New Middletown Courses

Middletown are running courses for parents. 

Autism, Learning Styles, and Visual Teaching Methods is being held on:

23rd September from 11am-1pm at Hollybank PS, Monkstown
24th September from 11am-1pm at St Kieran's  PS, Poleglass
25th September from 10am-12pm at Longstone Special School, Dundonald

Autism and Communication  is being held on:

30th September from 11-1 at Hollybank PS, Monkstown
1st October     from 11-1 at St Kieran's PS, Poleglass
2nd October from 10-12 at Longstone Special School, Dundonald

Autism and Understanding Anxiety 

7th October   11-1.00 at Hollybank PS
8th October 11-1.00 at St Kieran's PS

More to follow

To book these, go to the Middletown website: https://www.middletownautism.com/training/parents 
ADDNI run courses for parents of children with ADD or ADHD.
If you are over 16 and have ADD or ADHD you can also seek support!

https://addni.org/apply-for-services 

• CYPS Family Support

Autism NI Courses!

Autism NI are running 4 wonderful courses for parents of children with autism. I believe these are free!

https://autismni.org/training-courses/parents-carers-support-courses?search=&filterCourseCat%5B0%5D=&page=1 

Supporting Your Autistic Child to Sleep                         10th September

Understanding Autism                                                   20th September

Using Social Stories and Comic Strip Conversation       26th September

Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance          16th October

Courses for Parents
Here are some great courses for parents, especially for those who have children with autism.

Parents- are you worried that your child won't be ready for school in September 2024?

Did you know:

You can delay your child starting school!

If their birthday is between 1st April 2020 and 1st July 2020 you can apply to do this!

If your child is due to start Nursery but you feel they will not be ready for September 2024, you can also delay their start.

If their birthday is between 1st April 2021 and 1st July 2021 you can apply to do this!

Go to eani.org.uk/parents/admissions/deferral-of-school-starting-age for further information!

• Tired of having to organise everything for your child?
  This short video explains about Executive Function.

Exciting news!

Would you like to be able to help your child more with Maths?

People First's Work It Out programme will help you become more skilled and confident with basic Maths!

Below is a link to the programme where you can learn more. We will have flyers in school for next week- ask your child's teacher for one when you come for your interview!

Cathy Norris of Work It Out will be coming here to chat to interested parents in the Board Room (beside the Library) on Tuesday 10th October at 9:10am. There will be tea, coffee and biscuits1

https://people-1st.co.uk/programmes/work-it-out/

BACK TO SCHOOL- ANXIETY TRAINING FOR PARENTS

• Compass transition to secondary school advice
  Guidance for parents on managing the transition to a new school

• BBC Bitesize Transition Information
  Some thoughts and tips about the move into secondary school (mostly GB)

• Parenting NI Parents' Guide to School Transition
  Some thoughts and tips about the move into secondary school

RISENI website update

RISENI have a brilliant website with advice, tips and courses for parents on all sorts of issues for children of all ages.

Reluctant to speak? Anxious? Behavioural difficulties? Speech difficulties or word finding difficulties? Pencil grip?

There are too many to list- have a look for yourself!https://view.pagetiger.com/RISENI/parents

• Is your child anxious? Here is some advice from RISENI!

Courses for parents!

The EANI Autism Advisory and Intervention Service (AAIS) have some exciting courses for parents!

• Moving On Up: Transfer Training for Parents of Primary Children
• Supporting Sensory Needs at Home
• The Development of Play Skills
• Overview of Autism 

The Belfast Warm and Well Project is coordinated by National Energy Action (NEA) and is supported by Community Planning Partners from across Belfast.

The project is available to vulnerable people who are finding it difficult to keep their home warm. Vulnerable refers to a number of different groups including:https://www.nea.org.uk/communityengagement/belfast-warm-and-well-project/

• People aged 65 years or older;
• People living with a disability or a long term physical or mental health condition;
• Pregnant women;
• Households with a young child/children (from new-born to school age); and
• People on a low income.

Signs that a person may be finding it difficult to keep their home warm could be, for example:

• The home is cold – you may have to keep your coat on when inside;
• There is condensation on the windows; or
• There are signs of damp on the walls or ceilings.

Belfast Warm and Well, will be coordinated by National Energy Action (NEA) who will work with local community and voluntary groups, to provide helpful independent and confidential advice and practical support.

If you or someone you know is vulnerable and finding it difficult to keep your home warm, contact NEA on 028 9023 9909 or warmandwell@nea.org.uk to see if they can help.

Is toilet training a nightmare?

Here are some great resources from the Autism Intervention and Advisory Service!

https://www.eani.org.uk/services/pupil-support-services/autism-advisory-intervention-service-aais 

• Is your child coming to school for the first time? This is great advice for you!
  Whether your child If your child is just starting Nursery/P1, changing to a new school (maybe in a new country) or moving to Yr 8 or even leaving school you may find this link helpful.

• RISENI training for parents
  This website has training videos and other helpful resources you may enjoy.

• Statutory Assessment- link to EANI website

Information about the Code of Practice

Autismni
AutismNI has put together some very useful resources designed for parents of children with autism. If your child does not have a diagnosis of autism but is anxious, you may still find helpful items here.

Course for parents whose children have an autism diagnosis:

• The Language Tree
  A short, informative video about how parents can help their child's language to develop

Some of you may find this link to Parentline of use:

www.ci-ni.org.uk

• Read Write Software
  This is an excellent piece of software designed to help children with dyslexic issues but it may also help motivate other children and help children for whom English is not their first language.

Read Write Software available for home use!

• Advice from the Autism Advisory and Information Service
  Some helpful tips from the EANI website to help ease you child back to school along with other guidance to help manage your child at home

• Language and Communication Service
  The Language and Communication Service link takes you to informative videos on how how to help develop language in children. It is useful for ALL parents of young children. There are other resources there, too.

• Literacy Service
  Is your child dyslexic? You will find tips and resources here on reading, spelling, writing and transitioning to a new school.

• Autismni
  Autismni provide helpful advice, training and resources for parents of children with autism.