I think my child has special educational needs

If you're a parent or carer, there are lots of external resources, information and support around special educational needs and disabilities, which you can access.

Groups and organisations

• Hillingdon SENDIASS - a free, confidential and impartial support service for parents and carers, children and young people up to 25 years old, where the child or young person may have special educational needs.
• Contact (previously known as Contact a Family) - a national charity that supports families of disabled children.
• Hillingdon Parents Carers' Forum - a group of parents and carers of children and young people with learning difficulties, disabilities or additional needs, who aim to represent the views of parents and carers to help influence the way local services are delivered.

Programmes and workshops

• Expert Parent Programme - maps out the current health system specifically to the needs of children and young people with special needs or disabilities (diagnosed or un-diagnosed) and enables parent/carers to better understand and navigate it.
• Care and Support Directory - find parent workshops and training (both online and face-to-face), support groups, plus activities and groups for you and your child.

Resources

• Early Support Developmental Journals - designed to help families, teachers and other practitioners better support development especially where children or young people have special educational needs and disabilities.
  • Early support developmental journal for children with Down Syndrome
  • Early years developmental journal
  • School years development journal - early support
  • Early support journal for children with multiple needs
  • Developmental journal for babies and young children with visual impairment
• Real life case studies - read family stories about children with different needs and their journeys through the Education and Health Care process - what worked well and what could have been better for them.
• SEND: guide for parents and carers - a guide on the support system for children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND).
• Speech and Language UK: Information and support - help if you think your child is having challenges with talking and understanding words.
• Template letters - to help you write letters to address any issues you may be experiencing (provided by Council for Disabled Children).