Merton Mencap

Providing support and services for children, young people and adults with a learning disability and their family carers in the London Borough of Merton

Events

Thursday 18 January 2024, 10-12pm (in person meeting)

With Georgie Tyrell, SEN Team Manager & EHCP Co-Ordinators, and Fran Turko and Shazia Khan from Merton’s Information, Advice and Support Service (MIASS)

Don’t miss this opportunity 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 2025 start date (parents of children with EHCPs in other primary school years also welcome). Georgie will be giving an overview of the process and introducing you to some of the team of EHCP Co-Ordinators. Fran and Shazia will give a short presentation on the legal framework, some top tips and what to expect from schools. Book now to secure a place at this popular annual session!
Chaucer Centre, Combi Room, Canterbury Road, Morden, SM4 6PX 

Transition from Primary to Secondary slidesDownload

Thursday 14 December, 10am to 12pm (in person)

With Tracy, Tuhina & you! 

December would not be complete without a festive quiz, mince pies, nibbles and a very large tin of Quality Street! Plus, a mystery prize for the best Christmas jumper! Enjoy some festive cheer, meet other Adults First members and join in the fun at our Christmas social! We’re meeting up at Leyton Road day centre in the large room adjoining the garden. Please let us know if you can make it so we have enough food and refreshments for everyone! We look forward to seeing you there! Ho! Ho! Ho!
Leyton Road Day Centre, 21 Leyton Road, Colliers Wood, SW19 1DJ

Tuesday 28 November, 10am to 12pm (Zoom meeting)

With Phil Howell, Interim Assistant Director for Commissioning, Adult Social Care, Integrated Care & Public Health, Elaine Greenwood, Manager of the Direct Payment Team andKiri Haran Balasingam, Manager of the Financial Assessment Team

If your son, daughter or relative qualifies for support from social services following a needs assessment, you can (providing certain criteria are met) choose to receive direct payments from the local authority to buy the assessed services your loved one needs to meet their assessed needs. This is instead of receiving the services directly from the council via a commissioned service.  Find out more about Direct Payments and Financial Assessments at this information session, which will also include answers to some of the issues you shared with us earlier this year around things like improving communication, lack of information on invoices, clawing back funds, difficulty in finding PA’s, the absence of the online PA database, DBS checks, will the Direct Payment Forum be reinstated? and more. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the latest information and ask your questions!

Direct Payment PresentationDownload

Thursday 23 November, 10am to 12pm (Zoom meeting)

With Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Assistant Director of Education and Early Help, Tom Proctor, Interim Assistant Director, Strategy, Commissioning & Transformation, Karla Finikin, Head of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Integrated Service and Toby Podger-Taylor, Participation & Engagement Worker 

A great opportunity to hear the latest information from senior officers in Merton and ask your questions! Including an update on Merton’s SEND Strategy refresh, the latest on a new SEND provision in Merton from September 2026, information about SEND feedback forms parent carers can complete following an EHC Needs Assessment and Annual Review, news on an Annual Review easy read guide for parents and another guide for parents about engaging with schools where there are concerns about your child’s progress, a short statistical presentation about the transition from primary to secondary school for SEND students (number of preferred placements offered, types of provision offered, in/out of borough, etc), the SEND Youth Advisory Forum and an update on the Safety Valve Programme and more! Don’t miss it!

Register now to secure your place!

Merton Parent Carer Forum Update 23 Nov 2023Download
School Attendance A Guide for ParentsDownload

Thursday 9 November, 10am to 12pm (in person meeting) at Chaucer Centre, Combi Room, Canterbury Road, Morden, SM4 6PX

With Georgie Tyrrell, Merton’s SEN Manager, Primary Team, Greg Bramwell, SEND Tribunal Manager and Tom Connor, Principal Educational Psychologist

An education, health and care plan (EHCP) is for children and young people aged up to 25 who need more support than is available through special educational needs support (SEN Support). EHC plans identify educational, health and social needs, and set out the additional support to meet those needs. Join this information session to find out more about who can apply for an EHCP, the EHC needs assessment, the different sections within a plan and the information an EHCP contains, delivering the support set out in the plan, reviewing the plan, timescales and right of appeal. Plus, opportunities to ask your questions! Book now to secure your place!

EHCPs November 2023Download

Thursday 19 October, 10am to 12pm (Zoom meeting)

With Janey Bell, Executive Coach and facilitator

Do you ever feel uncertain and lack confidence in meetings? Not assertive enough to represent your son, daughter or relative effectively in meetings, such as care and support plan review meetings or annual reviews? Are you too nervous to raise issues with professionals? Learn new skills and explore strategies to increase your confidence and assertiveness, and build productive relationships with the professionals you meet.

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