Children

SEND Information Roadshow

29 June 2024 0 Comments

Come along, be informed, have a chat and maybe meet other parents and carers of SEND children!

Are you a parent and/or carer of a child or young person who has special educational needs and/or disabilities or you believe may require additional help? Are you looking for services in your area that can offer extra support for your child as they go through their education journey? Then Ashford Family Hubs would like to invite you to our SEND Information, advice and guidance event for Ashford.

There will be a short presentation at the start to introduce the services in attendance, followed by your opportunity to visit their stalls and find out how they can help.

Refreshments will be available and some toys can be provided in case you need to bring little ones.

16th July 2024
10 am -12 noon or
1 pm – 3 pm

Ashford North Family Hub
Mabledon Avenue
Ashford
TN24 8BJ

Book Now!!! Email:

Education, Children, Disability, Health, Kent County Council, News

Noakes Meadow Consultation

23 January 2024 0 Comments

Noakes Meadow has funding from Section 106 (Local Development) to improve the open space. 

Noakes Meadow

The money can only be spent on improving the open space and replacing the play area. Ashford Borough Council would like to hear from the local community to ensure improvements made to Noakes Meadow reflect what the local community need.

Tell Ashford Borough Council what you would improvements you would like made by completing a short survey (approx. 2 minutes)

Tell Ashford Borough Council what you would improvements you would like made by completing a short survey (approx. 2 minutes)
or download a form to respond by post

Respond by 9th February 2024

The questions in the survey are:

  1. Please score, from most important (1) to least important (4), what items need improving at Noakes Meadow.
    Give a score to at least 4 options.
    • MUGA (caged sports area)
    • Play Area
    • Flooding Paths
    • Accessibility
  2. The following items of play equipment could be installed at Noakes Meadow Play Park.
    Which five items of play equipment do you think should be installed?
    Select between 1 and 5 options.
    • Roundabout
    • Seesaw
    • Swings
    • Trim trail/obstacle course
    • Toddler Unit
    • Spinners/spring
    • Multi-climb unit
    • Other – please state
  3. Would you like the play area to be for mixed ages (toddler through to over 8’s)?
  4. Would you like to see a new access path improving accessibility all year round at Noakes Meadow?
  5. Do you think the paths and access are suitable currently?
  6. Is the MUGA cage well used?
    This is the caged sports area in the centre of Noakes Meadow.
  7. Do you think that the MUGA entrances need to be improved?
  8. What sports would you like the MUGA lines painted for?
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Other – please state
  9. Is there anything else you would like to see added to improve Noakes Meadow?
  10. Is there any other feedback regarding the proposed play upgrades at Noakes Meadow that you would like to tell us about?

Consultations, Ashford Borough Council, Children, Consultation, News, Parks

Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Consultation

2 December 2020 0 Comments

Kent County Council, Kent and Medway CCG

Kent’s Strategy for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities 2021-2024

Opened: 02 December 2020
Closes: 04 February 2021

Kent County Council and the NHS in Kent and Medway are keen to hear your views and opinions about their new special educational needs and disabilities strategy for children and young people in Kent.

The strategy sets out our ambitions to make sure that all children in Kent have equal access to support and education that meets their unique needs and that they and their families are supported to live their best life.

It also explains how we will shape our services for children and their families in a way that improves wellbeing, resilience and learning in our communities.

The strategy has been prepared jointly by Kent County Council and the NHS in partnership with children and young people, parents and carers, Kent PACT and other key stakeholders.

We recommend you read the draft Strategy before completing the questionnaire using the link at the bottom of the post.

Consultation Documents

Supporting Documents

Respond

Kent County Council
kccconsultations.inconsult.uk/consult.ti/sendstrategyconsultation/consultationHome

Children, Consultation, Education, Health, Kent County Council, News, Uncategorized, Young people

For parents

17 April 2020 0 Comments

A special COVID-19 message

When your child is ill or injured it is very difficult to decide if/when to call your child’s GP, NHS 111 or go the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E). While the governmen tis asking everyone to slay an home, it can be confusing to know what to do. Here is some guidance around what to do if your child shows any of the following symptoms or signs.

For advice on COVID-19 and chlldhood illnesses/injuries visit www.NHS.UK

image006

You should go to A&E and/or call 999 immediately if
Appearance
  • Pale/mottled/ashen/blue colour
  • Collapsed/unresponsive/loss of conciousness
  • No obvious pulse or heartbeat
  • Severe allergic reaction
Behaviour
  • Extreme irritability/pain/sleepiness
    (can be woken but falls asleep immediately)
  • Seizure/jerking movements/fit
Breathing
  • Sucking in and out between ribs
  • Flaring nostrils
  • Extremely fast breathing
  • Unusually noisy breathing
Other
  • Bleeding from an injury that doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of pressure
  • Fever with a stiff neck

image005

You should go to A&E if
Appearance
  • Dizziness/feeling faint
  • Rash that does not fade when you press it
Behaviour
  • Severe tummy pain
Other
  • Burn
  • Possibie broken bone
Other
  • Swallowed foreign objects
    (especially magnets/batteries)
  • Temperature higher than 38°C
    in a baby younger than 3 months old
  • Your Child has special health care needs
    and you have a plan that tells you to go to A&E
  • Feels abnormally cold to touch
  • Expressing suicidal/significant self-harm thoughts
  • Head injury

image004

You should call your GP if
Appearance
  • Mild/moderate allergic reaction (known or suspected)
  • New rash that fades when you press on it
  • Mild irritability/sleepier than normal
  • Moderate tummy pain
  • Vomiting and diarrhoea
  • Not passed urine for more than 12 hours
Breathing
  • Wheezing/fast breathing
Other
  • Temperature >39°C [age 3-‘I2 months]
  • Temperature over 38°C for 5 days or more
  • Accidentai overdose of medication or other substances
  • Ear pain for more than 2 days
  • Emotional distress (where your child can’t be reassured)

image002

You should use 111 online or call 111 if:
Appearance
  • Pink eyes/red eyes
Behaviour
  • Ear pain for less than 2 days
  • Mild tummy pain
Breathing
  • Cough
  • Runny nose
Other
  • Temperature over 38°C for less than 5 days

Designed by primary and secondary care clinicians from Barts Health NHS Trust and East London Health and Care Partnership

Children, Health, News

Survey on services for children and young people

14 August 2019 0 Comments

Transforming health and social care in Kent and Medway

Opens: 10 August 2019
Closes: 23 August 2019

The NHS and local councils want to transform health and care services for children and young people and are calling on local people to get involved and help.

A recent Healthwatch survey showed children and young people in Kent and Medway want their voice to be heard when local services are designed, and the NHS has launched a survey to enable this. Dr Bob Bowes, a GP in Tunbridge Wells and Clinical Chair for Kent and Medway Sustainability and Transformation Partnership said: “We want local children, young people and their parents and carers to help us design services which are fit for the future to give children and young people the best start in life.

“They really can make a difference and we want suggestions for how we can improve.

“We need your help to tell us what already works well in the current system, and what doesn’t.”

The survey, which is open to children and young people from birth to 25 and their parents and carers, will help the NHS and local councils decide the priorities for future improvements to children’s services. The survey takes around 10 minutes to fill in and will close on Friday, 23 August.

There is a version for:

The NHS is keen to get feedback from children and young people of all ages as well as their parents and carers.

Kent County Council and Medway Council are working together with the NHS to improve services.

Cllr Josie Iles, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, said: “We are pleased to be working with partners to further develop a collective understanding of the needs of children and young people in Kent and Medway.”

Children, Consultation, Health, News, STP, STP, Young people

Sale of energy drinks to children consultation

3 September 2018 0 Comments

Department of Health and Social Care

Opens: 30 August 2018
Closes: 21 November 2018

Energy drinks are soft drinks that contain higher levels of caffeine than other soft drinks, and may also contain a lot of sugar (though low- or zero-calorie energy drinks are available). Evidence suggests that excessive consumption of energy drinks by children is linked to negative health outcomes such as headaches, sleeping problems, irritation and tiredness.

Under current labelling rules, any drink, other than tea or coffee, that contains over 150mg of caffeine per litre requires a warning label saying: ‘High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women’. Despite the warning labels, however, children are still consuming these drinks; recent evidence shows that more than two thirds of UK children aged 10-17, and nearly a quarter of those aged 6-9, are energy drink consumers.

We are hearing strong calls from parents, health professionals, teachers and some industry bodies and retailers for an end to sales of high-caffeine energy drinks to children. Many larger retailers and supermarkets have voluntarily stopped selling energy drinks to under-16s. While we recognise the efforts of retailers who have already acted, there are still many retailers who continue to sell these drinks to children. Legislating to end the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children would create a level playing field for businesses and create consistency, helping ensure that children do not have access to energy drinks in any shop.

We are therefore consulting on ending the sale of energy drinks to children, but we are aware that the evidence base around these products and their effects is complex. We want to use this consultation to gather further views and evidence on the advantages and disadvantages of ending the sale of energy drinks to children, and on alternative options, before making a decision.

Documents

Consultation on ending the sale of energy drinks to children PDF, 269KB, 12 pages

Impact assessment: ending the sale of energy drinks to children PDF, 644KB, 46 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. 

Give Your Views

Online Survey

Department of Health and Social Care 30 August 2018
https://consultations.dh.gov.uk/obesity/sale-of-energy-drinks-to-children/

Children, Consultation, Government, Health, News

Postnatal Depression

15 February 2018 0 Comments

Craft Attack & Jigsaw

Support & Therapy Groups

Around 10-15% of new mothers in the UK suffer from postnatal depression (PND). It usually develops within the first 6 weeks after birth, but can develop at any point within the first year.

Symptoms may include feelings of being overwhelmed and unable to cope, suffering from low moods, anxiety, panic attacks, and experiencing irregular sleeping patterns and difficulty in bonding. This in turn may lead to feelings of guilt, anger, irritability, negative thoughts and feeling helpless and isolated, even when supported by loved ones.

Craft Attack

offers an environment of respite for mums finding it difficult to cope. The group uses arts and crafts to help mums explore what they are experiencing and how they are feeling, whilst providing the opportunity to meet others in a similar position and find mutual support within the group. There is no obligation to engage with the craft activities and certainly no expectation to produce masterpieces! Refreshments and lunch are provided.

Jigsaw

is a group for mums ready to explore what they are experiencing through talking with others in a similar position, facilitated by an experienced counsellor. Refreshments are provided.

Crèche and Care

A crèche is provided for babies and pre-school children, allowing mums to attend the groups in the knowledge their child is looked after in a safe crèche environment.

“Craft Attack has been the best support for me during a really difficult time” – Craft Attack attendee (2016/17)

The Groups

Using Big Lottery funding we offer places for up to 10 mums with PND and the groups run every Monday for 10 weeks. Craft Attack lasts two hours (12.30 – 2.30) in a relaxed and confidential environment. Jigsaw lasts one and a half hours also in a safe and confidential environment. Both groups offer support to mums with symptoms of PND and may address other aspects of anxiety and depression associated with PND.

Qualified and experienced counsellors attend the groups and are available for you to speak with in relation to matters that may be affecting you and the care of your baby. Be assured that information shared is treated in the strictest confidence.

Transport

Transport can be provided for those who need it from the Ashford area; the transport will collect you from your home address and will return you back once the session has finished. Child seats can be included, please let us know in advance.

How you will benefit:

  • We will provide a confidential and safe place in which to support you.
  • We will enable you to meet people in a similar situation to develop new friendships.
  • We will support you in exploring feelings and emotions brought about through postnatal depression and early parenting challenges.
  • We can provide support that meets your individual needs: respite, group therapy or individual counselling / therapy.
  • We will work with you to build confidence and self-esteem to enable you to change your current position.

Would you like to know more?

Contact:

Ashford Counselling Service
The Paul Bower Centre
123 Church Road
Willesborough
ASHFORD
Kent TN24 0JQ
Tel: 01233 610083
Email: info@ashfordcounselling.org.uk

 

 

Care, Children, Health, News, Wellbeing

Chilmington Green School to open on South School site

24 January 2018 0 Comments

Chilmington Green Primary School will open on 1 September 2018 in temporary accommodation* in Jemmett Road, Ashford. The school will move into its new state of the art site on the Chilmington Green Development once building works have been completed, this is currently expected to be September 2019.

* The building on Jemmett Road, (formally [the South School and] temporary site of Finberry Primary School from September 2015 to July 2017) is a fully equipped school site which will meet the needs of the school before its move into the permanent building.

Apply for a place

To apply for a place at Chilmington Green Primary School, please download the application form below.

Chilmington Green Primary School Application Form

Applications can be sent by post to Chilmington Green Primary Admissions, Office Manager, Finberry Primary School, Avocet Way, Finberry, Sevington, Ashford, TN25 7GS or by email to sarah.jones@stouracademytrust.org.uk

APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON 15TH JANUARY 2018.

Admissions Policy

To read the admissions policy of Chilmington Green Primary School, please download the document below.

Chilmington Green Primary School Admission Policy

About the School

Opening in September 2018 in Jemmett Road, Ashford. Chilmington Green Primary School will be a member of The Stour Academy Trust, a leading Primary only Multi-Academy Trust with schools across Kent.

The strong and inspirational leadership of The Stour Academy Trust has been described as Outstanding by Ofsted and has a proven track record of providing outstanding outcomes for children.

Chilmington Green Primary School will share the vision and values of all the schools in The Stour Academy Trust. We value children’s well-being and their education above all else, and put the needs of our children at the heart of all our decision making.

For more information about the school, please view the school website or facebook page below:

www.chilmingtongreenprimary.org.uk

The Stour Academy Trust
www.stouracademytrust.org.uk/Forthcoming-Academies/

Children, Education, News, Planning and Development

Ashford Oak’s pupils’ Smoke free school gates sign displayed

9 November 2017 0 Comments

A design by Mary-Jane Hornes’ and Casey Cripps of Ashford Oaks Primary School, to encourage people not to smoke around school gates, has been made into signs and are currently displayed on the gates of Ashford Oaks, Beaver Green Primary and Willesborough Junior schools.

Smoking has been identified as a priority for both KCC Public Health and the Ashford Health and Wellbeing Boards. The council is committed to helping tackle this issue and these signs are part of wider educational initiatives designed to help both protect children’s wellbeing and to make Ashford a healthier borough.

Jane Marshall the pastoral team leader at Ashford Oaks said: “The girls are thrilled to see their designs on the school gates, it’s wonderful for them to see the culmination of all their hard work every time they come into the school.

“The process of designing the signs has really helped raise awareness amongst all the children about the dangers and risks associated with smoking. We have received a very positive reaction to the sign and believe that it will have an effect in reducing the amount of people smoking outside the school gates.”

Cllr Bradford, Portfolio Holder for Health, Parking and Community Safety, said: “We are delighted to see the signs on the school gates, and it’s even better to hear the positive impact the designing of the signs has had on the children. It’s fantastic news that the school is confident the signs will have an effect in reducing smoking outside the school gates as that’s what this initiative is all about, protecting children’s wellbeing and making Ashford a healthier place.”

If any other primary schools are interested in having a sign for their school gates they should contact envhealth@ashford.gov.uk

Ashford Borough Council 09 November 2017
https://www.ashford.gov.uk/whats-on/news/no-smoking-signs-make-first-appearance-9th-nov/

Children, Education, Health, News