Articles (425)
Pharmacies in Islington
Your local pharmacist can give you friendly, expert advice about over-the-counter medicines that can help with lots of common conditions, and there’s no need for an appointment. Just visit your local pharmacist. To find your nearest pharmacist visit NHS Choices, or call 0300 311 22 33.…Hospitals
If you, or someone you know, needs hospital treatment or tests, you now have a wide choice as to where and when you get it. You have free choice for hospital treatment and can choose to get treatment from any NHS hospital in England and…GPs (Doctors / General Practitioners) in Islington
General Practice provides a holistic service to all their registered patients, whatever their needs or circumstances. Services available include: routine proactive care urgent and acute care for everyone maternity care delivery of the healthy child programme care for people in their last years of life.…Accessing NHS Services for children with SEND
The NHS provides services that everyone can access. Due to the varying and often complex needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, it is possible that a range of health professionals (including specialist health professionals) will be involved with you…You said, we did
We take your feedback seriously. Here are some examples of recent comments and our responses including changes we have made.Child Tax Credit
You could get Child Tax Credit for each child you’re responsible for if they’re: under 16 under 20 and in approved education or training You don’t need to be working to claim Child Tax Credit. You get money for each child that qualifies and Child…First Tier Tribunal (SEN and Disability)
The Tribunal (part of the First-tier Tribunal [Health, Education and Social Care Chamber]) hears appeals against decisions made by Local Authorities in relation to children’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessments and plans. It also hears disability discrimination claims against schools.Mediation
Mediation must be available to any parent or young person who is not happy with the final version of their Education Health and Care Plan. (Any disagreement about anything else is open to disagreement resolution, not mediation). Level 1 – Mediation Advice Access to mediation…Disagreement Resolution
Any disagreement regarding special educational needs assessment or provision should try to be resolved through disagreement resolution. This could be between parents/young people with schools, colleges or the Local Authority. The Local Authority must make disagreement resolution services available to parents and young people. Disagreement…Getting Around
Islington has excellent transport links. However, transport is one of the main barriers to social inclusion and it can still be difficult for some disabled people to get out and about. Transport providers are not yet legally required to make the 'reasonable adjustments' that would…Taxi Card
If you get the higher rate of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) you can apply for a taxi card that gives you discounted trips in a licensed cab. You can apply for a Taxi Card from Contact Islington.Public Transport
All children and young people who are under the age of 16 are able to get free or discounted travel at any time on public transport. Children aged over 10 require a Zip Oyster photocard to continue to get free travel. Children aged over 16…Congestion Charge
If you hold a valid Blue Badge you're eligible to register for a 100% discount, even if you don't own a vehicle or drive. You can register up to two vehicles that you would normally use to travel within the charging zone. This could be…Travel Training
Travel training helps children and young people gain the skills that help them travel safely and independently. We have been working closely with Action for Kids who have produced a Travel Training Toolkit designed to support young people with autism or a disability to develop…Buying a car
The Motability Scheme allows disabled people to use the higher rate mobility component of their Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to buy a car, powered wheelchair or scooter. When you join Motability you get more than just the car, scooter or powered wheelchair of your choice, you…Short Breaks Offer
This page outlines Islington’s Short Breaks Statement for 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. This statement explains the four levels of short breaks services in Islington and the eligibility for each. Universal Short Breaks Universal Plus Short Breaks Targeted Short Breaks Support above the Short Breaks Basic Offer The…Family Based Short Breaks (FBSB)
Family Based Short Breaks enable parents of severely disabled children and young people to access a regular ‘Carers Break’ when their child stays in a FBSB carer’s own home on a regular basis overnight or for occasional day-time hours. We ensure that all our FBSB…Overnight Short Breaks
Overnight Short Breaks assist families who care for disabled children to continue to do so, or to do so more effectively, by giving them breaks from caring, They are part of the council’s Short Break offer for disabled children and their families.Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a tax free, social security benefit for children and young people up to 16 with an illness or disability. It is not dependent on your household income but only on your child’s needs. To get DLA, your child must need…Crisis Packages
From time to time emergency situations arise in families and usually families are able to cope from within their own or local community resources. Occasionally however emergencies are such that families cannot manage from within their existing support networks or using the current levels of…Parent Carers Assessment
Parent carers of disabled children under 18 years now have a stand alone right to assessments and services under the Children and Families Act 2014. This is called a parent carers needs assessment. This assessment can be combined with one for a disabled child and…Diagnostic Assessment
If your child’s needs are not clear a diagnostic assessment may be required. This is carried out by a group of professionals who are skilled in identifying a range of childhood disabilities. These may include learning disabilities, Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), speech and language delay/specific language…Supported Assessment Questionnaire
When looking at your needs the social worker will look with you at the whole range of support available, including informal networks such as friends and family and what is generally available in the local community for all children. Where an assessment indicates that there…Continuum of Help and Support Threshold Document
This Continuum of Help and Support Threshold Document provides a framework for professionals who are working with children, young people and families in Islington; it aims to help identify when a child may need additional support to achieve their full potential. It introduces a continuum…What is safeguarding?
The Children Act 2004 states that safeguarding children is about: Protecting children from maltreatment, abuse and neglect Minimising risks of harm to children Preventing impairment of children’s health or development Addressing children’s needs at an early stage rather than when serious problems have developed Ensuring…Joint Commissioning
Local Authorities and their health partners are required under the Children and Families Act 2014 to commission services jointly for children and young people with SEND, both those with and without EHC plan These arrangements could involve joint funding agreements or pooled budgets The joint…Schools Accessibility Strategy and Accessibility Plans
Duty of schools The Equality Act 2010 and related Equality Duty 2011 reiterate the duty on schools as laid out in the previous Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to produce an Accessibility Plan. The accompanying guidance for schools confirms that schools continue to have a duty…Team Around the Child
A Team Around the Child (TAC) is a multi-disciplinary team of practitioners established on a case-by-case basis to support a child, young person or family. TACs support good professional practice in joined-up working, information sharing and early intervention. The model involves: A joined-up assessment, usually…Measuring progress for children with SEND
The progress of all groups of children has been a prominent issue for all schools since the introduction of the 2012 Ofsted inspection framework. Parents also want to see evidence of progress. The issue of showing progress is particularly challenging for children with special educational…Preparing for adulthood EHC Plan reviews
All EHC Reviews taking place from Year 9 and onwards must include a focus on preparing for adulthood, including employment, independent living and participation in society. This transition planning must be built into the EHC plan and where relevant should include effective planning for young…Review of Education, Health and Care Plans
Schools and settings are required to meet with parents at least three times a year when their child is receiving SEND support and are responsible for setting up these meetings.What does an Educational Psychologist do?
Educational Psychologists work with children and young people between the ages of 0 and 25 years who are residents of Islington or who attend Islington schools. They work in a range of educational settings including children’s centres, early years’ settings, mainstream primary and secondary schools,…Supporting children with SEN to maintain a healthy weight
'Health risks and the threat of obesity are huge concerns for families of children with disabilities and special needs. The issue goes beyond food and portion control for these families. It’s a balancing act: working with behaviors and aversions, medications and mobility challenges while exploring…Supporting pupils with medical conditions
The Children and Families Act 2014 (Section 100) placed a new statutory requirement on schools to make arrangements for supporting children with medical conditions, supported by related guidance Supporting Pupils at School with Medical Conditions.School Attendance and SEND
Despite progress in recent years, both primary and secondary phases in Islington currently perform poorly in terms of school attendance in comparison with statistical neighbours. Children with SEND have higher patterns of non‐attendance; our aim is at least 96% attendance for all children. In 2016‐17,…Funding for children with SEND
Funding for Islington Mainstream Schools Funding for all schools includes money that they should use to support children with additional needs Funding for SEND Pupils Funding for children and young people comes under three main headings (or 'elements')Who is eligible for an Education, Health and Care Assessment?
Statutory Assessment for an Education, Health and Care Plan is intended only for those children and young people with the most severe and complex SEND This is defined locally as a child or young person whose needs cannot be met from the resources normally available…Children with Complex Needs
When a child has exceptional need for education, health and social care support that cannot be met from resources, assessments or interventions normally available on their education setting, they will need an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Where a child’s health or care needs…Person Centred Planning
Person Centred Planning discovers and acts on what is important to a person. It is a process for continual listening and learning, focussing on what is important to someone now and in the future, and acting on this in alliance with their family and their…What happens if the LA decides that an EHC Plan is not necessary?
If, following assessment, the Local Authority decides that an EHC plan is not necessary, it must inform the parents or young person, the current education provider and the health service, and give the reasons for its decision. This must take place within 16 weeks of…The Role of Governors
Duties of Governing Bodies for SEN Governing Bodies have statutory responsibilities for pupils with SEND – they are set out in primary and secondary legislation The governing body must do its best to ensure that the school makes the necessary provision for every pupil with SEND…The Role Teaching Assistants (TAs)
'Deployment and Impact of Support Staff' by the Institute of Education (2009) reported on a five year study of 8,200 children. The study found that children who received the most support from TAs consistently made less progress than similar children who received less TA support. 'There has been…Holidays - childcare and things to do
Holiday childcare playschemes operate each holiday, apart from Christmas. If you need information and advice about support with childcare costs, including tax-free childcare or childcare through Universal Credit, contact Islington's Family Information Service, 020 7527 5959; fis@islington.gov.uk or visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk Free holiday activities with lunch are…Role and Responsibilities of all Teachers
The Council recognises has an expectation of participation, fulfilment and success for all our children. Planning for progression and differentiation are fundamental to successful teaching and learning. High expectations of progress must apply to all children working above, at, or below age-related expectations, including those who have SEND.…Measuring Success
All children progress at different rates, and the same is true for children with SEND. Children and their needs are individual, and what is appropriate progress is therefore also individual, and has to be defined by success in meeting appropriately challenging SMART goals. The Council…Expectations of all mainstream schools: what should be in place
Provision for children with SEND is a matter for the whole school. The way in which this responsibility is excercised by individual staff is therefore a matter for each school, taking into account size, priorities, ethos etc. However, the Council expects all schools, as a minimum,…Local Authority Expectations
Every LA has a duty to ‘explain the special educational provision it expects to be made from within a mainstream school’s budget share’. Here we make explicit the provision we expect to be made by all Islington schools for children with SEND. This is important…Education, Health and Care Plans
The SEN Code of practice says that the purpose Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan is to make special educational provision to meet the special educational needs of the child or young person, to secure improved outcomes for them across education, health and social care…