SEND Directory

Sense is a national charity that supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deafblind or who have complex disabilities to communicate.

They provide tailored support, advice, and information as well as specialist services to all deafblind people, their families, carers and the professionals who work with them.

In addition, they support people who have single sensory impairment with additional needs.

The NHS's Services and Support for Parents website provides information and general support services for new parents. 

• Visit the NHS Services and Support for Parents website

Tips for new parents

A quick guide from the NHS with essential tips on caring for your baby during the early weeks. 

Shine is a national charity providing specialist advice and support pre-birth and throughout life, to anyone with or affected by:

• Spina Bifida
• Hydrocephalus
• Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
• Anencephaly
• Encephalocele - also may be known as Cranium Bifida
• Tethered Cord
• Idiopathic intracranial hypertension
• Chiari II Malformatio 

Shine provides a range of support such as benefits, support for carers, employment and disability, education, legal services and more. 

Short breaks, also known as respite, provide opportunities for children and young people with special needs to spend time away from their primary carers. These breaks can occur during the day, evening, overnight, weekends, or school holidays and can take place in various settings such as the child's home, an approved carer's home, a residential setting, or a community location.

Types of short breaks:

Personal budgets for children and young people with special needs and/or disabilities and their families will now be known as the Short Breaks Grant.  

A new policy statement and self-assessment form are being finalised and launched in early 2025. 

This page will soon include more details. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact the Disabled Children’s Team.

The Sleep Charity advocates for improved sleep support and access to free, high-quality information. 

Speech and Language UK is a charity that gives children and young people the skills they need so they aren’t left behind, waiting to be understood. 

Their free resources and services can help you understand what to look out for, your child’s speech, language, and communication milestones, how to get support, and even some simple ways you can help your child at home.

They create tools for schools and nurseries and advise and guide families.

Families

Afasic is a parent-led membership organisation that supports and provides information for families with children and young adults with Speech Language and Communication Needs (SLCN), focusing on Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).

Some of their services include:

The Stroke Association supports individuals in rebuilding their lives after a stroke. They offer specialist support, fund research, and advocate for ensuring the best care and support for stroke survivors.

Childhood Stroke:

For those affected by childhood stroke, the Childhood Stroke Support team answers questions and connects individuals with practical information and guidance.

• Visit the Childhood Stroke website for more details
   

SWAN UK is the UK's only dedicated support network for families affected by undiagnosed genetic conditions, often called syndromes without a name (SWAN).

Their mission is to ensure every family receives the support they need, regardless of diagnosis status. Their efforts include: