EASTER NEWSLETTER 2021

Welcome to our Easter Newsletter. We hope that you are all keeping well and fingers

crossed, looking forward to us coming out of our 3rd lockdown. It has been a very

difficult journey for everyone over the past year but now, hopefully, there is a light at

the end of the tunnel. All our events continue to be held on zoom but we are hopeful that

maybe soon we can all meet up face to face with you all once again.

Zoom Easter Event

On the 11th March we held our Easter Event via Zoom.

Sue Hawkmoon guided us to make a felt bunny Easter

Egg and as you can see from the photograph the results

were pretty amazing. The kits were posted out prior to

the event and this time there were no hiccups with the

postal service as there had been at Christmas.

Introductions were made and apologies from some who

had hoped to join us but due to power cuts, garden

damage etc from the strong winds we had we settled

down with instructions from Sue.

AGM

We held our AGM on the 22nd February 2021. Due to the ongoing pandemic this AGM

To close our AGM it was fun to take part in a duck race and present the winner with a

pamper pack. Please see the selection of AGM slides and minutes for further

information that are on our website.

The

North Lincolnshire Neurodiversity

Pathway

The Forum attended the new Neurodiversity Pathway Launch, online via Teams, at the

end of January. These virtual presentations were delivered by the new Neurodiversity

team to schools, Senco’s, health professionals such as GPs & nurses, and all SEND

professionals as seen on the Local Offer.

The launch was to introduce a new system for ASD and ADHD referrals, assessment

and diagnosis. It was launched on 1st February and the new referral form is called

‘Tree Form’. You will no longer be advised to ask your GP for a referral but will ask

your school as they are the main drivers in supporting this new system.

was our 1st over Zoom – so in the comfort of own homes! Our co - chair, Julia, opened the meeting with a warm welcome. Kay, our co- chair then discussed what we had

achieved over the last year and what we have planned for the coming year. Followed by

We have all worked as hard as we can to do the best for the parent forum over the last

12 months. We are proud still to be here as a forum when some forums haven’t done so

well and thank you for your support in the most unusual year.

a financial report by our treasurer Zaria.

To ensure transition into another forum year as easily as possible and with the

prospects of further challenges we, the current steering group, put ourselves forward

for a further year in service. There were no objections during the voting process. We

are happy, Kay, Zaria, Julia and Katy (parents advocate) to accept our roles again and

we would welcome new parents to come and join us on the steering group. By joining

North Lincs PIP Parent Forum you will be able to add your voice and become part of a

large parent group which is able to feedback parent carer views to key policy makers in

North Lincolnshire and to national organisations and bodies. The Forum is free and we

do not ask anything of you unless you want to become involved in forum activities and

consultations. Participation opportunities for the steering group will be published on

the closed forum WhatsApp.

The neurodiversity team will work jointly with you and your school to quickly gather

and share information about your child to ensure your child’s needs are met whilst

awaiting assessment to allow appropriate support.

They are wanting to change negatives into positives and it is about celebrating

difference. They will no longer be using the term disorder or deficit as this implies

someone may be inferior as 1 in 5 of us are Neurodiverse! There will be a big focus on

girls. Children who are home educated will access this through their Education

Inclusion Officer.

So, can parents refer? No, suggest the parent or Carer does it through school as this is

now the answer.

Also, you have to have completed one term of school before a referral can begin.

Reflection on this new system will be in the summer term and in the meantime parents’

views are wanted, so please let us know your experiences. Our contact details are at the

end of this newsletter.

Information is available on the Local Offer www.northlincslocaloffer.com

And their new supporting leaflet which is available on our website too.

Please join our coffee mornings where you can chat with us and other parents who often

experience similar behaviours as yourself and can provide advice and crucial support.

Zoom Coffee Mornings

We are continuing to hold our zoom coffee mornings and occasionally we have guests to

talk to us about the service they offer. On the 22nd March we had SENDIASS join us to

talk about Transitions and members were then able to ask any questions they had and

private follow ups were made where needed. If we have any guests joining us this is

advertised on our WhatsApp group and our Website so please check. If you are unable

to attend but have any questions please phone, message or email us at our contact

details shown below and we will ask on your behalf and let you know what was said or

ask the speaker to contact you directly.

Dates for April - June 2021 All our members are welcome to join us. It is very informal and some very current and

topical issues are discussed along with general chitchat and having a laugh which is

hopefully a good tonic for all. Please join us, even for 5 or 10 minutes, we would love to

see you!

Thursday 22nd April 2021 10.30am – 11.30am

Tuesday 4th May 2021 10.30am – 11.30am

Thursday 20th May 2021 10.30am – 11.30am

Tuesday 8th June 2021 10.30am – 11.30am

If the Government guidelines allow, we will hopefully hold one or possibly two face to

face coffee mornings before the summer holidays, if not then we will carry on with the

zoom.

Zoom ID - 379 708 2359

Passcode – 906560 We look forward to seeing you.

EASTER ADVENT

The Easter holidays are almost here and you may have already seen on our

Facebook/WhatsApp and website, that we are launching our Parent Forum Easter

Advent. This is 10 days of Easter themed activities that you can do at home or in your

garden. Great fun for both you and your children. Please see

https://northlincspipforum.co.uk/parents-forum-easter-advent/

Also the opportunity to win a half an hour Meerkat Experience for 2 (2 adults or

children over the age of 6) at Messingham Zoo.

INFORMATION

North Lincs PIP Parent Forum Phone: 0845 3889984 or 07510 211696

Email: info@northlincspip.org

Website/Facebook www.northlincspipforum.co.uk

facebook.com/pipforum

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Local Offer Please see North Lincolnshire website for updates around services.

www.northlincslocaloffer.com

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The Carers Support Service Tel: 01652 650585 www.facebook.com/carerssupportcentre

Support provided over the phone – call if you need support and they will do what they

can to help.

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SENDIASS Helpline: 01724 277665 Facebook Twitter: @NlSendiass

www.nlsendiass.org.uk

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‘One Forum, One Family’ Keep Safe and Keep Well

Your North Lincs PIP Parent Forum Steering Group

Kay, Julia, Katy & Zaria

HAPPY EASTER!