SEND Support
For parents / carers seeking support for children with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) please look through this SEND Support page for lots of useful links and guidance.
SPACE - Supporting Parents and Carers in Essex:
SPACE stands for Support for Parents and Carers in Essex. It is a new service designed to provide advice, guidance and support for parents and carers of children and young people with SEND aged 0 to 25.
SPACE is run by a team of peer educators - parents and carers all with lived experience. They understand the challenges and triumphs first-hand. Their role is to support families navigate the process, whatever stage they're at.
Educational Psychology Parent Helpline:
There is a new helpline to give advice, support and signposting. It is a confidential, private, and safe service for parents and carers. No referral is needed - just a pre-booked appointment.
The booking is designed to provide an easier and more convenient experience:
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Available on alternating Mondays and Tuesdays
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1pm to 5pm
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25-minute appointments bookable via MS Teams
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No more waiting – instant booking confirmation
For booking details and further information, please visit EP-Parent-Helpline
Videos to support your neurodivergent child:
15 Films have been created as part of a wider programme of work to support families who are waiting for a diagnostic assessment for autism and/or ADHD. The films are designed to provide a resource for families early in their SEND journey, who want to understand how they can best support their neurodivergent child. Please click on the button below to access these videos.
Autism Central
Autism Central Hub offers guidance to families, carers and personal assistants of autistic people. All of their sessions are run by Peer Educators. These are parents or carers of autistic people, who are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. They offer group and one-to-one sessions to help you and other parents and carers find the information and services available in your area. Hubs may also run events such as workshops, drop-in sessions, coffee mornings or virtual meet-ups.
Click on the button below to access a range of training sessions to help you with supporting and understanding autism.
Autism Central for Parents and Carers
Five tips to support the after-school ‘meltdown’
Picture the scene: your child comes out of school and the teacher says they’ve behaved like the perfect child all day, but the moment you get home they have a complete meltdown. Your child screams, shouts, lashes out, sulks or generally acts in an unruly manner.
Click here to read about how to support the after-school 'meltdown'.
Do you need help with supporting your SEND child with potty training or their toileting needs?
The following button will take you to information and resources to help with potty training, toileting and children's bowel and bladder conditions for children with additional needs. The ERIC website is fantastic for support.
Essex SEND IASS
Essex SEND IASS provides free, confidential and impartial information, advice and support about Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) for children and young people (0-25), parents and carers.
Families In Focus Essex
Families in Focus are an independent charity, working with families who have a child (or children), or a young person, with any special educational need or disability (SEND).
They provide advice and support to families with SEND children on how to access appropriate education, how to apply for an Education Health Care Plan and appeals to the SEND tribunal, as well as providing support with disability benefits, and social care issues.
They also run weekend activity clubs in Colchester and Chelmsford for SEND children and their siblings.