This section used to include a longer list of local and international services but due to information changing and therefore becoming invalid, we are now directing you to the LOCAL OFFER for the majority of information and services as this is more up to date. We have, however listed some national information that we think some of you might find useful (some of this is also available through your local offer)
The Children and Families Act (March 2014) requires Local Authorities to
"Publish a local offer, setting out in one place information about provision they expect to be available for children and young people in their area who have special educational needs."
To find yours, please search for 'Local Offer' on the website for the Local Authority you pay your council tax to. For those in the WOKINGHAM Borough, our Local Offer can be found here - SEND Local Offer (wokingham.gov.uk)/ This will give you access to a wide range of information including services available to children & young people and their families, details of provision, activities, support groups, training etc.
A Parent Carer Forum is a group of Parent Carers of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They work with local authorities, education settings, health and social care providers to make sure that the planning and provision of services for families takes full account of parent carer views and experiences, so that those services can be effective, timely and the best use of resources.
Almost all local authority areas in England have a parent carer forum – over 150 in all, funded by a grant from the Department for Education,working independently to improve the lives of children and young people with SEND and their families. Together they make up the National Network of Parent Carer Forums ( www.nnpcf.org.uk),which means that they are able to ensure that the voices of parent carers in their area reach decision-makers in national government.
Find your local Parent Carer Forum - Find your local parent carer forum (contact.org.uk)
Wokingham's Parent Carer Forum is 'SEND Voices Wokingham' (formerly known as REACH Wokingham) and their website is https://www.sendvoiceswokingham.org.uk/
Members of SEND Voices Wokingham are offered the following:
REPRESENTATION: The most important aspect of what we do is to ensure that your views are collected and shared anonymously with key representatives in health, education and social care in the Wokingham Borough, to help improve services now and shape provision in the future. So letting us know what your experiences are, good or bad, will help influence future services.
SUPPORT & TRAINING: We support and deliver training to parents to enable them to work better with professionals who provide services for their children and young people. SEND Voices Wokingham have run IPSEA training and information events such as the annual Local Offer Live Day.
INFORMATION: We provide our members with up to date information about relevant local and national services helping you have every opportunity to participate in the decision making process. Well-informed parents are then better placed to give opinions on the services that really matter to their families.
Membership is FREE to parent carers living in the Wokingham Borough with a child or young person aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs or Disability. You will receive our newsletter and e-bulletins with updates on our work, events, consultations and relevant information that may affect you and your family.
Please email:info@sendvoiceswokingham.org.uk with the following;your name, address, disability & year of birth of your child and we will add you to our list. You will then be amongst the first to hear about events,training, information and consultations we are running.
The more members we have the stronger our voice when we talk to the Council, Health or Education about the issues that are affecting your family.
As part of the Children and FamiliesAct 2014, it is a legalrequirement that all local authorities ensure children and young people withSpecial Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) & their parents have access to an impartial Information, Adviceand Support (IAS) service.
You can get more informationabout this nationally by visiting https://cyp.iassnetwork.org.uk/in-your-area/
For those in the WOKINGHAM Borough, our local SENDIASS can be foundhere
IPSEA offers free and independent legally based information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities.
A step-by-step guide to claiming Disability Living Allowance for children under 16 with neurological conditions
Visit websiteChild and Adolescent Mental Health Service. Visit website
Cerebra is a unique charity set up to help improve the lives of children with brain related conditions through research, education and directly supporting the children and their carers. We help children 16 or under with a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders and conditions.
These include Cerebral Palsy, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Developmental disorders(like global developmental delay, dyspraxia and learning disabilities), Seizure disorders (such as Epilepsy, west syndrome, lennox gastaut syndrome and dravet syndrome), ADHD, Traumatic Brain Injury (like head injury and shaken baby syndrome), Acquired Brain Injury (due to infections like encephalitis and meningitis, stroke, brain tumours, hypoxic event or haemorrhage), Down syndrome and other Chromosomal/Genetic conditions (some examples being Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome) and 18 (Edward syndrome), Fragile X, Angelman syndrome, Prader-willisyndrome, Cornelia de Lange, Rett syndrome, Williams syndrome and chromosome deletion disorders), Brain Malformation/Abnormality (like Agenesis of the corpus callosum, Dandy Walker syndrome, Arnold Chiari malformation,lissencephaly, microcephaly and macrocephaly), Degeneration of the brain(Cerebral atrophy and Periventricular Leukomalacia for example.),Hydrocephalus, Conditions caused in utero (such as Foetal alcohol syndrome or as the result of some sort of toxin).
We work with children up to the age of 19 and their families to improve their chances of living a fulfilling life.
We provide Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy and specialist Dietetic services for children throughout Berkshire.
Our therapists will take into account your child's specific needs when assessing their physical and communication skills.
Whether you, your child or those you work with have a physical impairment, learning disability or any other condition, our information is for you.
Visit websiteWork in partnership with people with a learning disability, and all our services support people to live life as they choose.
Visit websiteProvide information, support and pioneering services, and campaign for a better world for people with autism.
Visit websiteA charity to support siblings - sometimes a forgotten group! (not by us parents but by the professionals!)
Young Minds is the UK's leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.
Visit website
