contact -
Gill McDonald - 01892 834577
Debbie Salt - 01959 533292Newsletter - September 2007
Coffee Mornings
Fund Raising – HAHA Show
New Rising Stars books
Wear ‘m’ Out
Post-16 special needs transport costs
Fathers Club
Swanscombe Tigers
Final Words
Firstly, I would like to thank Debbie for hosting the last coffee morning.
The next coffee morning will be from 10am to 12 midday on Wednesday 26th September 2007 at Louise’s house in Tunbridge Wells. The phone number for Louise is 01892 525644. Stephen Carr from Partnership with Parents will be our speaker. Stephen’s talk will be of particular interest to parents of pre-school children, parents of children in mainstream and to parents of children whose future is uncertain (and to anyone else!)
Fund Raising – HAHA Show back to top
We are having a Toy Stall at the HAHA (Hawkenbury Allotment Holders Association) Show in Dunorlan Park on Saturday/Sunday 8th/9th September 2007. This newsletter may be too late to request any more toys and volunteers, but thank you to all of you who have donated your old toys and volunteered your time to help on the stall. Details of how it all went and how much money we raised in the next newsletter.
New Rising Stars books back to top
I have previously enthused about Rising Stars and their ‘Download’ and ‘Billy Kool’ series of books which are aimed at KS3 aged boys with KS2 reading ages.
Not only is there a new series of Download books (Skateboarding, Sporting Legends, Predators, Natural Disasters, UFOs and Aliens, The Paranormal, Basketball and Heroes and Villains) –
www.risingstars-uk.com/content.php?pID=13;piID=476There is a new series of books called The Extraordinary Files (Sleepwalker, Killer Robot, Werewolf Eclipse, The Puppet Master, Spider Invasion, The Headless Ghost, Alien Implants, Atlanta -
www.risingstars-uk.com/content.php?pID=19;piID=450And while looking at the Rising Stars website for this Newsletter I discovered a new series called Superscripts which are play scripts –
www.risingstars-uk.com/content.php?pID=20And there is Billy Kool –
www.risingstars-uk.com/content.php?pID=8I find the Rising Stars website is a bit difficult to navigate (like spaghetti) which is why I have included all the web addresses. The above books can all be ordered from Rising Stars for £5 pluss P&P but some are available from Amazon for £4 and if you bundle your order correctly you can get free P&P. I have not yet seen any of these books in shops.
I am sorry if I sound like an advertisement for Rising Stars but they really have been very successful in our house
Christine has given me details about Wear ‘m’ Out which was in Tonbridge but has reopened in Maidstone. The address is Unit 3, Parkwood Industrial Estate, Cuxton Road, ME15 9NG and the phone number 01622 688855. They also hold ‘special needs sessions’ which welcome special needs children of all ages and their siblings. The next ‘special needs session’ is Friday 21st September from 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Post-16 special needs transport costs back to top
Bernadette has sent me this information about an online petition regarding ‘post-16 special needs transport costs’ which she received from the Dyspraxia Foundation
Hello
As you may be aware local authorities now have the ability to charge for transport to and from school for all post 16 year old students including students with special educational needs. For the county of Norfolk, this fee is over £300 yearly.
We are parents of a 16 year old child with cerebral palsy and learning difficulties and feel strongly about this. Students with special educational needs very rarely have the opportunity to attend local centres of higher education and consequenty have to travel.
We are asking if it is possible for organizations and professional bodies connected with children with disabilities who may be affected by this change to make families of these children aware of the online petition to the Prime Minister we have set up.
The petition reads:
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to allow students with learning difficulties or disabilities free transport to school after the age of 16
Due to the location of special needs colleges and schools, transport is essential with some students unable to use public transport. As school leaving age is likely to increase to 18, it is unfair to ask students to pay when there are no local special needs alternatives for higher education.
Please sign petition to allow students with disabilities free transport to school after the age of 16 by going to this webpage:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/disabledtravel/
Mr and Mrs Hindley
A ‘message’ from John Franklin re The Fathers’ Club -
Hi All. I have previously had exchanges with you about the availability of support for the fathers of autistic children. Meeting groups under the banner of THE FATHERS' CLUB have been running for some time in Dartford and at Folkestone and this February I started a new group on the West side of Maidstone, based at Bower Grove School. This has got off the ground quite quickly and across Kent the Club now has 70 members. I am emailing you since we have previously discussed the situation in your area. I was therefore pleasently surprised when a father from Sevenoaks, upon hearing about the new Maidstone venture, decided to come along and join. As it turns out it only took him 25 mins to get to Frant Lane in Maidstone so maybe other Dads in your area would like to come along? I know timing might depend on exactly where they are situated but the offer is there. Our next Maidstone meeting is next week, on Monday the 18th and further details are attached. For this meeting we will have invited guests from Partnership With Parents and Des Walker - Family Support Officer (Adults) of Kent Autistic Trust will also be present. With best wishes to all John John E Franklin - Facilitator - THE FATHERS' CLUB in KENT 12 June 2007.
THE FATHERS’ CLUB in KENT (Support and guidance for the fathers of autistic children)
NEW MEETING GROUP – MAIDSTONE
Now in its fifth year THE FATHERS’ CLUB offers support and guidance to fathers who have an autistic child, or children. Regular monthly evening meetings are held in both Dartford and Folkestone and membership is also open to grandfathers.
In February 2007 a new meeting group was formed in Maidstone to offer the same facilities to fathers in the middle of our county. Based at Bower Grove School meeting dates for 2007 and other details are as follows.
Venue: Bower Grove School, Fant Lane, MAIDSTONE Kent ME16 8NL Tel: 01622 726773 or 729315
Contact: Ms. Annette Scott – Deputy Head Teacher Email: headteacher@bower-grove.kent.sch.uk
Time: Doors open at 7.00 p.m.
Dates: 20 March, 17 April, 22 May, 19 June, 17 July, No August Meeting, 18 September, 16 October, 20 November and 11 December 2007.
Supporters: Bower Grove School as above and, Kent Autistic Trust, 14 High Street, Brompton, GILLINGHAM, Kent ME7 5AE
Contact: Tel: 01634 405168 email office@kentautistic.com Mrs. Jo Blamires or Mr. Des Walker
For any further information, or to simply discuss what the club does and how it works, the Club Facilitator, Mr. John E. Franklin may be contacted through the above number.
In the April 2006 Newsletter there was a reference to the Swanscombe Tigers – a football club for special needs children – their web site can be found -
www.swanscombetigers.comAny articles for newsletter gratefully received
Any speaker gratefully accepted
Any new coffee morning hostesses (even more) gratefully received.
And any new email addresses even more gratefully received!
Gill McDonald
01892 834577
Gill-2007@west-kent-afasic.fsnet.co.uk
