© Family Voice/Families United Network/Pursuing Perfection Version: 04 February 2010
Information to help parents of children with additional needs
The directory written for
parents by parents
Welcome
Improving services for children with additional needs
It is extremely important for the parents of children with additional needs to be able to access a range of services that will allow them to provide their child with the best possible care and opportunities.
This information directory has been created by Pursuing Perfection and Family Voice and has been written by Noreen Walsh and other parents who have children with additional needs.
The directory contains detailed information about a range of services, equipment providers, benefits and support groups.
The aim is to ensure that parents know what they are entitled to, where they can access advice and support, what services are available to them and where they can obtain equipment to help with the care and support of their child.
The pages on this directory are not numbered as we hope that we can regularly update the sections contained within it. We have therefore provided a detailed contents page to help you navigate your way through it.
We hope you find this directory useful.
The information in this booklet is for general information purposes only and does not constitute advice. Family Voice tries to provide content that is true and accurate as of the date of writing; however, we give no assurance
or warranty regarding the accuracy, timeliness, or applicability of any of the contents. Users of this information booklet should not act upon Family Voice’s content or information without first seeking appropriate professional
Contents
Benefits Disability Living Allowance, Appealing, Carers Allowance, Child Trust Fund, Tax Credits,
Reduced Council Tax
Advice Agencies Luton Law Centre, Luton Rights, Parent Partnership, IPSEA, Contact a Family, Disability
Resource Centre, Advocacy, Advocacy Alliance, Spoke
Getting Around Motability Scheme, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, Insuring Adapted Vehicles, Servicing A
Lift on an Adapted Vehicle, Vehicle Excise Duty, London Congestion Charge, Blue Badge Scheme, Residential Disabled Persons Parking Bay, South Beds Dial-A-Ride, National Rail, Intercity Services, Buses, Taxis
Education Special Educational Needs, School Action, School Action Plus, IEP’s, Statutory
Assessment and Statements, Disagreeing with the process, How parents can help, Annual Review and Meeting, Educational Psychologist, SENCo’s, Children’s Centres, Resourced Nursery Schools, Family Workers, HIPPO, VI, SCD, Lady Zia Wernher Outreach Team, SEAL, Special Schools, Transport
IsCAN IsCAN Support Services, Care Co-ordination Service, Support Teams Under 5’s, Childcare
Disability Team, Shared Care, Direct Payments, Home Based Family Support, Home Carer, Fairways, Occupational Therapy, Transitions Team, Choice Advisers, Disability Information Officer, Disability Register
Health L&D Hospital, Children’s Unit, Children’s Outpatients, Neonatal Unit, Nutrition and Dietetics,
Orthotics, PALS, Edwin Lobo, Liverpool Road, MDA, CAMHS, Community Therapists, Physiotherapy,Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Continence Service, Wheelchair Service, Community Paediatric Nursing Team, Special Needs Nursing Service, Paediatric Epilepsy Nurse, Children’s Learning Disability Team, Children’s Continuing Care Team, Additional Community Funding, Keech Hospice Care,
Bereavement Bereavement, CHUMS
Please Note: The colour coded sections of this contents page correspond to the coloured tabs separating the sections contained within the directory.
Housing and Community Living Future Choices, Pathway 1: Work Based Activities, Pathway 2: Health and Wellbeing, Vocational Trainig Service, d4 Supported Employment, Chaul End Centre, Upside Project, Bramingham Centre, Community Independence Team
Childcare Childminders, Out of School Care, Pre-Schools and Nurseries
Support Groups Access to Sport, Asperger East Anglia, ASBAH, Autism Bedfordshire, Bedfordshire ME
Support Service, British Dyslexia Service, British Institute for Learning Disability, Brittle Bones Society, Carers UK, Challenging behaviour Foundation, Chapel Street Nursery, Children Living with Inherited MetaBolic Disorders, DADS, DADDS, DELTA, The Disabilities Trust, Down’s Heart Group, Down’s Syndrome Association. DPPI, Dyspraxia Foundation, Epilepsy Action, Families United Network, Family Voice, FOBE, Grafham Water Sailability, Lea Manor Youth Club, Lifestyle Choices Project, Luton Disabled Sports and Social Club, Marlins, MENCAP, Mencap 21 Club, MK-adhd, MK DONS Special Needs Football Club, Muscular Dystrophy Advice Line, Network 81, NAS, NBCS, NDCS, Otters Swimming Club, Out and About, Parents Together, PHAB, Pursuing Perfection, Sight Concern Bedfordshire, SWAN, CYCD, Time Out Club, Total Home Care Solutions, YAWN
Holidays and Leisure Activities The Harriet Davis Trust, The Lin Berwick Trust, The St Anne’s Hotel, The Century Hotel,
Malthouse Farm Cottages, Hall Farm Cottages, Centre Parcs, Butlins, The Thomas Centre, Ty Glyn Davis Trust, Freedom Family Holidays, Strode Park, Murcia Spain, Casa Vaeraneo, Autism on the Seas, Orlando, Huntleigh Healthcare, Mobility Abroad, Virgin Holidays, CEA Card. The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain
Appendices Luton Borough Councils Eligibility Criteria for Short Break and Social Care Services for
Disabled Children
Other Useful Information TV Licence, Radar National Key Scheme, Wills & Trusts
Transition Transitional Planning, Person Centred Planning Personal Advisor, Benefits—Employment
and Support Allowance Education Maintenance Allowance Disabled Student Allowance Independent Living Fund
Benefits
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
You can claim disability living allowance for your disabled child. Your child must need a lot more help or supervision than other children of the same age. Your child must have needed help with personal care or have walking difficulties or a learning disability for three months and is likely to need this help or have these difficulties for at least another six months. This benefit is not dependent on your level of income. The money is paid into a bank account of your choice every 4 weeks. You must tell the benefits agency if there are any changes in circumstances. The benefit has two parts.:
1. Help with personal care.
This can be awarded at higher, middle or lower rate depending on your child's needs. You can claim when your child is 3 months or over.
2. Help with mobility:
To get the mobility part of DLA, your child's disability must be severe enough to have any of the following walking difficulties:
1. they are unable or virtually unable to walk, or have no feet or legs
2. they are both 100% blind and not less than 80% deaf and need someone with them when they are out of
doors
3. they are severely mentally impaired with severe behavioural problems and qualify for the highest rate of
4. the effort of walking could threaten their life or seriously affect their health
5. they need guidance or supervision from another person when walking out of doors in unfamiliar places.
You can claim for the mobility part of DLA when your child is 3 years but if your child only needs guidance or supervision (point 5) then you cannot claim until your child is aged 5.
If your child is terminally ill there are special rules
If your child has a progressive illness and is not reasonably expected to live for more than another 6 months, then you can get DLA more quickly and easily. Your child can get the highest rate of the care component immediately, without waiting until they have needed help for 3 months.
Completing the Form
The application forms are very long but don't be put off! When filling in the form think of the worst day your child has had and write about it. If you have difficulty completing the forms, there are organisations who can help you to do this (See Advice Agencies Section).
Weekly payments of DLA can be requested if you are on a low income or are a single-parent. If you do not have a bank account, you can open a post office account at any branch and then withdraw your benefits in cash each week from that office.
Your right to appeal
When you receive your decision (which will either be at a high, middle or low rate or a refusal for each component), you are given the right to appeal. N.B. There are strict timescales that have to adhere to when appealing. For further advice you can speak to either the Citizens Advice Bureau, Luton Rights or Luton Law Centre (See Advice Agencies Section).
Carers Allowance (CA)
If you care for your disabled child for more than 35 hours per week and they get the middle or higher rate care component of DLA, then you may be able to claim CA. If your child is in residential school or college you could still be entitled to CA if you give 35 hours of care, but only over weekends.
If you work, you can earn up to £95 per week (tax year 2009/2010) after certain expenses and still get CA. This figure is reviewed every year, so please ring the Carers Allowance Unit or visit www. direct.gov.uk/carers to check prior to applying. CA is a taxable allowance. You cannot get CA if you are in full-time education ( 21 hrs or more per week). You can only receive one CA even if you are caring for more than one disabled person. For each week you claim CA, you will be credited with a National Insurance credit. This protects your rights to benefits such as: State Pension, contribution-based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) and contribution based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
Child Trust Fund
The Child Trust Fund (CTF) is a long-term tax-free savings and investment account for children born on or after 1 September 2002. The government gives every eligible child a voucher for £250 to start the fund. From April 2009, if you receive Disability Living Allowance for your child, your child will receive an annual payment of £100, with severely disabled children receiving £200 - these payments will be paid directly into the Child Trust Fund account starting from April 2010. Visit www.direct.gov.uk and type in Child Trust Fund for further details.
As well as the Child Trust Fund (CTF) voucher, children in families with lower incomes will automatically get an additional payment of £250 from the Government once a Child Tax Credit award has been finalised. This will be paid directly into the accounts of children who live in families receiving Child Tax Credit (CTC), where household income is not greater than the CTC threshold of £16,040 for 2009/10 or where the person in receipt of CTC was also in receipt of:
income support
income-based jobseeker's allowance pension credit
employment and support allowance Tax Credits
If you're responsible for at least one child or young person who normally lives with you, you may qualify for Child Tax Credit (CTC). This is a means tested benefit and total annual income and savings are taken into account. If one parent works 16 hours per week or more but earns low wages you may get Working Tax Credit (WTC).
Savings are not taken into account.
Please ensure you tell them you have a disabled child and what rate of DLA your child receives, as you may be entitled to more Tax Credits. If your circumstances change you should notify them immediately.
Contact Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900 Visit: www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits Reduced Council Tax
You may be entitled to a reduced Council Tax bill if any of the following apply to your home:
It has an extra bathroom or kitchen to meet the needs of the disabled person
It has a room specifically used or adapted for the disabled person
The disabled person uses a wheelchair inside the home
You go down one band, even if you are in Band A. This can sometimes be difficult to demonstrate. Do appeal if necessary.
Advice Agencies
Luton Law Centre
Luton Law Centre is a charity which specialises in housing, employment, immigration and asylum, discrimination and welfare benefits. It has caseworkers and solicitors who provide full legal advice and casework services in these areas of law. The centre has an Equalities Worker who may be able to help you.
Contact: 6th Floor, Cresta House, Alma Street, Luton, LU1 2PL Tel: 01582 481 000 Fax: 01582 482 581
Email: admin@lutonlawcentre.org.uk www.lawcentres.org.uk Luton Rights
The centre provides free and confidential advice and representation at appeals on a range of Welfare Benefits including:
Job Seekers Allowance
Income Support
Disability Benefits
Council Tax Benefit
Housing Benefit
Tax Credits
This is an appointment only service. If you cannot get to the centre because you are sick or disabled they can arrange to visit you at home.
15 New Bedford Road, Luton, LU1 1SA Tel: 01582 453 372 Fax: 01582 451 344 Email: admin@lutonrights.org Website: www.lutonrights.org
Parent Partnership Service (PPS)
The aim of parent partnership services is to ensure parents of children with additional needs have access to in-formation, advice and guidance in relation to the special educational needs of their children so that they can make appropriate, informed decisions. The Parent Partnership Service can offer:
information and advice on all matters concerned with your child’s special educational needs
help with decision-making processes concerning yours child’s education
help in discussions with schools, LA and other statutory bodies
help to ensure the views of parents and children are heard and understood
contact with voluntary organisations that are able to offer support and advice
Support from Independent Parental Supporters
An independent parental supporter is a trained volunteer. They can:
listen to your concerns and provide encouragement
attend meetings and take minutes for you
Parent Partnership publishes a newsletter 3 times a year called Luton Parent Partnership Links. These newsletters are very informative and well worth reading. The newsletter is sent to all parents of children with a statement, to all Luton schools and is circulated within the community.
For information, support and advice 01582 548 156 or 01525 719 754 www.luton.gov.uk/parentpartnership
Independent Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA)
IPSEA is a volunteer-based organisation and many of the volunteers providing telephone advice and support at tribunals are themselves parents of children with special educational needs who have been helped by IPSEA in the past. IPSEA offers free and independent advice on local authorities (LA) legal duties to assess and provide for children with special educational needs.
IPSEA’s aims are:
to help ensure that children with special educational needs receive the special educational provision to
which they are legally entitled
to help ensure that parents and children’s views are taken into account when children’s needs are
assessed and decisions are made about special education provision and school placements
IPSEA may be able to help if you feel your child’s needs are not being met, e.g. if:
you want the LA to assess your child, but they refuse
the LA refuse to issue a statement after assessing your child
you want to appeal against a statement when it is first made or when it is amended
if the LA will not put the school you prefer on the statement
if you are unhappy with the amount of help your child is being given
Contact IPSEA Tel: 0800 018 4016 www.ipsea.org.uk Contact a Family
Contact a Family is the only UK wide charity providing advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children, no matter what their health condition or disability. They can also put you in contact with other families whose child has the same diagnosis as your child. They have an excellent medical directory of specific conditions and rare disorders. They can also do a free benefits check for you and tell you if you are getting all the benefits you or your child are entitled to.
Tel: 0808 808 3555 www.cafamily.org.uk Disability Resource Centre (DRC) Luton
The DRC is an independent organisation and a registered charity. It provides independent information and advice to people with disabilities, their families’ carers and fellow professionals.
The information is available on a variety of topics including; Advocacy, Benefits, Carers, Education, Employment, Grants, Holidays, and Support Groups. The service is open Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm.
The DRC have a wide range of equipment for disabled people. Every Wednesday is drop in day from 10am - 3pm. Private appointments are available at other times. You can view equipment from cutlery to stair lifts; try out bath lifts, beds and riser-recliner chairs; find out about suppliers and access leaflets and catalogues.
The Disability Resource Centre, Poynters House, Poynters Road, Dunstable, Beds LU5 4TP Tel: 01582 470 900 Website: www.drcbeds.co.uk Email: information@drcbeds.org.uk Advocacy - someone to speak for you
Explaining what you want or how you feel can sometimes be hard. An advocate is a person who helps you to get your point of view over. If you need help when talking about your needs and wishes there are organisations that can provide advocates to speak for you. Some of these are:
Advocacy Alliance, is a national service able to provide support to individuals across the whole of Bedfordshire. They can take referrals from professionals, families and individuals. They can be contacted at:
Advocacy Alliance Bedfordshire and Luton , 41 Mill Street, Bedford, MK40 3EU Tel: 01234 262 080 Email: baa@advocacyalliance.co.uk
Spoke is a service for adults with physical and/or sensory disabilities. All members of the management committee have personal experience of disability.
Advocacy Service Manager, Spoke, Disability Resource Centre, Poynters Road, Dunstable, LU5 4TP
Getting Around
Motability Scheme
If your child receives Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at the higher rate for getting around, you can apply for a car through the Motabilty Scheme. Your child must have been awarded DLA for at least 1 year. You can pay an advance payment on some vehicles, however, some vehicles require no up-front payment at all. The mobility component of your DLA is paid directly to Motability every four weeks. . A hire purchase scheme is also available if you wish to purchase rather than lease a car over the 3 years. Some dealerships will accept your existing car as a trade-in to cover the cost of any advance payment.
Contact Motability on 0845 456 4566 or www.motability.co.uk Wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAV)
If your child needs to be transported in a wheelchair, you can get an WAV, i.e. a van or car that has either a ramp or lift for access and restraints to hold a wheelchair in place. You can get a WAV through the Motability scheme. You can also buy these vehicles new or second-hand. Often they are ex-Motability vehicles so they have been well looked after. Some good companies are as follows:
Invatravel Conversions Ltd. Tel: 01704 506 608 or www.invatravel.com Gowrings Mobility Ltd. Tel: 0845 608 8020 or www.gowringsmobility.co.uk
Warnerbus Ltd Tel: 01525 222 111 or www.warnerbus.co.uk
There are regular mobility shows for wheelchair accessible vehicles. For more information on the next events visit www.mobilityroadshow.co.uk
Insuring adapted vehicles
There are only a few companies that will insure a vehicle that is adapted to take a wheelchair. They offer benefits such as new-for-old on adaptations if damaged in an accident, an adapted courtesy vehicle, or they give a daily allowance towards a wheelchair taxi if an adapted courtesy vehicle is not available. The following companies will insure adapted vehicles:
Fish Insurance Tel: 0800 012 6329 www.fishinsurance.co.uk Enroute Insurance Tel: 0800 783 7245 www.enrouteinsurance.co.uk
KF Garner & Co. Tel: 01925 633 807 www.mobilityinsure.co.uk Chartwell Insurance Ltd Tel: 0845 260 7051 www.chartwellinsurance.co.uk Servicing a lift on an adapted vehicle
It is recommended that a lift be serviced every 6 months. All servicing and repairs are exempt from VAT. Locally this can be done at:
Warnerbus Ltd. 165 Castle Hill Rd, Totternhoe, Dunstable LU6 1QQ, Tel: 01525 222 111 www.warnerbus.co.uk
Chiltern Taillifts offer a mobile service and will come to your house to repair or service your lift Contact: 07736 105 959
Vehicle Excise Duty (Road tax)
If your child receives the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance you can apply for exemption from paying car tax. Contact the DLA for information on 08457 123 456
London Congestion Charge
Blue badge holders do not pay for the London Congestion Charge, but you must register with Transport for London (TfL) at least 10 days before your journey and pay a one-off £10 registration fee. If your application is successful, you will get a discount registration approval letter.
Disabled people’s vehicles that are exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) are automatically exempt from Congestion Charge and do not need to be registered with TfL
For London Congestion Charge Information Contact: 0845 900 1234 or www.cclondon.com Blue badge scheme
If your child is over 2 years old and fits one of the following criteria, you can apply for a badge:
1. They qualify for the higher rate of mobility component of DLA;
2. They are registered blind;
3. They have a permanent and substantial disability which means they cannot walk, or it makes walking very
If your child is under two years old, you may apply for a blue badge if they have a specific medical condition which means that they either:
1. Must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around without great
difficulty
2. Need to be kept near a vehicle at all times, so that they can , if necessary, be treated in the vehicle, or
quickly driven to a place where they can be treated, such as hospital.
If your child can walk, but has challenging behaviour and does not understand danger, they may also qualify for a blue badge, so do apply.
A Blue badge entitles you to free parking in designated places. You can also park for up to 3 hours on a single or double yellow line.
Contact The Blue Badge Administrator on: 01582 547 516 Residential disabled persons parking bay
Any person who is a blue badge holder may apply for a residential parking bay provided that:
1. The applicant’s home has no opportunity to provide off-street parking space.
2. Parking demand is so severe that parking space in close proximity to the applicant’s address cannot be
found for a major portion of most days.
3. The driver is a blue badge holder.
4. The passenger is a blue badge holder and the driver is unable to park in the road or allow the disabled
person out, or cannot push a wheelchair from the nearest parking space, which is an unreasonable distance away.
It is unusual for a passenger to get a parking bay, as it is not considered unreasonable to expect that an able bodied driver should double park, if necessary, to set down the disabled passenger and remove the vehicle afterwards. An exception will be made where the passenger requires constant attendance.
Please note: The disabled parking bay is not for the sole use of the resident. Anyone with a blue badge can park in the space. Your child’s blue badge must be displayed at all times while parked in the bay.
For Residential Parking Bay Application Contact Luton engineering & Transport Division on: 01582 546 266
South Beds Dial-A-Ride
This is a door-to-door transport service to assist people who are unable to use ordinary buses. At present they have 8 mini buses, all with tail-lifts. If your child is in a wheelchair, or has difficulty walking to a bus stop, you can use this service. Also, if your child has challenging behaviour or has autism and could not cope with the wait at a bus stop and the crowds on a bus, they can use this service.
The service operates within Luton and the South of Bedfordshire, i.e. Dunstable, Houghton Regis, Caddington, Eaton Bray, Barton Le Clay etc. However, they will also do excursions to various places, including Whipsnade and Milton Keynes. You can use the bus for all kinds of journeys, e.g. shopping, visit friends and relatives, educational purposes or appointments.
Before you can use the service, you must register by completing an application form from Dial A Ride. They will then send you a second application form, which you must send along with a passport-sized photograph of your child to Luton Borough Council.
will also allow a companion to travel.
All journeys are free within their operational area. Dial A Ride is a charitable organisation and is funded by Luton Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council and Fund Raising.
Contact South Beds Dial A Ride Mumford Lodge, 165a Castle Hill Road, Totternhoe, Dunstable, LU6 1QQ Tel: 01525 220 044
National Rail
National Rail needs advance warning if you need any assistance from staff - ideally more than 24 hours' notice. This is particularly important if your journey includes getting on or off a train at an unstaffed station. Staff cannot lift disabled passengers or heavy items like mobility scooters. When booking your journey, give as much detail as possible about your needs. For services that offer seat reservations, the local contact person can reserve a seat or wheelchair space for you without charge.
Intercity services
All intercity train services are wheelchair accessible. Access to the train is provided by a ramp kept at the station. Wheelchair accessible sleeper cabins are available on overnight trains between London and Scotland, but not on those between London and the West of England.
Local and regional services
Most trains can accommodate wheelchair users and new trains also have facilities to assist sensory impaired people, for example public information systems that are both visual and audible.
To arrange a train journey in the UK, contact National Rail Enquiries. Telephone: 0845 7484 950 Textphone: 0845 6050 600
Luton station has step free access, but you have to contact the Assisted Travel Helpline to check availability of staff to assist.
Assisted Travel Helpline 0800 0582 8444
Children aged between 5 and 15 year may qualify for a Disabled Persons Railcard. This does not give discount off the normal child fare, but does enable an adult travelling with them to receive 1/3 off the normal adult fare price.
Contact 0845 605 0525 or visit www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk Buses
A person with a disability can apply for a Travel Permit. This is a plastic card with the persons picture on it which entitles them to travel at the concessionary rate on local bus services in Luton and Bedfordshire.
You are eligible if you are a permanent resident of Luton and you have one of the following disabilities:
blind or partially sighted
profoundly or severely deaf
without speech
you have a disability, or have suffered an injury which has a substantial and long-term adverse affect onyour ability to walk
you do not have arms, or have long-term loss of the use of both arms.
a learning disability (see Disability Eligibility Certificate for definition)
you are prevented on medical grounds from obtaining a driving licencePick up the booklet Concessionary Fares - A Guide to Entitlement from the Town Hall or your local library. The
back page is a Disability Eligibility Certificate. This will tell you if you need to ask your GP (or other qualified medical practitioner) to sign the form. When you have ascertained whether you require a Doctor's signature, take the completed and stamped form to the Town Hall. Travel permits are issued on Monday to Friday, between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. You must apply in person - travel permits are not issued by post
.
As well as a Disability Eligibility Certificate signed by your GP or other qualified medical practitioner, you must also take proof that you are a permanent resident of Luton (a recent Council Tax or utility bill, bank statement or other official document with your name and address on).
There is NO CHARGE for issuing a travel permit. When you use the travel permit on local buses, you will pay 50p for journeys up to 14 miles or £1.00 for journeys to up 28 miles. If available, you may purchase a return ticket at a cost of £1.00 (up to 14 miles) or £2.00 (up to 28 miles). On some bus services you can travel further than 28 miles, in which case the bus driver can advise you on the best way to pay for your journey.
The law provides that travel permit holders must not pay more than half the equivalent adult bus fare; consequently, it is possible that you may be charged less than 50p on some very short journeys. You can also use your travel permit to obtain half fare travel on Thameslink train services.
There is no time restriction on when you can use your travel permit on local buses. Luton Travel Permits are accepted on all local bus services in Luton and Arriva or Stagecoach buses anywhere in Bedfordshire. Travel permits are not accepted on excursions, tours or services which are not open to the general public. You cannot travel at the Luton concessionary rate on long distance express coach services. You can, however, use your Luton Travel Permit to obtain half price travel on many express coach services throughout the UK - ask the coach company if they offer this concession when booking your ticket.
You may obtain half price travel after 10:00 on Thameslink train services between Bedford and Elstree & Borehamwood. Show your travel permit to the booking clerk when buying your train ticket.
If you travel into neighbouring counties, you will only obtain the concession if your journey starts or finishes in Luton or Bedfordshire, subject to a 28 mile limit. Furthermore, there are some additional restrictions on where
you can travel - please see the booklet Concessionary Fares - A Guide to Entitlement for full details.
Taxis
All of the Hackney cabs which operate in Luton are wheelchair accessible. Contact individual companies for further information.
Special Educational Needs
A child with learning difficulties generally needs extra help at school. For this reason, they are said to have special educational needs (SEN). Children with the most serious difficulties have a Statement of Special Educational Needs - a document that sets out what the Local Authority (LA) is legally required to provide. Children who have less severe Special Educational Needs are generally given help through School Action or School Action Plus. Parents must be told if the school decides their child has special educational needs.
School Action (Funded by the School)
Through School Action, your child will get support that is either extra to and/or different from the help that the school usually gives children. This means teaching a child in different ways and at levels which match their ways of learning.
The school will discuss your child and their needs with you. If they decide that your child may need more support, they will collect all available information about your child. They will then decide what help to give. You should always be consulted and kept fully informed about the help your child is given and of the results of that help. Your child’s help should be recorded in a document usually called an Individual Education Plan (IEP). The IEP should be reviewed regularly. If your child does not make enough adequate progress over the next year or so, the school may seek specialist advice from the Local Authority (LA) and they may move your child to School Action Plus. Inclusive guidance says teachers should aim to give pupils the chance “to achieve as high a standard as possible”.
School Action Plus (Funded by the School)
At School Action Plus the school will give your child more or different help than they gave at School Action. The support should usually take place in your child’s classroom and school staff provide it. External specialists from the LA may assess your child and, with your child’s teachers, should look at different ways of teaching and helping your child. The specialists will advise on a new IEP. Sometimes they might teach or help children personally for one or two lessons but this may not be exclusively for your child: it may be in a small group. These specialists could be educational psychologists, behaviour specialists, dyslexia teachers, speech and language therapists, healthcare professionals etc.
The Code of Practice stresses that Action and Action Plus are not hurdles to be crossed before a statutory assessment. If your child has more serious difficulties they may go straight to a statutory assessment. This will be decided by a panel of professionals for the LA, called the Moderating Group, based on the evidence it is given. A copy of the Code of Practice is available from: 0845 6022260 or Email dcsf@prolog.uk.com quote SEN Code of Practice DCSF 581/2001
The individual Education Plan (IEP) IEPs should include:
three or four short-term targets that match your child’s needs
the methods of teaching (strategies) to be used
the help to be put in place
when the plan is to be reviewed
how the school will decide if the help is no longer needed. The IEP should be discussed with you and your child.The targets for your child in an IEP should be set in small steps. At School Action and School Action Plus, IEPs should be reviewed at least twice a year. Ideally, they should be reviewed termly (or more frequently for some children). But if there is a problem the school should not wait until the review before making changes.
The school should consult you as part of the review process. Where possible, your child should also take part and be involved in setting new targets. If your child is not involved in the review, their views should be considered. A review can take place at a Parents’ Evening, but the school should bear in mind your feelings if you ask for a more private meeting.
The review should look at:
progress made by your child
your views and your child’s views
the effectiveness of the IEP
issues affecting your child’s progress
updated information and advice
future action - changes to targets, strategies
any need for more information on your child etc.The Statutory Assessment and Statements
If your child receives School Action Plus help for a reasonable time without success and the school thinks they are showing significant cause for concern, the school should consider asking the Local Authority (LA) for a statutory assessment. If the assessment, which will take several months, shows that your child needs more or different help than is available through School Action Plus, the Local Authority (LA) will produce a Statement of Special Educational Needs, known as a Statement.
A panel of professionals, the Statutory Provisions and Assessment Group (SPAG), make decisions about statements and special school placements for the LA.
If you are not happy with your child’s progress, you also have a right to ask the LA for a statutory assessment. You can do this even if the school does not agree with you and thinks that your child does not need a statutory assessment. You should let the school know your views.
The LA decide whether or not they carry out a Statutory Assessment. If they decide not to proceed with an assessment you have the right to appeal.
There are timescales involved in all parts of the decision making processes, these can be found in the SEN Code of Practice. A copy of the Code of Practice is available from: 0845 6022260 or Email dcsf@prolog.uk.com quote SEN Code of Practice DCSF 581/2001
The statement is a legal document describing your child's SEN and the special help they should receive. It will also say where your child will go to school. It is vitally important to get parts 3 and 4 right as these set out what has to be provided by the LA. Many children with Statements are at mainstream not special schools. The Statement is funded by the local authority and by the school from the school budget.
You have a right to express a preference for the LA maintained school you want your child to attend, providing:
the school you choose is suitable for your child’s age, ability and SEN
your child’s attendance there will not affect the efficient education of other children already at the school
placing your child in the school will be an efficient use of resources
Details of non-maintained and independent schools approved by the Secretary of State for Education as suitable for children with special educational needs are available upon request. You may ask for a place at a school outside Luton if you feel it will best meet your child’s needs, although the LA is not obliged to fund a place in one of these schools.
You need to make sure that the wording on the statement reflects your child. You can provide information or evidence as part of the assessment process, including any reports from private professionals (e.g. speech and language therapist, occupational therapists, educational psychologists).
The Special Education Needs Assessment Team (SENAT) is responsible for administrating statutory assessments and the production of statements.
Contact The SEN Assessment Team, Unity House, 111 Stuart Street , Luton LU1 5NP Telephone: 01582 548 132
If you disagree with the statement
If you disagree with the statement, first speak to your Named Officer. This is the officer in the SENAT who you will have been told is dealing with your child's case.
You also have a right to appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST) against parts two, three and four of the statement. You have this right to appeal to the SENDIST even if you are trying to sort out disagreements informally with the local authority.
Contact SEN Helpline and Discrimination Helpline: 0870 241 2555 You can also appeal about the process if the LA:
i. refuse to assess your child for a statement
ii. they want to withdraw the statement
iii. they make changes
iv. refuse to make changes to your child’s statement following an annual review
ix)
You might also find it helpful to contact Parent Partnership Service or IPSEA who can provide neutral advice and support (See Advice Agencies Section)
How parents can help
Parents, as well as schools, can do many things to help their child:
Give lots of praise! A prize or smile works wonders
Read to your child or watch television together. Then talk about what you’ve read or seen
Help with homework. Get help from the library if you get stuck. Try to help your child plan ahead so there
isn’t a panic the night before homework is due
Take time to relax - all work and no play puts children off learning
Play can be a good way of helping children learn without them knowing! Snakes and ladders helps
number skills, ‘pretend’ play is good for language
Help your child become an expert - knowing about football or animals or pop groups makes them feel
good about themselves, especially with their friends
Back up the school by doing the same things at home. Ask the teachers for ideas
Give the school your good ideas. You know your child best and what works with them - football stickers for
a soccer mad child could give them the boost they need
Get ideas from groups set up to help parents. If your child has Dyslexia, Epilepsy or Attention Deficit
Disorder, for instance, then there are organisations which can give advice. You can pass on any good
ideas to the school
You need to ask the school about whether your child has friends and a group of people they can rely on.
You should also discuss your child's behaviour in school compared to their behaviour at home if you feel
that the teacher is painting a very different picture of your child
Communication between parents and teachers is vital. If jargon is used that you do not understand, do
Annual review and meeting
Luton LA must review your child's statement at least once a year, checking your child's progress and making sure that the statement continues to meet their needs. For under 5’s it must be reviewed every six months. Your child's school will invite you to a review meeting and ask you to send in your views on your child's progress over the past year.
The review meeting looks at written reports and at your child's statement and will see if it needs changing in any way. You are also asked for your views on your child's progress.
It is very important that you attend your child’s annual review. If you do not want to go alone, you can ask a friend or independent person to go with you and support you. Check that you have had any new reports from everyone involved in your child’s care, both educational and medical reports. For example, reports from physiotherapists, speech and language therapist, music therapist, surgeon, school doctor, etc. Make sure these are accurate and that you agree and understand them. You might also check the school has received copies—they will only be sent with your agreement.
After the meeting the school sends you a copy of its report. The Head teacher sends a report to the LA recommending any agreed changes to the Statement. This must be done within 10 working days of the Annual Review meeting or by the end of term, whichever is sooner. The LA may then decide to make changes to your child’s statement.
If changes are proposed for your child's Statement of Special Educational Need (SSEN), you will be asked to agree these by signing a copy of a new statement. You have the right to appeal any changes/omissions that you disagree with.
Educational Psychologist (EP)
EPs help all children and young people up to the age of 19. An EP provides guidance and support to schools on a range of issues including special educational needs. They work with parents, carers and practitioners to identify and support the needs of individual children both at home and school. They are there to help your child find more effective means with which to learn, to develop their social skills and improve their emotional well-being.
Part of an EP’s task is gathering as much information about an individual child as possible, so they may begin by taking quite a detailed history from you. They will want to know how your child has progressed through all of the developmental milestones, walking and talking, for example, and then find out when things changed.
They may then go into the nursery or school environment to observe your child, where they will look at your child's interactions with other children, levels of language, and how they are generally - if they are confident, if they are lacking confidence, what things may trigger a change in behaviour. They may also spend some time doing individual work with your child.
The EP will also have a consultation with the class teacher and the staff working with your child to get a broader sense of what your child is like in school. The EP will prepare a report on your child. If you do not agree with any parts of it, then you should discuss it with them.
The EP works closely with you and the staff at your child's school to plan a programme of support for your child. This programme of support may include:
special training for your child's teachers
classes to improve language skills
helping your child to make friends and improve their social skills.
working with your child to promote learning or emotional control
working with your child’s school to help develop policies to promote learning or positive behavior advice on
intervention strategies
The suggestions will be built into the IEP either at Action Plus or your child’s Statement. Within six months the school, together with you and often an LA professional e.g. the EP, review the plan. This is to check how well your child’s needs are being met and to plan the next steps.
Usually, the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) (See SENCo page) at the school will contact an EP after deciding that your child might benefit from their help. The school should then contact you to ask for your permission to provide this specialist support and ask your views on what you think will help your child. If you think your child needs help, but you have not been contacted by the school then, you should speak to your child’s teacher or the SENCo at the school.
Educational Psychology and Assessment Manager Tel: 01582 548 150
You can also pay for a private Educational Psychologist to assess your child if you wish. You can ask the school to allow this person to go into school to observe your child. Most schools will allow this as long as an appointment is made.
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo)
Every school has a SENCo. This should be a qualified teacher or the Head teacher. The responsibilities of SENCos include:
the development of the school's SEN policy
advising the head teacher, governing body and senior leadership team on resource provision for children
with SEN and disabilities
supporting other teachers — including advising them on how to modify their teaching approach for children
with SEN and disabilities and ensuring that individual educational plans (IEPs) are in place
ensuring the liaison between school and parents/carers of children with SEN
making sure your child’s needs are met at the earliest opportunity
working with other agencies, including the educational psychology service, health services, IsCAN (See
IsCAN secton) and voluntary bodies
funding requests (to access additional funding to support a child with SEN)
If you have any concerns about your child’s SEN you should talk to the SENCo. Children's Centres
Children’s Centres bring together local services or activities all under one roof or close by in the community. Children’s Centres provide a variety of good quality services and information to children under five and their families including:
childcare and early years education including, Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), for further details of the EYFS go to www.nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/151379
family support workers and a nominated SENCo
links with Job Centre Plus who will give parents support in finding a job, accessing training opportunities
and can also offer information sessions on benefits and family tax credit
information on other early year's provision, pre-school and nurseries
details of childminders and childminder support groups
advice and support on a range of child and family health issues, through established links with health
teams and professionals, such as health visitors, midwives, dietician
drop in sessions, stay and play sessions, providing activities for children to play and learn
support for families and children with additional needs
support for young parents
toy libraries, enabling families to access a range of toys and resources at an affordable price
training and education opportunities for parents
There are 19 Children’s centres all around Luton. To find one near you can contact the Children and Families Information Services or visit www.luton.gov.uk and search for Children’s Centres.
Resourced Nursery Schools at Children’s Centres
Luton has 7 mainstream Nursery Schools that are resourced with 16 part time places for pupils with severe and complex needs. The resources consist of specialist teachers, additional members of staff and specialised equipment. However, all the staff work with the pupils who have a resourced place to ensure they are included to access the curriculum along with their peers.
The 7 Nursery Schools are:
Hart Hill Nursery School, Whitecroft Road Tel: 01582 731 701
Chapel Street Nursery School, Russell St. Tel: 01582 413 552
Pastures Way Nursery School, Pastures Way Tel: 01582 600 691
Grasmere Nursery School, Icknield Way Tel: 01582 593 426
Rothesay Nursery School, Rothesay Road Tel: 01582 726 966
Gill Blowers Nursery School, Mossdale Site Tel: 01582 575 100
Family Workers
Every primary school and special school in Luton has a Family Worker. The role of a family worker is to provide advice, support and guidance to families and children.
No two family workers will hold the same role as the work they do is very much dependent on the school and its particular needs.
The role may include:
providing family support
providing general advice
organising coffee mornings
organising adult learning courses
running Mum’s and Tots groups
listening to parents views and opinions. If you have any concerns about your child, including specialHearing ImPaired Provision Outreach (HIPPO)
HIPPO provides support for Hearing Impaired (HI) and Deaf children from the initial diagnosis to leaving school. HIPPO is managed by Icknield Primary and High School. There are provisions for pupils with hearing impairments at Icknield Primary and Icknield High Schools.
Support can be offered in any of the following ways: Pre-school (0-2 years):
Home visits by a Teacher of the Deaf and/or a British Sign Language Tutor
Parents Groups
Liaison with Ear, Nose and Throat staff, Health and Social Care for the Deaf
Pre-school (2-5 years):
Support at local playgroup or other provision
Introduction to special provision at Icknield Nursery
School Age:
Monitoring of pupils at mainstream schools
Regular visits to mainstream schools offering specific advice and support
Liaison with Teachers and Teaching Support Assistants (TSAs) responsible for supporting individual HI
pupils
Visual Impairment Service (VI)
The VI Service provides support to children 0-18 who have a VI. The service works in partnership with parents, teachers and other professionals to ensure appropriate educational provision in mainstream schools, special schools and also in the child’s home. This service is part of the IsCAN Team (See IsCAN Section)
The service offers:
assessment of individual child’s needs
information, advice and support for parents
advice to teachers with regard to access to the National Curriculum
advice on appropriate school placement, information concerning specialist equipment and room
management
mobility / independent assessment and training
training for Teachers, Teaching Assistants and other agencies
There are provisions for pupils with VI at Chantry Primary and Putteridge High Schools. Social Communications Difficulties (SCD)/Speech and Language Team
This service consists of Teachers, Early Years Advisers and Teaching Assistants who are experienced in working with and supporting children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Aspergers Syndrome. The Advisory Teacher for Speech and Language is experienced in supporting children with speech and language delay/disorders. This service is part of the IsCAN Team (See IsCAN Section)
The service accepts referrals from schools and health professionals.
Pupils should have a diagnosis of ASD or should be in the process of assessment, with a strong likelihood of such a diagnosis being made
or
Pupils should have a Speech and Language Therapy / Educational Psychology report, which indicates that they have a significant speech and language impairment which will have an impact on their ability to access the curriculum.
The service offers advice and support to schools, teams, teachers, parents, Special Education Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) (See page on SENCos) to help provide the most appropriate learning environment and intervention strategies for pupils with autistic spectrum/speech and language difficulties.
This includes:
awareness raising and basic training on ASD/Speech and Language difficulties, including training on:
Attention and Listening, Phonological Difficulties, Receptive and Expressive Language, Semantic-Pragmatic Disorder, Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Aspergers Syndrome
support for pupils at times of transition between schools
professional development through workshops and courses which can be tailored to the needs of particular
schools and staff from other agencies
advice on setting targets to be used in Individual Education Plans, and their subsequent monitoring and
review
practical strategies for staff to use in the classroom to enable the child to have access to the curriculum and to develop their social integration
support for classroom management and differentiation of the curriculum to meet the needs of pupils with
social communication and/or speech and language difficulties
advice on resources and activities to promote the learning of pupils with autism and speech and language
difficulties
practical strategies for staff to use in the classroom to enable the child to have access to the curriculum
and to develop their social integration
There are also Autistic Units attached to Wigmore Primary School, Stopsley High School and Lea Manor
Lady Zia Wernher School Outreach Teams
The teams support children with physical impairment and disabilities in mainstream Luton schools. There are various teams that can help your child meet their full potential in a mainstream school.
Curriculum Access: The Outreach Team may be able to make suggestions or contributions to planning so your child is included in their school activities; for example, including a hemiplegic child in design technology, sewing, cooking etc; adapting the curriculum for children operating within the P Scales or P levels.
P Scales or P Levels are used for pupils with SEN who are not yet able to achieve the standards required at Level 1 of the National Curriculum subjects. They are used to assess the performance and set targets for, pupils with learning difficulties who are working towards Level 1.
Access to ICT, Computers and Recording: The ICT team can provide advice on:
appropriate hardware e.g. laptop computers, standard PC’s, alternative access devices for use with
computers e.g. switches, alternative mice, roller balls, touch screen, keyboards, etc
appropriate software to practice ICT skills and to support in other areas of the curriculum
how ICT can be used to support recording alongside or as an alternative to handwriting
how accessibility features can be used within the standard Word package
Safe Moving and Handling Team: The team offer support, advice and training for staff carrying out moving and handling procedures within a school context.
team can advise school and make suggestions as to how your child can join in and be included in school activities.
Feeding and Swallowing Assessment Team: If your child has difficulty feeding and swallowing the team may be able to help.
If you think your child would benefit from any of these services then speak to your child’s school and ask to be referred.
Luton Outreach Team Co-Ordinator, Tel: 01582 726 471 Fax: 01582 722 384 Email: outreach@ladyziawernher.primaryluton.co.uk
Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL)
Most primary schools in Luton run SEAL programmes. SEAL is a voluntary programme designed to develop the social and emotional skills of all pupils.
The skills are in five groups:
self-awareness
managing feelings
empathy
motivationThe programme helps children develop skills such as working in a group, understanding another’s point of view, sticking at things when they get difficult, resolving conflict and managing worries. It can help improve a child’s confidence and self-esteem. Some schools run initiatives such as circle time or buddy schemes.
Pupils can benefit from the development of these skills and regular opportunities to practice them at school. SEAL helps schools to create a safe and emotionally healthy school environment where pupils can learn effectively.
If you think your child would benefit from the SEAL programme you should talk to your school teacher, SENCo or Family Worker.
Special Schools
There are 3 special schools in Luton, two at primary level and one secondary school. They all employ highly qualified staff to educate and support the children. This ensures both the child’s educational needs and care needs are met. All children have access to a broad balanced and relevant curriculum including the national curriculum. For most children it is necessary to provide multisensory experiences to enhance and enrich learning opportunities. Facilities at the 3 schools include ICT suites, food technology rooms and comprehensive library as well as specialist facilities.
The schools have their own minibuses to take children on educational visits which provides them with a range of different learning opportunities. Each school works closely with families providing support, information and advice regarding their child. If you would like to visit one of the schools please contact the principal, as detailed under each school.
Lady Zia Wernher School
Lady Zia Wernher School is a primary special school for children between two and a half and eleven years of age. All the children have special educational needs with the majority having severe and complex levels of need. For the children, this means they are working at a level significantly below that of their mainstream peers. The children may also have complex medical needs.
Most of the children have physical disabilities and a large percentage of the children are non-mobile, just beginning to walk or have an unsteady gait. A physiotherapist provides treatment programmes, regular input and monitoring for the children. This helps to ensure the children retain their mobility as far as possible which is particularly important if the children have surgery. There is also occupational therapy input to monitor the children’s posture and seating requirements.
Speech and language therapy support communication and eating and swallowing difficulties. The input and support from this multi-professional team helps to ensure the children gain optimal benefit from the curriculum on offer at school. The majority of the children are non-verbal and so a key area for all the children is the development of their communication skills. Makaton signs and symbols are used to aid communication.
Specialist facilities include a hydro-therapy pool; multi-sensory room; ball pond; music garden and excellent outside play equipment including a wheelchair swing and roundabout. The school has a toy library with a great selection of toys to borrow including some switch-adapted toys. There are after school clubs during term time and in the summer holiday the Rainbow special needs playscheme provides respite care for families. The school runs various courses for parents and carers including Makaton, Moving and Handling and Infant Massage.
Lady Zia Wernher School, Ashcroft Road Luton LU2 9AY Tel: 01582 728 705
Richmond Hill School
Richmond Hill School is a school for primary aged children with severe and complex difficulties. Staff are supported by an extensive network of agencies such as speech and language therapists, the hearing impaired service, the visually impaired service, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, music therapists, educational psychologists, the social and communications difficulties service and those who specialise in English as a second language. British Sign Language (BSL), TEACCH and PECS are used within the school to help children communicate.
Classrooms are fully resourced to cater for a range of needs and it has a facility specifically designated for pupils with autism. Specialist facilities include: multi-sensory room; soft play room with ball pond; and excellent outside play facilities. Children also use the hydrotherapy pool at Lady Zia Wernher and swim at Putteridge recreation centre
Contact: Richmond Hill School, Sunridge Avenue Luton LU2 7JL Tel: 01582 721 019 www.richmondhillschool.co.uk Woodlands Secondary School
Woodlands is a Secondary School and further education unit for children aged 11-19. Students will have been assessed as having profound and multiple learning disabilities, severe learning disabilities or complex moderate learning disabilities. Within the range, students have autistic spectrum and other communication disorders, and/ or a visual or hearing impairment. Some children have significant medical needs. The specialist subject resources in art, design and technology, food technology, ICT and science give opportunity for students to experience a full secondary education that mirrors any secondary school. Specialist facilities include warm water therapy pool; multi-sensory room and sensory garden.
Some children have physiotherapy programmes. Students can also receive input from an occupational therapist, speech and language therapist and music therapist as required. Makaton, BSL and TEACCH are all used to help children communicate. Many children write or communicate using symbols. Careers advice is also available.
Contact: Woodlands Secondary School, Northwell Drive Luton LU3 3SP Tel: 01582 572 880
www.woodlandsluton.ik.org Special Education Needs - Transport
The Passenger Transport Unit (PTU) provides suitable transport to school for pupils and students with SEN who live within the Borough of Luton. Pupils and students are assessed by the SEN Team to identify their needs. This information is passed on to the PTU who in turn arrange transport.
The PTU employs approximately 50 drivers, escorts and carers. The PTU fleet consists of 50 vehicles, mostly minibuses, and many are fitted with tail lifts for wheelchair access. Some school transport routes are contracted out to local transport providers.
If you have a concern about your child's school transport you can talk to your child's school or the transport manager. Any major decisions regarding transport e.g. changing route or providing single transport is agreed by transport panel and not the PTU.
Contact: Transport Manager (Education) Passenger Transport Unit, Central Depot, Kingsway, Luton, LU4 8AU Tel: 01582 548 096 / 548 097 Email: transport.toschool@luton.gov.uk
IsCAN
Integrated Services for Children with Additional Needs (IsCAN)
The IsCAN brings together Social Work, Family Support and Education Support Services in Luton. IsCAN is
based at: 4th Floor, Unity House, 111 Stuart St, Luton, LU1 5NP.
Services within IsCAN are:
Education Support
Care Co-ordinator Service
Childcare Disability Team
Transition Team
Home Based Family Support Services
Shared Care Service
Fairway
Disability Information Officer
Luton Children Disability Register
ISCAN Support Services
There are several services within IsCAN that offer support in a variety of ways for children with special needs and their families. Their aim is to enable children with special needs to succeed educationally, socially and emotionally in Luton mainstream schools.
The services are:
Care Co-ordinator Service
Social Communications Difficulties (See Education Section)
Support Team for under 5’s
Visual Impairment Service (See Education Section)Administration and Information Officer Tel: 01582 548 151 Minicom: 01582 548 106
Email:gill.darbyshire@luton. gov.uk
Care Co-ordination Service
This is a service designed to support families with a child, aged 0 to 5 years who has complex care needs and requires services from more than one of the service providers. (Service providers being: Luton Borough Council’s IsCAN and Health).
Each family is allocated a care co-ordinator who helps to support them. They point your family to the services you may require and ensure that each service joins up to avoid duplication of information.
The service is able to offer a designated care coordinator to support families from the South Asian community. For more information please contact: Care Coordination Service
Support Team for Under 5’s
This service offers advice and support to children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) aged 0-5 years, their parents, carers and providers within the Early Years Sector. Any health professional can refer your child to the Under 5’s Team.
When a referral is received by the Support Team for Under 5’s, they will make an appointment to meet you and your child in your home. You will be allocated a support worker. An assessment will take place over 6-8 weeks and the support worker will produce a report on your child and circulate it, with your consent, to everyone involved in your child’s care. If your child has not been seen at the Edwin Lobo Centre, the support worker will make an appointment for your child to have a Multi Disciplinary Assessment there. The support worker will continue to visit your child at home until your child starts at nursery or school.
The support team for under 5’s also runs five different groups each week. The support workers will advise you on which group will be the most suitable for your child. The groups are:
Sensory Group Lady Zia Wernher School
First Steps Liverpool Road Health Centre
Opportunity Group Gill Blowers Children’s Centre
Sensory Group Foxdell Nursery & Children’s Centre
Childcare Disability Team
The Childcare Disability Team provides a range of services for disabled children and their families. To be eligible for support, a child with a disability needs to be substantially affected in their everyday living by one or more of the following:
learning disability
physical disability
chronic physical ill health
Autistic Spectrum Disorder
severe communication or language disorder
sensory impairment (Children with a sensory impairment may be allocated to the Social and
Communication Difficulties Team (SCD) See Education Section) Following a statutory assessment of need their role is to:
assess the needs of children and families and offer support, advice and information
plan a programme of care when needed
liaise with other agencies, such as Health, to ensure help and support offered to families is coordinated
provide short breaks and respite care for children and young people when needed
support access for disabled children and their families to practical help at home, personal care, play
schemes and support groups.
They can also provide funding to other organisations that offer services to disabled children e.g. holiday play schemes
