Springfield House Community Special School

Links for Parents and Carers. 

                                 Below are some links to resources you may find useful. 

• Resources to support tackling knife crime by West Midlands police.                                                        Watch the video of James Brindley’s parents talking about the effect the loss of James has had on them.                                  

• Celebrating autistic strengths and differences. At Springfield House, we agree with the Autism Education Trust (AET) that autism is a difference not a deficit. We want to promote wider understanding that autistic people have strengths and differences in three key areas of development. Recognising and understanding these differences leads to better support being available for autistic children and young people in education.  The AET have produced a short video to celebrate the strengths and differences. Click here to watch the video.

• Family Birmingham Magazine -We're delighted to bring you your May and June magazine, full of articles, activites and great ideas for family fun!   

• What Parents needs to know about Snapchat  - Click here for information. 

• Be aware of your children using Rodblox or Snapchat and being exposed to 'The Game'. 

    It is really important that you are aware of what your children are accessing online.   Snapchat and Rodblox should NOT be accessed by         children under the age of 13 years old.  However, if you have older children please read this.

   We have received information about 'The Game'  which encourages children to self harm. Please see below.

  Be aware of your children using Rodblox or Snapchat and being exposed to 'The Game'.

  What is ‘The Game’?
  According to the Facebook post, ‘The Game’ is a list of self-harming actions for children and young people to complete, often in view of        their family and friends. It is allegedly shared via Word document on Roblox and Snapchat.
  Actions include self-harm prompts, such as cutting, overdosing, starving, and bruising. There are multiple references to “ending your own    life” with one part stating the “only way to win [the game] is to die”. It also states different methods of suicide, as well a timeline for when    to do so during the game.

  Most notably, there is a reference to ‘players’ receiving an anonymous message in Snapchat that includes the word ‘dare’, with further         self-harming instructions. It also encourages the person to involve or harm other people, such as siblings and friends. 

  As you are no doubt aware, children with special educational needs are potentially at a higher risk of being influenced. 

• Home Security - “Darker nights” refers to the time of the year when the day gets shorter and the night gets longer. Traditionally, there tends to be an increase in burglaries during this time of year and to help prevent this from occurring, please see click here to open the 'Home Security Checklist'.
   
• Child to Parent Abuse information for parents.  Information for parents who are experiencing abuse from their child.         Produced by 'Parent Educational Support Growth' (PEGS)    Click here for the link.   

•     Understanding Tourette Syndrome -  a short course in understanding Tourette syndrome

•     Online resources to support parents/carers in keeping their children safe when they are gaming online.                          These contain very useful information that is really important that you are aware of if your child plays games online.

      -  Parent safety tips on popular video games | Internet matters

      -  Gaming & Mental Health | Parents Guide To Support | YoungMinds

      -  Gaming Advice Archive - Parents.Ygam

•    Big Wild Walk | The Wildlife Trusts - free outdoor activities. Click here for the link

• Molly Russell - Suicide Prevention.R;pple- free download tool that aims to disrupt any harmful online searches.  Recent news coverage may have made you aware of the inquest into the tragic death of 14 year old Molly Russell in 2017. The work of the Russell Family (and their organisation the Molly Rose Foundation) over the past four years led to an inquest that determined the cause of Molly's death and the role that social media platforms played. The coroner concluded, "Molly died from an act of self-harm while suffering from depression and the negative effects of online content. She had access to images, video clips and text concerned with self-harm and suicide, or that were otherwise negative or depressing in nature."

  As a school, we work in partnership with our families to keep our pupils safe online and to make them aware of support options that are available to them, without increasing the potential for concern and anxiety. With this in mind, we recommend that where compatible, all devices in your home (including those coming into your premises) have the R;pple tool downloaded.

  https://www.ripplesuicideprevention.com/install

  This AI tool ​aims to disrupt harmful online searches, is free to families and redirects individuals to mental health support. We hope you find it useful and that it complements and supports everything you already have in place to address your child's online safety.

  Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

   
• Picture News - Discussing the news of the day doesn’t have to be formal but can be done naturally and casually in everyday moments such as on the way to the shops or preparing a meal.  The important thing is to keep the conversation going about the news and make it a feature of your daily lives.   Click here to read more information.                                                                                                                                                                
•  An Introduction to Autism.  - Click here to access useful information that provides an overview of autism.                              
•  Understanding Autism - 30 min interactive online training for parents and professionals.                                                                                   
• Who's In Charge - short information videos around drinking alcohol whilst looking after young people. 

•  Crisis Cafe Talking Space (Northfield) - The service is available to anyone over the age of 18 and is open
  Thursday, Friday , Saturday and Sunday 6pm - 11:30pm with set appointment times available via the Birmingham Mind Helpline - 0121 262 3555. We offer a safe space where people can come and talk about anything that may be worrying them with the option of a refreshment face to face or can also offer Zoom meetings. The Crisis Intervention Workers
  will be on hand for a listening ear and also to provide information of organisations and charities that may be able to provide further help and support.    Click here to see the poster.                                                                                                                                                              
• Hidden Disability Sunflower - Click here to get your sunflower sticker for your vehicle to let people know your child has a hidden disability. 

Transport 

Online application form for Home to School Transport - parents and carers will only be able to apply for Home to School Transport using the following link    https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/xfp/form/902. 

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Forms that were on the pages shown below (on both the Birmingham City Council and Local Offer websites) will now be replaced by a single online form, accessible from both websites and linked from here: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/xfp/form/902.  The online form requires key information for both SEND Eligibility and Risk Assessment to be entered and uploaded and provides the applicant with a reference number.