Local Information and Events
Promise Inclusion (MENCAP) March 2020 Newsletter
Please click here to view the March 2020 Newsletter from Promise Inclusion ( formerly MENCAP)
Wokingham Active Kids and Adults
Please click here to view the 2020 brochure for Wokingham Active Kids and Adults.
Golf “Feel Inspired” Sessions
Please click here to view a flyer giving information about Golf sessions for girls and boys with SEND aged between 8 and 21.
Bike Bonanza Session – 15.4.20
Wokingham Borough Council will be running an Easter holiday family Bike Bonanza in Woodley on Wednesday 15th April – see poster attached and the link: https://myjourneywokingham.com/events/easter-bike-bonanza-at-woodford-park-15th-april-2020/
This is a free, drop-in event – there is no need to book. We will have our team of Bikeability instructors there to help children who are learning to ride and there will also be cycle skills sessions and a bike obstacle course for those who can already ride. (Children need to bring their own pedal bikes for these sessions.)
Reading Families Forum Meeting 25.3.20
Please click here to view information about a meeting on 25.3.20 being held by Reading Families Forum for parents with SEND children.
Vegan Market
Woodley Town Centre are holding a Vegan market on 15.3.20. Please click here to view further information.
Scarlet Fever
Please click here to view a letter giving information about Scarlet Fever
Bobicats Disability Football
Please the links below for information about:
Bobicats disability football sessions
Bobicats football tournament - 10.5.20
Promise Inclusion (Mencap) Information
Please click the links below to view information about the following:
Thinking Ahead Workshop 30.4.20
Singing Hands Event – 3 May 2010
Stepping Stones DS is a local charity who provide a variety of services and activities for children with Down Syndrome. They are holding a Singing Hands event on Sunday 3rd May to raise funds for their charity: please click here for further information.
Educational Apps for Parents
Following a competition to find the best educational apps for parents to engage young children in learning at home, a panel of experts has approved 6 with a focus on early literacy, language and communication.
The 6 apps - published on the Hungry Little Minds website – are part of the government’s drive to help parents make informed decisions about the use of technology in creating positive learning environments at home and are also recommended by the Department of Education.
Addington Association Family Quiz Night - Friday 20 March 2020
Please click here to view information about a Family Quiz Night on Friday 20 March.
Advice about Coronavirus - updated February 2020
Please find attached updates about Coronavirus.
CAN Network Newsletter
Please click here to view the February 2020 CAN Network Newsletter.
Annual Review and Home School Transport Training
Please click here for information about Annual Review and Home School Transport Training being held on 26 February.
Involve AWARE Event - 24th March 9.30am to 3.00pm
The Involve AWARE campaign (Awareness With Action Reduces Exploitation) has started. They are sending out social media posts via a number of public platforms in the lead up to an event they are holding the 24th March at Newbold College in Binfield (please click here to view flyer and here to go to the link to sign up). The event will be free and open to any member of the public. They are hoping to have guest speakers on all topics they are focusing on, which include: County lines, Child Exploitation, Modern Day Slavery, Domestic Abuse, Human Trafficking, Domestic Servitude and Knife Crime. The primary purpose of both the media campaign and the public event is to increase general awareness of exploitation and positively impact on those affected by these forms of often hidden harm.
Wokingham Adult Education Courses
Please click here to view a flyer giving information regarding a course about Education Administration and click here to view other Wokingham Adult Education current courses
Dimensions Transition Leaflet
Please click here to read information about transitions from Dimensions.
Promise Inclusion Information
Please click the links below to view information about the following:
Promise Inclusion are recruiting, please click here for further information.
Caterlink are Recruiting
Reading Families Forum Fun Day - 7 March 2020
Please click here to view a Flyer for a Fun Day on 7 March 2020
Thumbs Up Club - Bookings now open for Easter holidays
Thumbs Up Club Bookings are now open (from 01/02-15/02/20) for the Easter holidays. Please click here to view information from Thumbs Up Club about how to book spaces.
Wokingham Library Events - February Half Term
Please click here to view information about February Half term events running across Wokingham Borough Libraries for children.
Addington Association Challenge Update
Please click here to view a letter from the Addington Association.
ASSIST Autism Workshops
Please click here to view a flyer giving details of Autism specific workshops being offered by ASSIST from February to June 2020.
Children’s Mental Health Week – 3-9 February 2020
Children’s Mental Health Week is from 3rd – 9th February 2020. Visit the Children’s Mental Health Week website for further information.
The campaign is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health.
Museum of English Rural Life
The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) is organising a photography day for publicity materials for our schools and family events programmes. We are looking for families to participate on Monday 17th February (during the school holidays). We need about 20 primary age children (6-11 years old) and several adults. Please click here to view flyer for more details.
If you and your children would like to be involved, please contact Rhea Douglas at the Museum of English Rural Life (r.douglas@reading.ac.uk). The parent/guardian must accompany the child at all times and may themselves be photographed when we do photos of family activities. We ask all participants (or parents) to sign a photography permission form. We will do our best to plan the day so that the children also have some fun! There will be some craft activities, object handling, and dressing up!
SEN Basketball and multi-skills camp 21.2.20
Please click here to view a flyer about an SEN Basketball and multi-skills camp being held on 21.2.20.
Holocaust Memorial Day 2020 Information from Wokingham Borough Libraries
In Support of Holocaust Memorial Day January 27, 2020 all Wokingham Borough Libraries will have materials on display along with information booklets and books to borrow from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.
A booklist for young people is attached and there is a wealth of information available to use on the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust website, https://www.hmd.org.uk/take-part-in-holocaust-memorial-day/schools/
TVAP Talk
Thames Valley Adventure Playground (contact details: Tel: 01628 628599, Email: elly@tvap.co.uk
www.tvap.org.uk) have shared details of the following event which may be of interest to parents/carers:
TVAP Carers and Parents talk by Afasic at TVAP on Saturday 1st February 2020 10.30am-12pm.
The helpline manager will talk about:
- Tips for parents and carers
- How to access help
- About SLCN, and speech, language and communication disability in general
- Who Afasic are and what support and information they offer
Reading Families Forum Coffee evening – 11 February 2020
Please click here to view a flyer about a Coffee evening being held on 11 February 2020 by the Reading Families Forum.
DJ Gary
If anyone watched the Greatest Dancer on Saturday, they may have recognised DJ Gary! He is then off to the Oscars again! - click here to view a press release
Cold Weather Advice
The Met Office have issued a Level 2 Cold Weather Alert. Please see attached leaflet issued by the NHS, giving advice about staying well in cold weather.
Woodley Town Council
Please click here to view the Woodley Town Council January 2020 newsletter and here to view their Agenda for their next meeting on 29th January.
Information from Learning Disabilities Partnership Board
Optalis Wokingham Soup Evening – 26.2.20
Rose Buddies Three Frogs quiz nights poster 2020
The Night Owls events – save the date
Transforming Care Partnership – Easy Read flyer
Transforming Care Partnership – Workshops for families
Further information from Learning Disabilities Partnership Board and partner organisations
Wokingham Active Kids - February half term and Easter holidays
Please click here to view information about Wokingham Active Kids holiday camps.
TVAP Christmas and New Year opening times
Please click here to view the Christmas and New Year opening times at Thames Valley Adventure Playground.
CAN Network
Please click here to view the December 19 newsletter from the CAN Network.
Information from Wokingham and Bracknell Mencap/Promise Inclusion
Please click here to view the Wokingham and Bracknell Mencap/Promise Inclusion December 19 newsletter and here to view a flyer about a Carers lunch.
Food Share at Christmas
Please see attached poster about a Food Share scheme in Bracknell for the homeless and anyone struggling.
Disabled Living Newsletter
Please click here to read the latest posts from the Disabled Living website.
Optalis Out and About - January 2020 brochure
Please click here to view the Optalis Out and About January 2020 brochure.
Christmas Tips for people with Autism
Please click the links below for tips for helping people with Autism cope with Christmas:
Sleeping Beauty Pantomime - Kenton Theatre, Henley - 17.12.19
Please click here to view poster for the relaxed performance of the Sleeping Beauty Pantomime being held at Kenton Theatre, Henley on 17.12.19
Sleep Workshop
Please find attached flyer giving information about a sleep workshop being held at The Avenue School in January. This workshop is aimed at parents with children aged 10+ who have additional needs.
Woodley Town Council Events 2020
Please click here to view a list of events being held by Woodley Town Council in 2020.
Notices from Learning Disability Partnership Board/CLASP – December 2019
Please click here to read information from the Learning Disability Partnership Board.
Cinema Screenings at Loddon Valley
New for 2019 Loddon Valley Leisure Centre are running some family Christmas film showings:
Elf – 21st December 1pm start (click to view poster)
White Christmas - 22nd December 2pm start (click to view poster)
Tickets are £5 – and if bought now are on a 2 for 1 offer!
The links for tickets are below:
White Christmas
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/christmas-movie-white-christmas-tickets-83985269201
Elf
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/christmas-movie-elf-tickets-82579713145
Information from Wokingham and Bracknell Mencap/Promise Inclusion
Please click here to view the Wokingham and Bracknell Mencap/Promise Inclusion November 19 newsletter.
Wokingham Active Kids Christmas Holiday Camp
Please find attached the Activity Programme (click here for week 1 and here for week 2) for the Wokingham Active Kids Christmas Holiday Camp at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre.
Business Enterprise Christmas Products for sale
Please click here to view information about Christmas Products which our Business Enterprise team are offering for sale.
Autism and Anxiety talk – 3.12.19
Please click here for information about a talk being held on 3rd December at Reading University about supporting children with autism and anxiety.
Reading Families Forum
Please click here to view a flyer about a coffee evening being held by Reading Families Forum (a voice for families of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities) on the evening of 17th December 2019.
Sun newspaper tokens
Please collect Books for School tokens from the Sun newspaper printed daily between Saturday, November 23, 2019 and Saturday, January 18, 2020 and send into school. Please click here for further information. We need 3,500 tokens to get our free pack of books. Thank you for your help.
Jack and the Beanstalk Multi-Sensory Pantomime
Please click here for details of Multi-Sensory Pantomime performances being run by the Head2head Theatre group.
Coral Reef – Accessible Sessions
Coral Reef are trialling for 3 months a monthly Special Needs session beginning in November (Pool and slides (individuals and families) and Spa (over 18's)).
Please click here for further information and ticket prices.
Wokingham Winter Carnival – Sunday 24 November 2019
Please click here to view the programme for the Wokingham Winter Carnival.
Reading Rockets SEN Basketball
Please click here to view information about Reading Rockets Basketball sessions for children and young people with additional needs.
Free Football Tickets
On Sunday 17th November, Reading FC Women take on Bristol City Women at Madejski Stadium, Reading. To encourage support from the local community, Reading FC is providing FREE tickets. Please click here for further information.
Information from Wokingham and Bracknell Mencap/Promise Inclusion
Please click the following links for information:
Poster about Carers Lunch 12.11.19
Christmas Party poster 29.11.19
Bracknell Forest lottery poster
CAN Newsletter
Please click here to view the October 2019 CAN Newsletter
Mencap Newsletter
Please click here to view the September 19 newsletter from Wokingham and Bracknell Mencap and click here to view a poster about a trip to the Ideal Home exhibition.
Wokingham Active Kids Holiday Camps
Please the links below to view information about Active Kids holiday camps during October half term:
News from Wokingham Libraries
Please click here to find out what is happening in our local libraries
SEN Multi Sports Camp – 1.11.19
Please click here to view a flyer about a Multi Sports Camp for SEN students during half term.
Reading Mencap Christmas Market – 24.11.19
Please click here to view a flyer about a Christmas Market being held on 24.11.19
Reading Families Forum Age 16+ SEND transition Information Afternoon - 16 November 2019
Please click here to view a flyer from the Reading Families Forum about an Age 16+ SEND transition Information Afternoon.
SEND Golf Lessons
Please click here for information about Golf lessons for children aged 8-21 years with special needs.
Reading Town Meal – 28th September 2019 – 12-4 pm
Please click here to view information about a community event being held in Forbury Gardens this weekend.
Optalis Out and About Brochure October 2019
Please click here to view the Optalis Out and About Brochure October 2019
Morning for children with additional needs and their families
West Berkshire Museum | Monday 28th October | 10.30am-12noon | Free
West Berkshire Museum have asked us to pass on the following invitation:
“Join us for a relaxed opening (when we are closed to the general public) for families with children with special needs to enjoy West Berkshire Museum and an opportunity to take part in a free family craft activity. All museum galleries will be open and free refreshments of coffee or tea for accompanying adults and fruit squash or water for the children, will be available in the museum café. Free event but donations are welcome.
Although free, places are limited and must be booked in advance.
Please note: book one place for each child with additional needs. Other members of the family who are accompanying the child/ren do not need to book a place.”
https://booking.westberks.gov.uk/heritage_events.html?event_id=5372&companyId=37003
Aladdin Pantomime
The Starburst Foundation are performing the Fleet Pantomime ‘Aladdin’ and are inviting local children with special needs (aged 18 and under at the time of the show), and their families, to apply for tickets to their charity performance at The Harlington in Fleet on Sunday 15th December 2019, 10:30 am. This will be a British Sign Language signed performance. Please click here for further information and here for their application form.
Please Collect Aldi Stickers
If you shop at Aldi and spend more than £30, you will be given a sticker. Please can you hand it into school to add to a poster. When we collect 300 stickers we can submit it for a chance to win the big money and to get free kit. Please click here for further information.
The competition runs between the 6th of Sept and the 18th of November.
Please ask family and friends to collect too.
CAN Network Newsletter
Please click here to view the September CAN Network newsletter.
Learning Disability Partnership
Please click the links below to view information from the Learning Disability Partnership:
Learning Disability Partnership letter Sept 19
Learning Disability Partnership leaflet
Learning Disability Roadshow poster
CLASP leaflet (Caring, Listening And Supporting Partnership)
Optalis Supported Employment leaflet
Learning Disability job advert Sept 19
Fused glass course October 2019
Wokingham Active Kids - October 19 half term brochure
Please click here to view the Wokingham Active Kids - October 19 half term brochure
Reading Families Forum AGM
Please click here to view information about the Reading Families Forum AGM being held on 25 September and to which they would like invite parents and carers of disabled and/or special needs children. Please click here to view their Annual Report.
Stepping Stones Down Syndrome Training Programme 2019-20
Please click here to view the Stepping Stones Down Syndrome Training Programme 2019-20
Woodley Town Council Newsletter
Please click here to read the Woodley Town Council Newsletter August newsletter
Bike to School Week - September 2019
Please click here to view information about Bike to School Week - September 2019
Bobicats Disability Football Sessions
Please click here and here to view information about Bobicats Disability Football Sessions being held in September and October.
Mencap Newsletter
Please click here to view the August 19 newsletter from Wokingham and Bracknell Mencap
Wokingham Active Kids Summer 2019 programme
Please click the following links for further information:
Wokingham Active Kids Summer 2019 programme
Loddon – Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6
St. Crispins – Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6
Swings & Smiles
Swings & Smiles offer a supportive play environment for children with special needs and their whole family. Please click the following links for further information:
Cycling Club – Down’s Sydrome
The 2019 Cycling Club for children and young people with Down's Syndrome runs in Newbury every August. This year it is taking place from 19-22 August. Please click here for further information.
The club is run by Caroline Lane, a qualified and highly-experienced cycling trainer. All participants are supported by a 1:1 helper, and sometimes 2:1, as needed. This will be the 8th year we have run this club and over that time Caroline and our supporters have assisted many children and young people with Down's Syndrome to practise their pedalling, learn to ride and have fun cycling.
Family Learning Courses
Please click the links below for information about Family Learning Courses:
- Fun Healthy Eating for Families, 30th August, Ambleside
- Learn with Lego, 31st July or 28th August, Wokingham or Finchampstead Library
- Storytelling and Puppets, 27th August, Wokingham Library
Bobicats Disability Football
Please find attached flyer about Bobicats Disability Football in September and October.
Wokingham Libraries
Please click here to view information from Wokingham Libraries, who are running a Teen Reading challenge during the summer holidays.
Mencap Job Vacancies
Please click here to view an advert for job vacancies being advertised by Mencap.
Police Force Open Day – 10 August 2019
Please click here to view information about a Thames Valley Police (TVP) Open Day on Saturday 10 August
Ice Sports Centre
Please click here to view information about an Ice Sports Centre.
Tom and Vincent's London Transport Challenge
Tom and Vincent are raising money for charity and are hoping for your support.
The Tom and Vincent London Transport Challenge is to travel on loads of different types of transport on Sunday 8th September. They aim to travel on trains, boats, buses, bikes and even a high speed lift.... They are raising money for four charities: Addington Association, Me2 Club, Thumbs Up Club and Challengers.
This link will take you to their JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/teams/tomandvincent
Reading Families Forum
Please click here to view a flyer about a coffee evening, to discuss SEND provision, being held on 10 July 2019.
CAN Network Newsletter
Please click here to view the June 2019 CAN Network Newsletter.
Woodley Town Council Newsletter
Please click here to view the June 2019 Woodley Town Council Newsletter.
Business Enterprise
We have an exciting new business enterprise project where we are personalizing items, these include water bottle, coffee mugs, notebooks and glasses. Items are personalized with your choice of colour and wording. Please see our Business Enterprise page for further information and order forms.
Football Fun day on Sunday 30th June at the Madejski Stadium
Please click here to view information about a Football Fun day being held on Sunday 30th June at the Madejski Stadium.
Chickenpox in School
A child in Early Years is currently away from school with a confirmed case of Chickenpox.
Vulnerable children - Some medical conditions make children vulnerable to infections that would rarely be serious in most children, these include those being treated for Leukemia or other cancers, on high doses of steroids and with conditions that seriously reduce immunity. These children are particularly vulnerable to chickenpox, if exposed to these, the parent/carer should be informed promptly and further medical advice sought.
Pregnancy - Anyone who has not had Chickenpox is potentially vulnerable to the infection. If a pregnant woman develops a rash or is in direct contact with someone with a potentially infectious rash, this should be investigated by a doctor. Chickenpox can affect the pregnancy if a woman has not already had the infection. Report exposure to midwife and GP at any stage of pregnancy. The GP and antenatal carer will arrange a blood test to check for immunity.
SEN Multi Sports Camp – 2.8.19
Please click here to view a flyer about an SEN Multi Sports camp being held on 2 August.
Wheelchair Clinic
The next wheelchair clinic is 17th July 2019. Please call 0118 3226706/0118 322 7017 to book a slot.
Happy Bag Collection – Monday 24th June
Don’t forget the next Happy School Bag collection of unwanted clothes and shoes etc is on Monday 24th June. Please see the flyer for details of what you can donate!
Such an easy way to raise money for school…last time we raised over £400!
Thank you all in advance for your help!
Reading College Open Event 22 June 2019
Please click links to view information from Reading College:
Creative Arts Exhibition Flyer
Learning Disabilities Week – 17-23rd June 2019
Please click links to view the following:
Learning Disability Week Programme of Events
Rose Buddies Learning Disability Week activities
Visiting RSPB Farms on 9 June
Please click here to view information from the RSPB about visiting farms
FestForAll – 13 July 2019
Special guest confirmed to perform at FestForAll on Saturday 13 July - X factor finalist Danyl Johnson will be performing!
Other acts include:
The Addingtones
Phoenix
HopeGene
Reading Mencap Choir
Joanne Rowlands
PS Finn
Dave Bedford
plus, games and hands on activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Early Bird tickets are still available. Send your request and money (no form needed) to the Creative Arts office.
Please see attached poster for details.
Baby and Toddler Nearly New Sale
Please click here for information about a Baby and Toddler Nearly New Sale being held on 7th July at Leighton Park School.
Father’s Day Gifts
If you need any last minute father’s day gifts then we have pint tankards, hip flasks and balloons available - please see attached order form. Order forms need to be returned by next Tuesday, 11th June, to allow production to happen.
Summer Reading Challenge Young Volunteers
Our local libraries are seeking volunteers to help with their Summer Reading Challenge. This is what they say:
Aged 16 to 24? Do you enjoy reading? Do you enjoy working with children and want to volunteer? Then helping with the Summer Reading Challenge in libraries in Wokingham Borough Libraries may be for you.
We are looking for young people who can encourage children to take part in and complete this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, Space Chase and help out with Library duties and children’s activities in the library.
It’s fun and a great addition to your CV and you have the chance to give something back to your local community.
The volunteering opportunities will be at Wokingham, Woodley and Lower Earley Libraries from Monday 29 July to Friday 30 August 2019.
Before you start you will receive full training, for more information contact volunteer@wokingham.gov.uk or call 0118 974 6263, view their poster or visit https://wp.me/p5mHbU-3Jc
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