Rugby shows that every child matters
Life is about to get simpler for parents of children in Rugby who have additional needs.
A pilot programme has been launched by Warwickshire County Council to revolutionise the way services are offered.
Working with other organisations and agencies in the town, the aim is to cut down on the number of assessments and interviews that families must go through to get different kinds of help.
Instead, the services are being re-focused so the child is put first, and help is offered locally. Different services offered by health, Warwickshire County Council, schools and the voluntary sector will work together to give parents a single point of contact.
Parents in the town have responded enthusiastically to the scheme, which will reduce the number of forms and reports that have to be completed.
Students from Avon Valley School turned reporter for the day at a workshop held in Brownsover last week to gather everyone who will be involved in the project.
Jessica Ayres and Anthony Chan, who are in Year 10, interviewed people at the event to find out what their hopes for the scheme are. Parents, headteachers, education and social work professions and representatives of other bodies such as Connexions, were all interviewed. Their answers will be used as the project develops to check it is meeting people’s needs.
Pat Tate, who is project manager for the development of the Enhanced Support services, said: “This is a bold project to put the child at the centre of every service that is offered. Services will be offered in neighbourhoods, with new links being forged across traditional boundaries. There is much to be done but the enthusiasm of the practitioners and parents at the workshop shows the desire for this to work, and this scheme in Rugby will hopefully set the tone for similar projects across Warwickshire.”
Public meetings to explain the developments further will be held next month and further information will be sent out nearer the time.