Special Educational Needs & Disability - A SEND Guide for Parents and Carers, and useful links
Having a child who has additional needs can feel complex for Parents/Carers and we are here to help you understand the system. We have three trained SENCOs in school. Our mainstream school SENCO is Karen Heeley and our IRU SENCO is Lucy Hanson. Dominique Roach our Assistant Headteacher (Pastoral) is also a trained SENCO.
The guide below which was first published for parents in 2014 by the Government is useful in understanding the background to the current system. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-guide-for-parents-and-carers
The full SEND code of practice can be found here. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25
These are links to organisations that you may also find useful. (Click and open the link)
SNIPS SNIPS- help for families of children with SEND- play care service
SENDIAS Frequently asked questions parents and carers — Sheffield SENDIAS support for families of children with SEND support for families of children with SEND
Healthy little minds and healthy minds- for parents Hungry Little Minds – Simple fun, activities for kids aged 0 – 5
Autism education trust: https://www.
Autism Support: https://www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/services/child-development-and-neurodisability/autism-home/autism-support/
Young minds - Child and Adult Mental Health Services - A guide for young people Guide to CAMHS
Parent Carer Forum
https://
Sheffield mental Health Service: HAVEN
https://www.
Please ask us if you need any further information about your child's special needs or disability. We are here to help, and to signpost to other services as required.
These children worked with our Speech and Language Therapist to create a video for their peers to understand what difficulties Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) gives them on a day-to-day basis in the classroom. They felt empowered using their voices to share this information.
What might happen when sensory processing becomes a problem?
This is a link to the NHS website for information about sensory processing difficulties. Your child may show these difficulties as follows:
- Children might find sensory information overwhelming and they might struggle to cope with certain sensory experiences. They may try to avoid certain things, people or places.
- Children might find everyday tasks difficult to tolerate, such as showering, wearing certain clothes, eating or teeth-brushing.
- Children may seek out sensations to help them to regulate in a way that creates a problem in another way, (for example, needing to move a lot during lessons).
- When children are overwhelmed by sensory information it can make it more difficult for them to communicate their needs.
- Sensory sensitivities can lead to higher stress and anxiety levels in a child. This in turn can mean they’re more tuned into sensory information and can become overwhelmed more easily.
- Children may present differently from one day to the next and their sensory needs may be context specific or be influenced by other factors, such as mood, tiredness or stress levels. Follow this link for short videos that explain how you can help: https://www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/services/child-development-and-neurodisability/sensory-processing-difficulties/
