Kids First

Friday 21 October 2022, 10am to 12pm (Zoom meeting)

With Bridget Creasey, Principal Transport Commissioner, William Diep, Transport Co-Ordinator (Transport Commissioning) from Merton Council, Andrew Whittington, Chief Executive, Merton Mencap, and the Independent Travel Training Team from Merton Mencap

Independent Travel Training is support to help people attain skills to travel on their own.

Merton Council commissions Merton Mencap to provide travel training to young people aged 11-24 with learning disabilities/autism which supports them to become independent travellers between home and their place of education.
Book your place at this session, during which the speakers will cover the eligibility criteria for travel training, the referral procedure, and the travel training process including instruction and assessment methods which support young people to become independent travellers.

The session includes a QandA with speakers on any aspect of travel training.

Merton Mencap also provides travel training programmes in addition to the Merton Council funded programme, for young people (up to age 18) and adults (age 25 and over) with learning disabilities/autism, which will also be explained during the session.

Thursday 15 September 2022, 10am to 12pm (Zoom meeting)

With Karla Finikin, Head of SEN & Disabilities Integrated Service (SENDIS) & colleagues

An opportunity to hear an update and ask your questions.

Tuesday 5 July 2022, 10.15am to 12.15pm

Join us for a stroll in the park. New members welcome! With Tracy Blackwell, Kids First Forum manager, Tuhina Shaikh, Forum administrator & Jodie Hunt, Wellbeing Practitioner from Merton Uplift

Meet other parent carers, get to know each other, & find out more about Kids First.
Plus, Jodie is joining us from Merton Uplift so we’ll be incorporating some mindfulness exercises along the way.

All parent carers of children & young people with SEND aged 0-25 who live or go to school/college in Merton are welcome to join us.

Morden Hall Park, Morden Hall Road, SM4 5JD

Thursday 16 June 2022, 10am to 12pm in person meeting
OR Thursday 9 June 2022, 1-3pm & repeated 5-7pm via Zoom meeting

With Georgie Tyrell, SEN Team Manager, EHCP Co-Ordinators, & Fran Turko and Shazia Khan from Merton Information, Advice & Support Service (MIASS) for families in relation to SEND

A chance for year 5 parents to come and hear what the process for the transition of children with EHCPs from primary to secondary school will look like for a September 2023 start date (parents of children with EHCPs in other primary school years also welcome).

Georgie Tyrell will be giving an overview of the process and introducing you to some of the team of EHCP Co-Ordinators. MIASS will also give a short presentation on the legal framework, tips from their experience and what to expect from schools. Both MIASS and the SEN Team will then be available for any questions.

All three sessions will be the same so you only need to attend one.

In person meeting at:

Middle Hall, Chaucer Centre, Canterbury Road, Morden, SM4 6PX
(please confirm attendance by Friday 10 June)

Tuesday 14 June 2022, 6 to 7.30pm via Zoom meeting

With Paula Jewes, SEND Consultant

Do you want to know more? Do you have more questions than answers?

Paula will explain the background to some of the proposed changes to help you to understand the main issues. She will also try to answer your questions.

Paula has worked as a special educational needs and disability consultant for over 10 years on behalf of Local Authorities, the NHS, charities and parent organisations.

Join us to find out more about the SEND Review green paper and ask your questions!
Please note that Paula will not give you her views on the rights and wrongs of the proposals or make any suggestions about what your response should be to the green paper consultation.

Friday 6 May 2022, 10am to 12pm

With Jodie Hunt and Harriet Purvis, Wellbeing Practitioners from Merton Uplift

The past couple of years has been a challenging time for parents, carers and their families. Looking after your own wellbeing is important for you and the people you care for.

This session will focus on the importance of taking care of yourself.

Learning relaxation techniques and self-management skills to improve your overall wellbeing and dealing with feelings of isolation.

Plus, time at the end to ask your questions.

Merton Uplift offers talking therapies and wellbeing support for Merton residents experiencing common mental health problems, including stress, anxiety and depression.

Joint session with Adults First.