Barnsley Aspergers Parents Group

We're thinking of organising a trip to "The Deep" in Hull, possibly in June. If we went as a group booking then we should be able to get a tour, time in the educational room and most importantly, the kids could spend time together (and have such fun as they did at the Christmas events).
It would be really helpful if we could get an idea of how many families might be interested. So if you think you might want to go on this trip or another similar one, the new Events sub-committee would be really grateful if you could you complete and return the attached form. Back to top

BAPG Accounts for 2006/07

BAPG spends the income it receives from donations and grants on its activities. Finances are maintained by the Steering Committee, and can provide full detailed accounts to any member on request. Below is a summary of the third full year (March 2006 to Feb 2007).
· We brought forward £681.77 from 2005-06 and we ended the year with £609.49
· Total income was £4153.57 - a grant of £2773 from South Yorkshire Communities Fund; £170 donations for the 2007 Calendar; £433 Kids- Club charges, £490 collected for Kids events (which was then paid to the venue), the balance donated by parents (mainly at meetings for refreshments and book, and some one-off donations).
· We spent £4,225.85 ? the main costs were:- £814 room hire for parents meetings and kids- clubs; £2404 on kids- club computers, £429 paid to kids- event venues, £68 treats for kids at Christmas party; £72 kids- club art materials; £80 costs for calendar production. Back to top

Summer Fun Club 2007

The Fun Club, organised by BMBC Disabled Children's Team, will be run w/c 30 July and w/c 6 Aug. Cost is free, but places are limited. Please contact Sarah Day 298508 for more details Back to top

March Parents Meeting - Transition

This month the guest Speaker was Jan Stewart, SENCO at Wath Comprehensive. Jan talked through how they manage the transition of AS children from primary to secondary school and then continue to provide support. The main points were:
· Wath are involved in transition from an early stage. Jan aims to attend all theY5 and Y6 Autumn reviews of children from main feeder primaries, tries to include targets in their IEPs to help with transition (e.g. use of time-out cards for use by children), and starts making notes on the needs of the children.
· Integration starts in January of Year 6. Children attend 1/2day per week at Wath Comp for two terms; they are transported from and back to the primary; they take part in Year 7 lessons, and that includes taking part in the rewards and Consequences policy. They take care not to punish inappropriate behaviour by the kids if the school has not been sensitive to the AS needs, instead they would point out inappropriate behaviour and mentor to respond differently.
· They have a "safe haven" room for lunch time, and is also used for social skills, circle time and 1-to-1 mentoring.
· They believe it's essential to have a clear understanding of the kids needs before they arrive at secondary.
· The two terms of integration are very successful in helping with the organisational routines. AS kids can often be anxious about starting secondary school because they do not know what to expect. The integration helps them understand about moving rooms between lessons, taking their bag around, using a planner, lunch time arrangements etc. The kids worries are removed, and many would like to start early!
· The Teaching Assistants provide proximity supervision, but are not ?velcroed? to the assigned child. They find this support is more effective for the child, and also gives experience of more than one TA for the child.
· There is lots of support available to cope with ?immediate? problems for the AS child that the teacher can'? deal with in class.
· Every AS child is given time-out cards (some have more than one colour). The children use, but not abuse them.
· As SENCO, Jan is involved in the choice of class for the kids ? to try and place with kids they know and to try and place in at least an intermediate level class (as bottom level class won?t help them).
· The two terms integration also allows filtering out of the few children who are inappropriate for mainstream
· An SEN guide book is produced for all staff each year. It includes information on all the conditions, code of practise, list of SEN pupils, a synopsis of their difficulties and suggested targets - Y7 to Y13. It is updated for every child, every year, and goes to office staff as well as teaching.
· The integration package allows children to: learn expectations, geography of the school, use of timetable, diffuse worries (and the parents worries too), understand the quirks of the teachers, develop communication skills, interact with other children, can see primary and secondary are working together, go back to primary and share experiences, they can bring a friend
· The TA?s are involved in social skills class to carry on work
· They have idea of a parents group for AS kids who meet once a term. Back to top

Future Meetings and Events

Parents Meeting, Kids Computer and Art Clubs (please book with Diane): Priory Campus, Lundwood, Wednesdays, 6:30 to 8:00pm
? 16 May (Guest Speaker, Bryn Tales, Secondary School Learning Mentor) Back to top

2007 April

Events for Kids

BAPG Accounts for 2006/07

Summer Fun Club 2007

March Parents Meeting - Transition

Future Meetings and Events

Events for Kids

BAPG Accounts for 2006/07

Summer Fun Club 2007

March Parents Meeting - Transition

Future Meetings and Events