Other events & drop-ins
SEN Team Drop-In at Sunshine House
Southwark's Special Educational Needs (SEN) team has set up weekly drop-ins for parents and carers every Friday morning from 9.30 to 12.00 at Sunshine House, 27 Peckham Road, SE5 8UH.
The SEN team processes requests for and conducts statutory assessments, attends annual reviews and oversees transitions and placements. You can call to make an appointment for a 20-minute slot or alternatively just drop in and wait to see one of the team. Special Educational Needs Section: tel: 0207 525 2719.
SOS! SEN Advice Centre
If you live in the South London area and want to talk to someone about your child's special educational needs, drop in at SOS!SEN's new weekly walk-in advice centre. Get initial advice from experienced educational and legal advisers on how parents of children with SEN or disabilities can fight for their educational rights.
• First Monday of each month
• 10.15-12.15am
• The Salvation Army, 66 High Street, Thornton Heath, CR7 8LF
Bring any useful documents (statements, letters from SEN Officers, school documents). No appointment necessary. Just come along - first come, first helped.
Parent Partnership Drop-ins for SEN
Southwark Parent Partnership runs the following SEN drop-in sessions for parent/carers of children with special educational needs:
• Every Tuesday morning 9.30am to 12.00 noon and every Thursday afternoon from 4.30pm to 6pm at Sunshine House, 27 Peckham Road, SE5 8UH.
• Every Thursday morning 9.30am to 12.00 noon at the One Stop Shop, 151 Walworth Road, SE17 1RY.
• In conjunction with Contact-a-Family and at the Contact-a-Family office at Walworth Methodist Church, Walworth Road from 10am-12 on: Friday 2nd July, Monday 2nd August, Friday 3rd September, Monday 4th October, Friday 5th November, Monday 6th December.
The sessions offer information, advice and guidance to help make informed decisions about your child's education.
You can also telephone the Parent Partnership team on 020 7525 5256. Email: parentpartnership@southwark.gov.uk or go to: www.southwarkparentpartnership.co.uk.
Upcoming special advice SEN sessions at Sunshine House are:
Starting School: Weds 7 July, 9.30-12.30
Year 5 SEN Secondary Transfer: Weds 22 September, 9.30-12.30
Year 9 Annual Review and Transition: Weds 29 September, 9.30-12.30
For the Parent Parnership calendar, go to: www.southwarkparentpartnership.co.uk
Autism/Aspergers Syndrome Parent Support Group
The South London and Maudsley NHS Trust is running a support group for parents of children with Autism or Aspergers Syndrome at The Grove Nursery, Tower Mill Road, SE15 6BP. Guest speakers will be booked and creche available upon request.
The group will next meet at 10am-12 on: 27 May, 24 June and 22 July.
For more info and to confirm a place, contact Marie Horgan, tel: 0203 049 8494 or Jan Murray, tel: 0207 188 0753.
One-day ASD Help! programme
The National Autistic Society in Southwark are organising a free one-day Help! programme for parents of children aged 3-12 recently diagnosed with ASD. Offering a clear overview of ASDs, communication tips, children's rights and entitlement to services and benefits, practical strategies for education.
The programme takes place on Saturday 17 July from 9.30 to 3.30 at Rye Oak Primary School and Children's Centre, Whorlton Road, London SE15 3PD. To book a place, telephone: Grace Kendall on 020 7704 3805. Free sandwich lunch provided.
NAS Southwark Support Groups
The Southwark Branch of the National Autistic Society (NAS) runs drop-in support groups for parents/carers at Alfred Salter Primary School, Quebec Way, Rotherhithe, SE16 and the Magnolia Pub (the Mag), 211 Lordship Lane, SE22.
Dates and times of sessions are as follows:
At Alfred Salter Primary School, 10am-12pm
• Every third Friday of the month: ie. Friday 21 May, Friday 25 June
At The Magnolia
• Last Wednesday of every month, 7.30-9.30pm
Additional drop-ins (supported by NAS Southwark Autism Support) take place at Spa School, Monnow Road, SE1 5RN, and a Dads’ Club meets at InSpire at the Crypt, St Peter’s Church, Liverpool Grove, SE17 2HH. Meetings at Spa School and InSpire are attended by Elaine Mulligan, NAS Family Support Worker.
If you would like to receive information about dates and times of NAS Southwark meetings, or join their mailing list to receive news of events and services, please email southwark@nas.org.uk, or tel: 020 3049 8013.
Planning Positive Futures: 4-day workshop run by Parents for Inclusion
A four day course in Lambeth is open to any parents of disabled children or those with special needs: Thurs 17 June, Thurs 24 June, Wed 30 June & Thurs 8 July 2010 from 10 am to 2.30 pm at Lambeth Accord, 336 Brixton Road, London SW9 7AA.
The workshops will explore:
• The importance of our love for our children
• How we can be together with all our differences
• How inclusion must really work for all
• Who and what threatens to limit our children’s horizons
• How dreams for our children’s future can turn into reality
Parents for Inclusion is a network of parents of disabled children and/or
children with ‘special needs’. As an organisation, it works to build inclusive communities. To find out more tel: 020 7738 3888 and ask for Pam or Cornelia or email: courses@parentsforinclusion.org.
Speech and Language Drop-Ins: Children under 5
For parents and parent carers of younger children, who would like some speech and language advice, please note that a Speech and Language Therapist will be available at the following drop-ins. Please telephone 020 3049 8097 to find out more.
Newington Library, Walworth Road, SE17 1RS
Bookstart, 1-2.30pm
Second Wednesday of the month (term-time only)
Dulwich Wood Children’s Centre, Lyall Avenue, SE21 8QS
Parent & Toddler Group, 9.30-11.30am
First Wednesday of the month
Albrighton Community Centre, 37 Albrighton Road, SE22 8AH
Bookstart, 10-11.30am
Second Thursday of the month (term-time only)
Cambridge House, 131 Camberwell Road, SE5 0HF
Parent & Toddler Group, 10am-12 noon
Last Wednesday of the month
The Blue Anchor Library, Market Place, Southwark Park Road, SE16
Bookstart, 10.15–11.45 am
Third Monday of the month
Pilgrim’s Way Primary School, Tustin Estate, Manor Grove, SE15 1EF
Parent & Toddler Group, 10-11.15am
Friday 12 March
Peckham Library, 122 Peckham Hill Street, SE15 5JR
Bookstart
Rye Oak School & Children’s Centre, Whorlton Road, SE15 3PD
Bookstart, 10-11.30am
3rd Friday of the month (term-time only)