Welcome to Welwyn Garden City
Extended Schools' Consortium

Special Educational Needs (SEN) Information

		NEW! SEN Information Directory Click HERE for the brand new Special Educational Needs Information Directory for the WelHat area. The Directory is designed to support parents and carers of children with special education needs living in the Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield areas. If you would like a hard copy of the Directory, these will be available from mid-September 2010. Please contact Gill Dowling on g.dowling@peartreejmi.herts.sch.uk The Directory is being constantly updated. If you are aware of any information which is either incorrect or missing from the Directory, please feel free to contact us.
	Current What's On
	The Orchard Library - Extended Schools have created their very own library which is open to everyone! Click here for more information.
	Click on the BLUE text for more information
	Secondary transfer for children with ASD. The presentation you can see by clicking here is very informative and gives you a link to a great website called www.autismtoolkit.com. You can print off the transition workbook and go through it with your child and give a copy to their teaching Assitant, Teacher or SENCo. Click here for the transition workbook.
	NEW SNIPS (Special Needs Information and Parenting Support(298KB) Support for parents and carers of school age children with additional needs. Click here for the Autumn Term 2010 programme.		On-going
	NEW ActOne ArtsBase & DanceBase ActOne ArtsBase is a thriving company and charity providing inclusive dance and performance training for disabled and non disabled people across Hertfordshire. DanceBase is a fully accessible and inclusive dance project for people with and without disabilities.		On-going
	NEW Support for Mums & Dads of children with Special Needs or Disabilities (119KB) A free 6 week course looking at emotions of having a child with additional needs, challenges facing parents, effects on relationships, siblings and wider family, solutions and strategies to lessen isolation and stress, and how to work successfully with professionals.		Starting Monday 4th October
	Get into….. Sport for Young People with Disabilities (715KB) Herts Phoenix is running a FREE Disability Athletics Club at Gosling Sports Park (down on the track) every Tuesday starting 15th June. Open to all Children from Years 6 upwards.		Starting June 2010
	NEW Breakout (836KB) A new youth project for young people with moderate learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Sport, music, arts & crafts, computers, relaxing with friends, etc.		July onwards
	The Enrichment Group at Ludwick Nursery School for children with severe speech, language and communication difficulties (293KB) The Enrichment Group provides inclusive nursery education for ten children within our nursery school. Click here for more information.		On-going
	NEW Support for Parents in Welwyn and Hatfield (81KB) Free Workshops and Courses - courses and workshops about managing behaviour, handling anger within the family, raising self esteem or parenting a child with additional needs. There’s something for everyone.		Sept - Dec 2010
	Platypus Swimming Club for the Handicapped (12KB) The Platypus Swimming Club was founded in 1966 to enable disabled people and volunteer helpers of all ages and abilities including non-swimmers from the town of Hatfield and the surrounding area to enjoy the benefits of swimming in safety and privacy. The current members range from very young children with congenital and or mental disabilities, to accident and stroke-victims, those with arthritis, learning difficulties, visual impairment, and 80-year olds suffering simply from the effects of age. Click here for more information.		Sundays
	Toddle Inn-clusive (163KB) A baby and toddler group with tactile,b sensory and creative activities for children aged 0-5 of all abilities. Morning and afternoon sessions.		On-going
	Supporting Parents of Autistic Children in East Herts (62KB) An invitation to parents and carers of children and young people with an Autistic Spectrum Condition in the East Herts area. A chance to meet and discuss experiences.		Mondays
	AS Friends Support Group (548KB) For mums, dads, carers & grandparents of children with autism or communication difficulties.		3rd Monday of the month
	Multi Sports Sessions (72KB) For children & young people with disabilities & special educational needs.		Saturdays
	Lakeside School Multi-Sports Club (834KB) A sports club for children aged 8-13 with learning difficulties offering a wide range of exciting and challenging indoor and outdoor sporting activities.		On-going
	Disability Trampolining (491KB) Open to all participants regardless of disability.		Sundays
	Dolphins (11KB) A support group for parents of children with special needs in WGC, Hatfield and the surrounding areas. Click here for the Dolphins leaflet.		First Friday of the month
	Youth Zone (60KB) A place for Lakeside School students to meet together outside of school - a place to ‘chill’ with friends.		Wednesdays
	Spectrum Girls Social Club (300KB) Spectrum Girls is a social group for high functioning autistic / aspergers' girls of all ages. The Club provides an opportunity to become a member and access the Members List so that Spectrum Girls can find penpals, cybermates and/or join the group at social events at Oak Tree Children's Centre, Holwell Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 3RO, monthly.		On-going
	Lakeside School Swimming Club (176KB) For children of all ages with a physical disability. Classes run by an experienced swimming teacher.		on-going
	Are you the parent or carer of a child who has additional medical needs? Would your child like to have the opportunity to access a play-scheme, an extended school, a leisure facility, a nursery or a respite care setting? Does your child need assistance with transport or with a ‘specialist’ care procedure or simply somebody around who knows how to deal with a medical emergency should it arise? Click HERE for more info.		on-going
	Are you or your staff providing care for a child with additional medical needs? Do you work in a play-scheme or a school, a nursery or a respite care setting? Are you a foster carer or a child minder or a shared carer? Do you employ learning support assistants, transport/escort staff or carers? Click HERE for more info.		on-going
	Music Therapy Click here for information about Music Therapy.		on-going

Specialist and Integrated Play Schemes for Disabled Children
and Young People in Hertfordshire
Places at play schemes accepting children and young people with varying degrees of disability and additional needs are available during holiday periods. The table below provides information about the schemes and contact details for enquiries and booking places. Click HERE for full details.

Supporting parents with learning disabilities and difficulties -
Stories of positive practice
This booklet tells the stories of six families headed by a
parent or parents with learning disabilities or difficulties,
from England, Wales and Scotland, who have been
enabled – with the right support from professionals –
to look after their children and safeguard their welfare.

Services for Disabled Children (133KB)
A full list of services available to disabled children in the Hertfordshire area
from Saturday clubs, to after school clubs to youth clubs.
This is an Excel document. If you have difficulties accessing this document, please contact us.

1-2-3 Magic Handbook (223KB)
To handbook to introduce you to 123Magic – Effective discipline for children 2-12 years
To stop unacceptable behaviour; To encourage good behaviour; To manage testing or manipulative behaviour; To establish a peaceful and enjoyable atmosphere.
Click here to download the handbook

Links

Support for people with a disability available
through Hertfordshire County Council
www.hertsdirect.org/comdirectory/comvol/disable2y

Activate Forum
Activate Forum brings together individuals and organisations with the common goal of developing and promoting disability sport and physical activity.
www.welhatsports.org.uk/aboutactivate.htm

Out & About
Out & About supports disabled children and young people to become included in local leisure activities.
www.oaa.co.uk

ADD-vance
A voluntary organisation set up to support parents and carers of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Click here for their leaflet.
www.add-vance.org

ADD-vance Specialist Coaching for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Aspergers and related conditions. Click here for more info

SNAP (Special Needs Activities and Play)
Aims to provide a safe and enjoyable holiday play scheme for children and young people aged 3 to 19 years old, who have learning disabilities of varying severity.
www.snapherts.org.uk

Hertfordshire County Council's website
Information for parents/carers of children with special needs
www.hertsdirect.org