Special Educational Needs
Please find below some helpful information and websites which offer support and advice on a range of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) areas.
West Sussex Local Offer The West Sussex Local Offer helps you find information about local services, support and events for children and young people aged 0-25 years who have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). You can also find childcare via the West Sussex Family Information Services website.
SENDIAS West Sussex SENDIAS (SEND Information, Advice and Support) Service provides information, advice and support to children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and to their parent-carers.
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust Occupational Therapists : Sensory needs.
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust Occupational Therapists have made a series of videos covering a range of practical advice about sensory needs.. https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/services/occupational-therapy-for-children-for-families-registered-with-a-gp-in-west-sussex/109018
There are 18 short videos on different topics:
- Introduction to Occupational Therapy
- What is Sensory Processing
- Sensory Modulation
- Is it Sensory?
- General Strategies
- Calming Strategies
- Alerting Strategies
- Feeding
- Sleep
- Toothbrushing
- Clothing
- Sitting Still
- Chewing
- Noise
- Bathing and Showering
- Hair Care
- Nail Care
- Smell
Reaching Families A parent-carer led charity, which aims to support parents and families of young people with special educational needs and disabilities in their daily life, through the delivery of information, training and peer support. The website has a range of parent support advice and fact sheets on a range of topics including SEND needs, financial support, bereavement and family breakdown.
Animations - Reaching Families have designed a number of animations on various issues related to children with SEND including: Making Sense of Challenging Behaviour; Making Sense of Sensory Issues; Handling Stress and Building Resilience; Mindfulness and more. They have some helpful fact sheets written by parent carers for parent carers covering a range of neurodevelopmental and physical conditions.
National Autistic Society are the UK's leading charity for autistic people and their families. We are here to transform lives and change attitudes to help create a society that works for autistic people. Their website includes information about social stories and comic strip conversations.
Net Aware has partnered with Ambitious about Autism to bring online safety tips, advice and activities specifically for parents and carers of children with SEND. Net Aware spoke to parents of children with a range of special educational needs such as dyslexia, autism and speech and language difficulties to inform their website.
https://www.wspcf.org.uk/ WSPCF is an independent charity for the parent carers of children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They support parent carers by providing information, signposting, and training that equips them in their lifelong caring role and empowers them to participate in shaping services for their children and young people.
Amaze is a charity that gives information, advice and support to families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Brighton & Hove and Sussex. They support families with children from 0 - 25 years.
Kangaroos is a registered disability charity based in Mid Sussex providing a range of fun, inclusive social and leisure activities in our local community all year round for children and young adults with learning disabilities and additional needs.
Speechlink Parent Portal for parents and carers of children with speech and language difficulties.
https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/services-for-education/nd-early-years-service/nd-early-years-resources-parents/ The ADHD Foundation is the UK’s leading neurodiversity charity, offering a strength-based, lifespan service for the 1 in 5 of us who live with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, DCD, Dyscalculia, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome and more.
https://www.scope.org.uk/ Scope is the disability equality charity in England and Wales. They provide practical information and emotional support when it's most needed and campaign relentlessly to create a fairer society.
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/advice/children
If your child is, or may be, dyslexic then the British Dyslexia Association have information, resources and training available to help you to ensure that your child is able to reach their full potential.