Supporting children with additional needs

Latest news in Yorkshire: July 04, 2017 11:26:51 AM

Schools which have improved how they work with children with additional needs held a celebratory event last week.

The event – held at Magna Visitor Attraction in Rotherham – marked the changes schools across the borough have made to be more inclusive.

For the last three years primary and secondary schools have been working with trained practitioners and parents of children with additional needs on how best to promote social and emotional well-being among pupils.

Results have included schools employing speech therapists to help overcome language difficulties, to developing “nurture groups” and making meetings more child-centred.

The training has been delivered by the Rotherham Charter team – a pioneering partnership between Rotherham Council and the Rotherham Parent Carer Forum

Councillor Gordon Watson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services at Rotherham Council said: “The Rotherham Charter is an incredibly important project which is already paying dividends in our schools.

“It asks schools and services to work in partnership with parents, children and young people, who in turn are asked to put their trust in schools and services to value their contribution as equal partners. It is these changes that can then make big differences to the well-being and outcomes of children and families.

“Congratulations to all the schools which have chosen to take on these improvements and gained gold charter status as a result.”

Children, parent carers and staff of the schools and settings involved were invited to join the celebrations last week, which included a magician, prior to a more formal presentation attended by the Mayor of Rotherham, Councillor Eve Rose Keenan.

Rotherham Council’s Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services Ian Thomas added: “This celebration recognised the really powerful message about how trust can be developed between staff, children and families and what a difference this can make.

“The genuine partnership between the Council and the Parent Carer Forum is leading to great results in our schools, which is ultimately benefiting children who may otherwise have missed out on the support they need.

“This partnership is now being recognised nationally as best practice which is really great news for everyone involved.”

The Rotherham Charter asks Rotherham schools, colleges, settings and services to make a commitment to parents, carers, children and young people that they will care, include, communicate and work in partnership with them, recognising trust to be the essential factor in all these relationships.

During the process, staff receive training and support from the Rotherham Charter team, which includes trained practitioners such as educational psychologists and parents of children with additional needs. The team liaise closely with parents, staff and pupils to identify good practice and areas of further development.

Settings which are recognised as being best practice following this training are awarded Charter Gold status.

The two schools that have been accredited with Charter Gold this year are Bramley Sunnyside Infant School and Rockingham Junior and Infant School. And for the first time six schools have received Gold Reaccreditation. These are: Sitwell Infant School, Meadowview Primary School, St. Gerard’s Catholic Primary School, Thurcroft Infant School, Wales Primary School and Harthill Primary School.

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Over six years in prison for Sheffield robbers

Latest news in Yorkshire: July 04, 2017 11:26:51 AM

Two men have been jailed for a combined total of six years and three months after being convicted of robbery in Sheffield.

William McLatchie 23, of Stinsford Close, Bestwood Park, Nottingham, and Paul Turton, 23, of Ridgeway Walk, Nottingham, appeared before Sheffield Crown Court on Friday 30 June to be sentenced after each pleading guilty to robbery, possession of a bladed article and driving offences at a previous hearing.

McLatchie was jailed for three years and 11 months, Turton (pictured below right) jailed for two years and four months.

The court heard that in the early hours of Saturday 11 March 2017, McLatchie and Turton approached two members of the public who were walking home along Carter Knowle Road, Sheffield, after a night out.

McLatchie produced a knife and threatened the victims, while Turton searched their pockets. After stealing cash, phones and a contactless debit card from their victims, the pair left in a vehicle.

McLatchie was later captured on CCTV using the stolen card in a shop in Chesterfield.

Their vehicle was then seen driving erratically by officers from Nottinghamshire Police, who engaged in a pursuit before their vehicle was brought to a stop and both men arrested.

PC Craig Winkless who led the investigation said: “McLatchie and Turton intentionally travelled into Sheffield from Nottingham to commit crime.

“They then targeted two members of the public, taking advantage of them for their own selfish gain by threatening them with a knife.

“Not wishing to be seriously injured, the victims understandably offered no resistance and the offenders have left the scene with various items of stolen property. This was a cowardly act and I am glad that both men are now behind bars.

“I hope that this demonstrates our dedication within Sheffield to tackle these kinds of crimes, along with our persistence and desire to reducing crime and to bring criminals before the courts to face prosecution.

“In this case in particular, I want to thank the victims for having the courage to come forward to police.”

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Barnsley teenager charged with numerous offences

Latest news in Yorkshire: July 04, 2017 11:20:36 AM

A teenager from Barnsley has been charged with a total of 11 offences, including assault and burglary.

The 14-year-old boy, who lives in west Barnsley, cannot be named for legal reasons. He has been charged with aggravated vehicle taking without consent, assault and burglary, in addition to three counts of driving whilst disqualified and three counts of driving without insurance.

The boy is also charged with failing to stop at a collision and failing to report a collision.

The charges relate to incidents all within Barnsley from May to June of this year.

The boy will appear before court later this month.

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Ancient Aztec temple and ball court unearthed in heart of Mexico City

Latest news in Yorkshire: July 03, 2017 09:30:48 AM


A tower of human skulls unearthed beneath the heart of Mexico City has raised new questions about the culture of sacrifice in the Aztec empire, after crania of women and children surfaced among the hundreds embedded in the forbidding structure.


Archaeologists have found more than 650 skulls caked in lime and thousands of fragments in the cylindrical edifice near the site of the Templo Mayor, one of the main temples in the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, which later became Mexico City.


The tower is believed to form part of the Huey Tzompantli, a massive array of skulls that struck fear into the Spanish conquistadores when they captured the city under Hernan Cortes. The structure was mentioned in contemporary accounts.


Historians relate how the severed heads of captured warriors adorned tzompantli, or skull racks, found in a number of Mesoamerican cultures before the Spanish conquest. But the archaeological dig in the bowels of old Mexico City that began in 2015 suggests that picture was not complete.


“We were expecting just men, obviously young men, as warriors would be, and the thing about the women and children is that you’d think they wouldn’t be going to war,” said Rodrigo Bolanos, a biological anthropologist investigating the find.


“Something is happening that we have no record of, and this is really new, a first in the Huey Tzompantli.”


Raul Barrera, one of the archaeologists working at the site alongside the huge Metropolitan Cathedral built over the Templo Mayor, said the skulls would have been set in the tower after they had stood on public display on the tzompantli.


Roughly six meters in diameter, the tower stood on the corner of the chapel of Huitzilopochtli, Aztec god of the sun, war and human sacrifice. Its base has yet to be unearthed.


There was no doubt that the tower was one of the skull edifices mentioned by Andres de Tapia, a Spanish soldier who accompanied Cortes in the 1521 conquest of Mexico, Barrera said.


In his account of the campaign, de Tapia said he counted tens of thousands of skulls at what became known as the Huey Tzompantli. Barrera said 676 skulls had been found, and that the number would rise as excavations went on.


The Aztecs and other Mesoamerican peoples performed ritualistic human sacrifices as offerings to the sun.

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Convicted sex offenders have appeals rejected

Latest news in Yorkshire: July 02, 2017 10:30:11 AM


Arshid HussainTwo men convicted of child sexual exploitation offences in Rotherham have had their request for appeals rejected by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales and two High Court judges.


Arshid Hussain (top right) and Basharat Hussain (below right), who were jailed in February last year for sexually exploiting girls in Rotherham, appeared before the Court of Appeal in Leeds yesterday (Thursday 29 June).


The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales Lord Thomas ruled that all appeals be dismissed.


He also ruled that the sentences handed down to Arshid and Basharat, 35-years in prison and 25-years in prison respectively, would stand.


Detective Chief Inspector Martin Tate was the Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Clover, the multi-agency investigation into the Hussain brothers and their criminal network who groomed and exploited young girls in Rotherham between 1987 and 2003.


Basharat HussainSpeaking after the appeal hearing, he said: “I am really pleased with the rulings passed by Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas.


“The sentences given to Arshid and Basharat last year are some of the largest ever imposed for sexual offending in the UK, but Lord Thomas ruled that this was entirely proportionate. The Lord Chief Justice was clear that this was some of the worst sexual offending he had ever presided over, and that these sentences must act as a deterrent nationally. He also stated that no civilised society can tolerate such offending and the courts must protect the public.


“While the appeals process is not normally one that police comment on, I feel it only right that we continue to recognise the bravery of the young women who have had to face yet another challenge in their battle for justice. No sentence will ever recover the years of abuse, and in many people’s eyes, no sentence is ever long enough. In my view however 35 years in prison is a significant message from the courts that any offending of this type will dealt with in the most robust way possible.


“Any appeal hearing can be difficult for victims of crime, but particularly so for victims of child sexual exploitation and especially the young women we have supported throughout Operation Clover.


“This latest hearing understandably caused some concern and anxiety, but they are relieved with the outcome from court. It is entirely understandable that victims and the wider public want justice from these investigations as soon as possible. It is critical however that the police and CPS get these very complex investigations right. They must be legally sound and stand up to intense scrutiny. We obviously have the support of our extremely professional and victim focused prosecution CPS lawyers and appointed barristers. They work tirelessly with us to convict offenders.


“The trial, presided over by HHJ Judge Wright in Sheffield, allowed the victims to tell their story in their own time and with the correct support under the legal provisions of what we call special measures. I hope that encourages other victims that if they come forward they will be heard and we will discuss all options around giving evidence.


“I hope this latest result demonstrates how committed the police and the criminal justice system are in our support for victims of sexual abuse and that once convicted, we continue to do all we can to ensure that dangerous predators remain behind bars.”

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External Wall Insulation

Latest news in Yorkshire: July 02, 2017 10:15:03 AM


Following the fire at Grenfell Tower in London the council is providing information about the safety of the council homes with External Wall Insulation (EWI) in the event of a fire.


There are around 1000 Rotherham council homes across the borough that have benefited from External Wall Insulation (EWI) to help improve the thermal efficiency of properties.


If you take a piece of the insulation which is installed as part of the EWI product it is possible to set fire to it. However there are a number of steps to the installation process which takes away this risk and provides a finished product which is fire retardant.


The steps include:


Step 1 : Remove and repair any loose or defective concrete or brick work which will provide a solid structure in which to install the EWI to.


Step 2 : Fix the insulation direct to the existing wall finish with special mechanical fixings.


Step 3: Apply a metal mesh over the top of the insulation board.


Step 4: Apply a full coat of fire retardant render to the whole property.


The combination of these four steps provides a product which provides a fire retardant barrier, that has been given a Class 0 rating. A Class 0 rating protects the surfaces from the spread of flames AND limits the amount of heat released from the surface during a fire. It is worth noting that Building Regulations, Fire Safety, Part B specifies that this type of rating is only required for buildings 18m or more, however, the Council has gone above and beyond this guidance and provided a class 0 finish on all properties that have received EWI.


The risk of fire spreading via external cladding is extremely low, this is because the insulation is encased in fire retardant materials, in the same way as insulation is sandwiched between bricks in a traditionally built cavity wall property.


In addition to this the EWI installed in Rotherham is a different system to the curtain walling product used at Grenfell Tower and other high risk buildings across the country. Curtain walling is installed on metal tracks which means that the panels are not flush to the building, early indications are that this style of fitting acts as a chimney which enables flames to take hold of the insulation and spread.


The Council is keeping abreast of the latest developments following the incident at Grenfell Tower and will act accordingly as and when further guidance/legislation is issued. The Council also has a close working relationship with South Yorkshire Fire Service and we will continue this partnership working to ensure the safety of our tenants.


As a tenant there is also some valuable guidance which will help reduce the risk of fire within your home.


These include:


1. Smoke alarms save lives, please test your alarm regularly

2. Take extra care in the kitchen and never leave cooking and electrical appliances unattended

3. Never use a chip pan or any other pan filled with hot oil

4. Do not overload electric sockets

5. Keep matches and lighters away from children

6. Keep clothes well away from heaters and fires

7. Put out cigarettes properly

8. Don’t charge things like mobile phones, tablets or e-cigarettes overnight or for longer than required

9. Plan your escape route

10. Don’t leave flammable waste in your garden, especially left in close proximity to your house.

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New homes for Rotherham will be a boost for tenants and first time buyers

Latest news in Yorkshire: July 02, 2017 10:07:40 AM


Rotherham residents are set for a major housing boost through a pioneering new scheme that will provide over 200 much needed new homes in the borough.


The Council is seeking approval from the Cabinet and Commissioners’ decision- making meeting to proceed to build homes across seven sites in Maltby, Canklow, East Herringthorpe and Dinnington.


The meeting, which takes place on 10th July, will seek approval to build 217 new homes. It is proposed these properties will have a mixture of tenures to include: 83 new homes for outright sale, 36 shared ownership or rent to buy homes and 98 new council homes, of which five will be homes for adults with specialist needs.


The Council identified Wates Residential through a competitive tendering process in September 2016 as the preferred developer to build the new homes. If the proposal is approved, it is envisaged that this highly innovative scheme will start in Autumn this year with completion due in 2020.


Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Dominic Beck, said, “We will be delighted to gain approval of this ambitious scheme as it will improve the quality and choice of housing, whilst increasing the number of new homes built in Rotherham. "


"We are determined to build more properties to be rented out as Council homes across the borough and this development is a real testament to this aim."


“The development will also increase housing in key areas of the borough, which are underdeveloped at present, providing a much needed boost with the addition of brand new housing, tailored to meet the needs of local people.”


Jo Jamieson, Managing Director, Wates Residential, said: “It is evident that there is an increasing need for a mixture of new housing in Rotherham and the Council’s ambitious proposals will go some way to addressing this demand."


"If given the go ahead, Wates Residential will be delighted to work with the council on the development, sharing the risk on planning, construction and market sales, and ultimately building mixed tenure homes that cater to the varied property demands of people across the borough.”


As part of the Council’s ongoing programme to acquire new Council homes to replace properties sold under the ‘Right To Buy’ scheme and maintain stock levels, it is also proposing to buy six two bedroom apartments and three four bedroom houses at the Waverley site from Avant Homes.


These properties will meet the demands for these types and sizes of property from tenants ensuring that affordable rented social housing is available to those who cannot afford or do not want to buy a home.


The Council is also seeking Cabinet approval to increase the number of homes suitable for older people in the Council’s housing stock by asking approval to build bungalows at Catherine Avenue, Swallownest and St.Mary’s Drive, Catcliffe.


The need for bungalow style homes is high in Rotherham, with its increasing older population with specialist support needs. The borough has a growing population of 260,000 which is also ageing, with one in four aged over 60 years.


The building work on the bungalows is set to start in August this year.

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