Please find below information and links to websites which you may find useful.

Affinity Hub – Emotional support for parents of children with special needs

This website aims to provide emotional support to parents and carers of children with special needs.  Many parents of disabled children or children with special needs face additional associated challenges in practical, physical and emotional terms. Sometimes when life doesn’t follow an expected, mainstream, non-disabled path it can make you feel isolated and like you’re the only one going through certain emotions and experiences.  The aim of these pages is to provide a virtual home for parents and carers to realise you are not alone. There are many other families also going through similar experiences and feeling similar complex emotions. Some of the thoughts and experiences of other families are included under words of wisdom.   There is information under professional support listing organisations and counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists who can provide further emotional support if necessary.  Please visit the website Affinity Hub

Cerebra – Problem-Solving Toolkit

This toolkit aims to support disabled people and carers, as well as their families and advisers, who are encountering difficulties with the statutory agencies in relation to the provision of health, social care and education support services. This toolkit aims to unpick these problems and to develop effective strategies for resolving them.  Please visit the website here.

Council for Disabled Children

The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) is the umbrella body for the disabled children’s sector in England, with links to other UK nations.  It is a national body that brings together the diverse range of organisations that work with and for disabled children to support the development and implementation of policy and practice.  The website can be found here

Dreams Come True

Supports children with serious or life limiting medical conditions from disadvantaged communities, by making their dream come true. In the first instance it aims to have a particular focus on the North of England, but this will be followed by the South later in the year.  The charity accepts referrals from education, medical and healthcare, or social care professionals. Families, parents or carers can’t refer their child directly to the charity. Further details can be found on their website Dreams Come True.

e-safety adviser

This website provides DITTO – The Free Online Safety Magazine which is written specifically for schools and parents, a new edition is shared monthly to keep staff and parents up to date with the latest issues, risks, advice, guidance and opinion with a view to enjoying the wonders of technology – safely! The magazine can be found here.

EHCP Journeys- Education Health and Care Plans for Children and Young People with SEN and Disabilities

This website shows the EHC process from the perspective of families and aims to support areas to improve local services.  Please visit the website EHCP Journeys.

Family Information Service

Gloucestershire Family Information Service (FIS) advisors give impartial information on childcare, finances, parenting and education. They support families, children and young people aged 0- 19 years of age (25 for young people with additional needs) and professionals working with these families.   The website can be found here.

Glosfamilies Directory – Support for Families in Gloucestershire

This website contains useful advice and guidance for families, as well as things to do in Gloucestershire and its surrounds.   Glosfamilies send out a regular newsletter which is interesting and informative.  You can access the website here and sign up to receive their newsletter.

Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum

IPSEA is an independent charity covering the whole of England which offers an information service, advice line, tribunal helpline and tribunal support.   The IPSEA website contains helpful model letters, FAQs, a jargon buster and much more.  The website can be visited here

My Adult – Still My Child

A guide for parents/carers of adults (16+) who may not be able to make decisions

This website is co-produced and inspired by those who have experienced decision making within health and welfare settings and felt unprepared or challenged without such guidance. The website is aimed at those new to making Best Interest Decisions and especially those caring for a young person in transition to adult services.   The website can be found here

National Development Team for Inclusion

The National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) is a not for profit organisation working to enable people at risk of exclusion, due to age or disability, to live the life they choose. They inspire and support policymakers, services and communities to make change happen – change that leads to better lives.

Parent Zone

From internet safety magazines and online training, to parent guides on the latest digital trends and platforms, you can find advice and support here.

Parent Allowlisting

YouTube have introduced a new service called Parent Allowlisting which can be used on mobile devices where a parent can approve a video/channel from the main YouTube app into their child’s YouTube Kids account.

There is a link to a video explainer on YouTube which you can find HERE.

Should I keep my child off school?

The UK Health Security Agency have updated information for Schools and Early Years Providers which includes a series of posters to download or order free printed copies providing a summary of recommend exclusion periods for common and less common childhood infectious diseases.  Further information can be found by following these links:

Infectious diseases: education and childcare settings – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  This poster includes exclusion periods: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1070910/UKHSA-should-I-keep-my_child_off_school_guidance-A3-poster.pdf

ThinkUKnow

ThinkUKnow is an education programme from the National Crime Agency’s CEOP Command.

Since 2006, ThinkUKnow has been keeping children and young people safe by providing education about sexual abuse and sexual exploitation.  ThinkUKnow is unique. It is underpinned by the latest intelligence about child sex offending from CEOP Command.

ThinkUKnow aims to ensure that everyone has access to this practical information – children, young people, their parents and carers and the professionals who work with them.  Alongside the ThinkUKnow website the programme provides educational resources, including films, cartoons and lesson plans, to help professionals raise young people’s awareness.

Together for Short Lives

Support for Parents and Professionals

Together for Short Lives is a leading UK charity that speaks out for all children and young people who are expected to have short lives.  Together with everyone who provides care and support to these children and families, the charity is  there to help them have as fulfilling lives as possible and the very best care at the end of life.  The website can be found here

Transition to Adult Services

It can be a very worrying time for parents and carers as their child moves from familiar children’s services to new adult services and is expected to take on decision-making responsibility for themselves. This factsheet from Together for Short lives aims to help parents to think about the different elements of transition that need to be planned for and to provide tips to help the process feel as smooth as possible.

Transition to adult services fact sheet

The Sleep Charity

The Sleep Charity, incorporating The Sleep Council, provide advice and support to empower the nation to sleep better.
We campaign to improve sleep support and access to high quality information, raise awareness of the value of a good night’s sleep and promote understanding around the complexities of sleep. The National Sleep Helpline can help with your sleep problems.

YouTube – my family

A simple and helpful guide for parents who would like to manage the YouTube experience of their children. YouTube – More choices for families from YouTube