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There are schemes to support families with young children with special educational needs (SEN), including Early Support, parent partnership services and home visiting services. These schemes address both your child's needs and yours.
Contact your local authority to get hold of the information about all services available in your area like:
In addition, every local authority has an 'Early Years Development and Childcare Plan'. This lists local preschools for young children with special educational needs and disabilities.
You can get more information about all these schemes from your local authority's website.
Early Support aims to ensure that both parents of children with disabilities and professionals supporting them are better informed about families' needs and requirements. It then identifies how these can best be met.
It provides useful resources that you can use with the professionals who provide help and support for your child. It also offers detailed information on specific types of disability and what you as a parent need to be aware of.
Parent partnership services provide support and advice to parents whose children have special educational needs, particularly during the assessment process. They provide accurate and unbiased information on the full range of options and are there to help you make informed decisions about your child's education.
There are a number of different types of home visiting service:
Portage is another home visiting educational service for preschool children with additional support needs and their families. It takes place in the child's home, equipping parents with the skills and confidence to help their child. Portage home visitors may be teachers, speech or occupational therapists, nursery nurses, health visitors, community nurses, social workers, or parents or volunteers with relevant experience.
They are all trained by the National Portage Association. These schemes run in many areas. You can find out more by contacting the National Portage Association on 01935 471 641 (Monday and Thursday, 9.00 am to 1.00 pm).
Parent support groups give you the opportunity to meet other families with young disabled children. There are also several voluntary organisations offering support for parents of children with special educational needs.