press release 8/11/2016

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities DofE Best Practice Forum

Representatives met to share ideas and experience at the first West Sussex Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Best Practice Forum, held at Parkside in Horsham (8 November).

The idea was to pool thinking to generate opportunities through The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for young people with special needs and disabilities to:

·  Diversify choice

·  Build skills

·  Widen their social networks and experiences

·  Achieve – and raise aspirations

And through this,

·  Make it easier to access employment, or further education

Organisations included schools, special schools, DofE Open Awards Centres, voluntary groups and also members of the West Sussex Parent Carer Forum.

Feedback from the event was positive. The areas highlighted as being most useful were opportunities to network and share ideas, detailed information and hearing from Charlotte , an award holder about her experience. Areas the Forum would like to develop included an online forum, e mail newsletter and resource bank.

Charlotte Hatcher, who has achieved all three awards, Bronze, Silver and Gold award whilst at Oak Grove College, gave an inspiring presentation. She asked DofE Leaders to give lots of praise and encouragement.

Charlotte is now a DofE Ambassador, encouraging other young people to benefit to achieve by taking part.

Other elements of the event:

·  Joanna Ireland, DofE South East Regional Officer gave a presentation about employability

·  Forum participants also learnt how to improve SEND outcomes from SEND Commissioning Manger, Daniel Cheesman.

·  Toby Wilson, Senior Practitioner outlined a new Virtual DofE Centre for supporting young people who cannot access the award through school, college or youth group.

·  DofE Team members led workshops on accessible expeditions, and

·  Rachel Sadler, SEND Participation Youth Worker, led an exercise on removing barriers to involvement.

The forum will continue to build on this event with follow up meetings and training.

For more information contact:

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