entertainment. Emails will be sent for this event separately.
Please find booking form attached.
We look forward to seeing your family at some of this year’s events.
Please return all booking forms to:
Down Syndrome Group Northamptonshire
152 Spinney Hill Road, Parklands, Northampton NN3 6DN
Time: arrive at 2:45pm, ready to start bowling at 3pm
Unfortunately as our bowling event has become so popular with approximately 90-100 people attending, Pizza Hut can no longer fit us in as the restaurant has recently been refurbished and the seating plan has changed. The other restaurants in the area, including Tenpin, are also unable to book for that amount of people. So this time we will be bowling only, playing one game which usually last around one hour.
This event will be free for all on this occasion and will be booked on first come first served basis.
There are restaurants close to Tenpin Sixfields if you would like to book it yourself, or Tenpin have a food menu available online.
BERZERK SESSIONS
24 February 2017
28 April 2017
23 June 2017
Further dates added
Summer BBQ 1300 to 1600 Sunday 10 September 2017 Venue The Masonic lodge Lodge Farm details to follow.
Cadbury’s World Saturday 11 November 2017
Christmas party Saturday 9 December 2017 1200 til 1500 at the County Cricket Ground
Panto Aladdin Sunday 17 December 2017 Start 1300 Royal and Derngate
The list is not complete and any other events that are planned will be put on here and on our Facebook page
We are celebrating ten years of The Old White Hart this year and to commemorate this birthday we are throwing a birthday party like no other!
From 2pm on Sunday 30th August we will have live music from some of Northampton’s finest musicians – entertaining you into the evening.
This party is also in association with two charities close to our hearts:
Life for Lewis: This charity is helping to raise funds for a young boy, Lewis Herbert, who developed West Syndrome at three months old which has since developed into a condition called Lennox Gastaut Syndrome (LGS). This Syndrome causes hundreds of seizures every day and is resistant to any medication or therapies. The Life for Lewis appeal is raising money for a sensory garden and wheelchair ramp for the Herbert’s garden to allow Lewis to spend time with his family there.
Downs Syndrome Group Northampton: The purpose of the charity is to support families who have a connection with Down Syndrome, bringing these families together to offer advice, share experiences and learn from each other. they specialise in encouraging the sharing of experiences, provide information and offer support, organise social events for members of the group and fund raise.
Come and join us for a birthday party you cannot miss!
On Sunday Northampton Town Football in the Community took the players of Northampton Downs syndrome to Oldbury to take part in the National finals of the Downs Syndrome.
The matches where five a side and Northampton was in the same group has Lincoln, QPR, Derby and eventually winners Charlton. The winners from the four groups then played in the semi-finals and then the final. In the final Charlton beat Newcastle in an excellent match.
Although Northampton did not win a game all the players where excellent and where well supported by parents, carers and coaches Phil, Adam and Grant.
The DS coaching will continue on a Sunday at Goals until the end of June then resume in September. Any enquires regarding the DS team please contact Russell Lewis. Russell.lewis@ntfc.tv
On Saturday 20 June 2015 Beryl Cobb one of our trustees will be undertaking the challenge of abseiling down the side of the Express lift tower. The time has yet to be arranged, will notify when known.
She is undertaking this challenge to raise funds for our group.
We ask that you support her and donate what you wish to the cause, Donations can be made via the justGiving link at the top of the page.
