Information

ToothPASTE is a free, online resource developed with parents and professionals to support autistic children’s oral health. It includes small, practical steps to help with toothbrushing, reducing sugary foods and drinks, and attending dental appointments. The resources are autism-informed, non-judgemental, and easy to use.

We’re pleased to let you know that Southwark Council will be providing free healthy secondary school meals for many secondary school pupils this academic. This is to help families through the cost-of-living crisis that we know is still affecting many residents. We are grateful to The Mayor of London who is funding free primary school meals across London. Southwark Council has already provided free healthy school meals to all primary pupils since 2013, and so the additional funding from the London Mayor will now enable us to expand our offer to secondary school pupils: • from families who get Universal Credit • and who are not currently eligible for government benefits related free school meals (FSM) if their household income is more than £7,400 per year. Spa School invites you to apply, if your household is eligible. The form to claim can be found by clicking this link.

Southwark Council published a strategy for young people aged 0 to 25 years with special educational needs and disabilities in September 2022.

You can join the Southwark Strategy in Action online event and see a range of videos and presentations which will provide you with a snapshot of some of the work being done across a range of services and organisations.

Visit Southwark Council's Local Offer pages to watch the videos each day this week.

Please be aware that after your child’s nineteenth birthday, they are no longer automatically entitled to free NHS dental care, even if they remain in full-time education. Please also be aware that being in receipt of PIP or DLA, alone, does not automatically entitle your child to free NHS dental treatment.

There are some benefit payments that do carry automatic exemption from dental charges, such as Income Related Employment and Support Allowance. Alternatively, you can try applying for an HC2 certificate.

You can search for and complete the forms for this online by typing in “How to get an HC2 certificate”.

More information on who can access free NHS dental treatment can be found here.

This month we also hosted a parent session with Shevon Dalena, the Learning Disability Nurse at Kings College Hospital.  She spoke with families about the benefits of a hospital passport and how they are used to ensure people with autism get the communication support they need.

Southwark have published helpful advice and information on the cost of living crisis - more details can be found below.

The latest 'cost of Living Support' newsletter can be found below.

Heart N Soul run activities for children and young people with autism and other disabilities. Find out about their latest activities here.

Southwark Council have a new ‘digital’ hub. The hub can be accessed at www.onehubsouthwark.co.uk (the website has been designed with smart phones in mind so the best user experience is when accessing it from a phone).

The aim of the website is to enable young people and families to find comprehensive, easy to navigate and up to date information about what youth related activities and services are available in the local area.

For advice and organisations to help you, and your family save money, and listings of cheap or free activities - see below.

Autism Voice is a registered charity working to enhance the health and wellbeing of people (children and adults) with autism and/or learning disabilities and their families from mainly the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities. They work to ensure autistic people from minority communities are recognised, accepted, included and valued as equal members of society. You can find out more about their work and read their latest newsletters here.

Gendered Intelligence Support Group

Gendered Intelligence offers support for parents and carers of young trans, non-binary, gender diverse and questioning young people and children. Their groups for parents and carers take place twice a month. Coming to a group is a great opportunity to meet other parents and carers who understand your situation, share stories and advice and make friends. The parents and carers group are facilitated by an experienced member of the GI team.

Parents and carers sessions: GI provide half day (3 hour) trans awareness sessions enabling parents and carers to broaden their understanding of young trans people’s experiences. The session is based around interactive exercises, encouraging participants to get involved in thinking through what gender means to us all and how you can better support your child / young person. GI will create a structured, but informal space for you to explore the topics and to ask questions.

Resources for families:

• A Guide for Parents and Family Members of Trans People in the UK
• Report on the Issues
• Trans Youth Resources
• Gendered Intelligence Reports
• Resources for Professionals
• Trans Community Conference Reports
• Further Resources for Families  

FFLAG: Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays

Dedicated to supporting parents and their LGBTQ+ children.

• Welcome - FFLAG
• Trans Support
• Parent’s Groups 
• Belief and Faith Parent Support Groups
• Books for Parents
• My Child’s Gay
• My Child’s Transgender

Imaan supports LGBT Muslim people, their families and friends, to address issues of sexual orientation within Islam. It provides a safe space and support network to address issues of common concern through sharing individual experiences and institutional resources.

KeshetUK is a registered charity that aims to ensure that Jewish LGBT+ people and their families are included throughout Jewish life in the UK.

1:1 Support for Parents of LGBTQ+ Children: Free2Be work with parents and family members at all different stages of their journey - whether your child has just come out and you’re feeling confused or shocked, or whether your child is now an adult and has been out for years and you’d just like to meet other rainbow families

Proud Parents - Supporting Parents of Trans and Gender Variant Children: Free2B delivers a monthly support group for parents of trans and gender variant children. The group aims to support common parenting themes and concerns, as well as trans specific issues.

Online sessions: Free2Be are currently running 1 hour online sessions every Wednesday fortnight in response to covid lockdown - dates can be found on their website.

Families Together London is a London-based support group and listening ear for the parents, families and friends of LGBTQ+ people. Some parents, families and friends may not find it easy that a child, family member or friend is LGBTQ+, and may find it hard to support them. Families Together London hold two meetings every month in London. Meetings are confidential, and offer a friendly and relaxed place in which to talk. 

Covid update: face-to-face monthly meetings are temporarily suspended , in the meantime, FTL are providing the same level of support via telephone, email, and three virtual Zoom meetings every month. Two of these replace the previous face-to-face London meetings, for all parents. The third, newly added, is specifically aimed at parents of transgender children in response to increased demand.

Helpline: 01189403160, 07951104745, info@familiestogetherlondon.com.

Resources: Library with books for parents and to give to children.

Family Lives offers advice and support on a wide range of issues for all families including parents of LGBT children, such as supporting your child coming out.

Mermaids supports transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families involved in their care. They have online forums and hold residentials annually for trans children / young people and their families to come together.

In the link above you will find advice for common questions regarding having an LGBTQ+ child.

• Local Groups
• Resources for Parents

Helpline: 0808 801 0400 Monday – Friday: 9am – 9pm.

StoneWall is a national organisation campaigning for LGBT equality. Good source of information on a range of subjects from bullying, education rights and equality law.

Resources: Autistic and Trans Zine

Bullying UK is a good source of information should your child be a victim of bullying. Includes advice and guidance on how to challenge your child's school if you are unhappy with their response.

PFLAG is the United States' first and largest organisation uniting parents, families, and allies with people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer.

Despite being based in the US there are still amazing resources on their website that can help families understand and support their LGBTQ+ child better - Family Support.

Extra Resources: Being a Parent of a Trans Child - All Sorts Youth Project.

METRO provides services to all people experiencing issues related to sexuality, identity, gender and diversity. Southwark Council is one of METRO’s funders. METRO’s LGBTQ Youth Lead for Southwark is Nicola Jones (07980 633 945, nicola.jones@metrocharity.org.uk).

The Spark LGBTQ youth group is now back in person every Wednesday evening in Camberwell.

METRO also offers 12 weeks of free counselling for 8-18 year olds based at their office in New Cross. Please contact Nicola for further information and discussion.

Reading together at home is important for all pupils at Spa Bermondsey. Follow the links below for Seven Top Tips. 

Whilst there are huge benefits to being online in order to stay connected to family and friends during this period, the government recognises many parents may feel concerned about the activities and content their children are accessing. This guidance outlines resources to help keep children safe from different risks online and where to go to receive support and advice.

COVID19: Support for Parents and Carers to Keep Children Safe Online

Child Mental Health: 10 Tips for Parents and Carers

Articles to help you navigate parenting during a pandemic. 22 great online learning resources: Digital Family Basics: Setting up New Tech.

This section has some helpful activities for you to do with your child at home.

Computing Home Learning Links 

• Teaching London Computing 
• Unplugged at Home Try Something Different Away from the Screen 
• Computing in BBC Bitesize 
• Coding - free coding programs for all levels and abilities.

Communication

• Makaton | Home - Makaton website with lots of useful materials about signing.
• Makaton | Free Resources  - download to help learn a range of Makaton signs.
• YouTube | SingingHandsUK - videos with lots of popular songs that are signed, a great way to learn new signs at home.
• Widgit - sign up for a free trial to make your own symbols at home.
• CENMAC Newsletter - use information about a range of communication and support devices with links to free resources that can be used at home.
• Crick Software - use your free license provided by Spa, to download Clicker 7 and gain access to lots of pre-made resources and activities.
• Crick Software | Clicker LearningHub - there are lots of short videos to show you how to use Clicker 7 for word processing.

Functional Skills

The websites below have lots of practice for students in Key Stage 5 preparing for their functional skills assessment at E2 and E3:

• Leap Year Functional Maths Challenges
• Functional English Skills
• BBC Bitesize Skillswise  

Other Activities

• Scratch - fun coding program which pupils have used in Computing lessons. You can code your own game or run code designed by others.
• First News - this is a newspaper for young people with news based activities and resources.
• The Day - offers current affairs and news to older teenagers.