Support for Parents/Carers & Pupils

Pupil SupportAt Yes @ Areté Learning Trust we aim to ensure that pupils are central to their own learning.

The SEN Code of practice highlights the importance of parents having a real say in decisions that affect their children. Yes@ Areté Learning Trust aims to help parents to make informed decisions by providing access to up to date information about services and support available to them.

Support for Parents/Carers

  • Parent Carer Voice: Support from other parent carers, useful information and links, events and training which will help to inform and support on the journey through the SEND services and beyond.

  • SENDIASS: The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Services (SENDIASS) offer information, advice and support for parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). 

  • Autism Central: High-quality and accessible autism information, education and coaching for families, parents, carers, and personal assistants.

  • POSCH (Parents Carers of Special Children): Supporting parents and families of children with additional and special needs who live in the Hambleton, Richmondshire and surrounding areas

  • FACE: Practical, accessible and affordable support to parents and professionals who support children and teenagers

  • Ask Listen Do: Feedback, concerns and complaints...Improving experiences and outcomes for children and adults who are autistic or have a learning disability, their families and carers

  • Movement Matters: Movement Matters is committed to making research accessible to non-scientific communicatio, in particular, families, individuals with DCD/Dyspraxia and anyone else who might benefti from this information.

  • Centre of Autism

  • Neurobetter is a charity providing support and resources for neurodivergent people struggling with their mental health

  • Virtual Schools: Offering a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.

Support for Children & Young People

If you have a learning differences and think that the strategies you have developed, and experiences you have had, could  support others please get in touch. We would love to hear from you. Email yes@arete.uk

  • The Retreat Clinics: Limited free therapy sessions, to adults / families in receipt of means tested welfare benefits

  • JUST 'B': Emotional support for children, young people and adults across North Yorkshire

  • Well Being in Mind Team: Introduction to Services for Children moving up to secondary school

  • The Living Rooms: Drop in wellbeing sessions for young people aged 11-18.

  • Compass Phoenix: Improving outcomes for children and young people in relation to their emotional wellbeing and mental health by strengthening the range of mental health support available to children and young people.

  • The Go-To: Accessible resources aimed at supporting young people with SEND

  • Ask Listen Do: Feedback, concerns and complaints...Improving experiences and outcomes for children and adults who are autistic or have a learning disability, their families and carers

  • Youthability Richmondshire: Youthability is a youth club for young people aged from 11 to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities.

  • The Codpast: Fresh content for students and adults with dyslexia

  • Neurobetter is a charity providing support and resources for neurodivergent people struggling with their mental health

  • North Yorkshire Youth: providing a broad range of opportunities and activities for children and young people to explore and discover their own potential.

  • Renew for Youth: A weekly wellbeing session for young people in Northallerton

  • Riding for the Disabled: Helping local disabled children & adults safely gain the proven therapeutic benefits of horse riding.

Exam Support

Access arrangements are adjustments during exams e.g. extra time, which allow students with additional difficulties to perform at their best.

Students with access arrangements should be confident that the access arrangements they have are their 'normal way of working.'

For further information contact your school's SENCO.

Guidance for parents, carers and students about access arrangements

Using Extra Time

Readers and Writers for Exams

Access Arrangement Policy

 

SENsational Tutors has specialist tutors for children with SEN

Support at University

If you think you might need some help to do your best in Higher Education, the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is there to finance support.

Step-by-Step Guide to DSA

Careers

Yes @ Areté Learning Trust is committed to ensuring that students and parents with a 'Learning Difference' have up to date information about gaining employment following full time education.

  • National Development Team for Inclusion:  An independent, not-for-profit organisation that works alongside people, communities, policy makers, support organisations and services. They provide support to create opportunities for independence and choice for everyone

  • SCOPE = Equality for Disabled People: Access to Work is a government grant scheme which supports disabled people in work.

  • Department for Work and Pensions: Access to Work Factsheet - Access to Work is a publicly funded employment support programme that aims to help more disabled people start or stay in work. 

  • Supported Internship: A supported Internship is a work-based study programme for 16 to 24 year olds with special educational needs and disabilities, who have an education, health and care plan.

  • Evenbreak is an inclusive jobs board for people with disabilities

  • VA Matchmaking finds personal assistants which can be helpful for people with dyspraxia, and can be included in Access to Work

 

Learning to Drive

Special Needs and the Theory Test

When you book your Theory Test you should say if you’ve got special needs. In many cases, special arrangements can be made to help you during the test.

If you have learning difficulties, problems with reading or writing, or have required additional help with schoolwork or taking examinations at school or college, then you may be able to get help with the Multiple Choice Theory Test; this may be:

  • Extra time to take the test.
  • Spoken test – via the computer, (English speaking voice over using a head set is available for any test candidate – no proof of special needs is required).
  • One to one reader/recorder – where a person, provided by Pearson Vue (the company that administers the theory test), will read the questions on the computer screen word for word and then record the answer given by the candidate (they are not permitted to explain the meaning of the English language).
  • Oral Language Modification (OLM) – in exceptional cases, where the candidate has severe difficulty understanding the meaning of the language used for the test, the reader can explain the meaning rewording the questions to make them easier to understand; technical terms (e.g. anti-lock braking system) may not be reworded.
  • Private environment / separate room may also be available on request.

No special allowance is made when taking the Hazard Perception Test.

To apply for Special Needs Theory Test – if extra time is needed, if a one to one reader/recorder is needed or if an OLM test is required – the easiest way is to email your details to “DVSA/Pearson Vue Customer Care Team” (name, address, contact phone no, and driver number – from licence) and request a Special Needs Test. Attach proof of the Special Needs – a letter from School / College (stating what Special Needs provision was made when taking tests/exams) or from GP (detailing the medical condition and Special Needs requirements) on headed paper should be sufficient.

Advice from the British Dyslexia Association

Inspiration

 

  • Marginal Gains: James Clear writes about habits, decision making, and continuous improvement