Able Kidz work to make the journey of a disabled child’s education a fulfilling and positive experience They do this by provision of specialist equipment, computers and software to the children or school and also by funding any extra tuition needs of a child.
School
Extra Help...in & out of the Classroom
If you're looking for extra help for a child with SEN, Dyslexia, or on the autistic spectrum you have come to the right place!
What are Special Educational Needs (SEN)?
Your child has Special Educational Needs if they have a difficulty or disability which makes learning harder for them than for other kids their age. It could be anything from dyslexia or dyspraxia, to emotional or social problems. These pages will give you a rough idea of how the SEN system works.
You might also find this section useful if your child’s education is being affected by:
· lengthy stays in hospital
· mobility issues around their school
· sight or hearing problems that prevent them from fully accessing the curriculum.
Your child also might have SEN and be gifted in another way. This is called Dual or Multiple Exceptionality. You can find out more with some brilliant factsheets from the NAGC about supporting gifted kids with additional needs.
Levels of help
There are lots of levels of help available to your child, with a statement being right at the top. Have a conversation with your school teacher or SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator) for advice on the level your child needs.
The educational support process is like a staircase, and your child can only move up one step at a time, if it is clear that they are not making progress with the current level of support. It can take time to get them the right support, so hang in there, and be patient.
There’s some great advice here:
Special Educational Needs (SEN): A guide for parents and carers
The under 5s
The earlier a special educational need is identified, the better. There is a really clear process to help figure out how to best support your child. Talk to your child’s GP or key worker and ask to see the SENCO.
Directgov: Identifying special educational needs in under fives
Here are the different stages of support that your child may go through:
Early Years Action: Your child's pre-school teacher/SENCO will talk through your child’s needs, assess them and decide with you what help to give. They might call it an Individual Education Plan (IEP)
Early Years Action Plus: If not enough progress is made, your child then moves on to Early Years Action Plus. This might get them specialist support from a therapist or teacher who can assess and give more precise ways to support the IEP goals.
Your local authority might agree to fund the extra help.
School age kids
Starting School
Even without a statement, your child’s school could put a lot of support in place, including giving homework or lessons at different levels, moving your child to a smaller working group, giving some 1:1 time, and tailoring teaching to help your child make better progress.
A brilliant relationship with your child’s class teacher and SENCO is vital. Every teacher wants to make a difference, but budgets are tight. Praise staff when plans work and keep in mind that you are part of the ‘team’. The relationships you develop with your SENCO could be life-changing for your child.
You might hear teachers talk about P-scales when discussing your child’s achievement level. You can find more information about these here:
What are 'P' scales and how do I get hold of a copy? Department for Education
The staircase…what happens next?
About IEPs
School Action: your child will have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) designed to give them more support.
School Action Plus: provides more support. Outside specialists or therapists might be brought in.
Tip: go through the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice. A tough slog, but very worthwhile: Special Education Needs: Code of Practice
If your child still isn’t making enough progress, you will move on to the great adventure known as statementing
Action for children
Action for Children works with disabled children, young people and their families. Their mission is to help them live the lives they choose by providing fun, inclusive and flexible support.
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A parent-led organisation to help children and young people with speech and language impairments and their families. They provide information and training for parents - and professionals - and produce a range of publications.
An independent voluntary organisation that offers information, advice and support to parents and carers of children and young people with special needs
Barrington Stoke is an independent publisher dedicated to cracking reading! Their books are commissioned, edited and designed to break down the barriers that can stop reading develop, from dyslexia and visual stress to simple reluctance.
Buttle UK - School Fees programme
Their School Fees programme transforms the lives of vulnerable children (aged 11 and over) with medical, emotional, or social difficulties, and those with precarious home lives, by providing a more supportive secondary education.
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CSIE gives information and advice on the special educational needs of pre-school children and school pupils up to the age of 19. CSIE also supports parents' campaign groups, families and schools, and produces a range of booklets and information factsheets.
Crick Software
Award-winning, easy-to-use reading and writing software for children and people with special needs.
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Deaf247
Deaf 247 provides a directory of resources of all things for people with hearing issues and deafness. There is a link to almost anything you can possibly think of…from specialist schools, to courses in sign language, to speak and language therapy even holidays and fun activities.
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Dream Makers
Dream makers have sent disabled and sick children on dream holidays, to Disney World, Disney Land, Lapland and swim with the dolphins. They have helped with therapy treatments, bought wheelchairs and other equipment etc., given major support with educational needs and provided entertainers for out patients departments in hospitals and clinics, keeping children occupied while waiting for their treatment.
For full details of all their services visit their website.
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Provides information on specific learning difficulties that may be undermining your child's performance, as well as learning strategies that can potentially be applied to all children of all abilities. Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia.
A charity that supports teachers of pupils with learning difficulties including production of support materials and workshops.
KIDS - Early Years
Their early Years services work with babies and young children from birth to five and include encouraging children to play together and have fun whilst also promoting motor skills and communication development.
They offer...
Home learning - also known as Portage, is an early education intervention programme which recognises parents as the main educators for their child. The service is for disabled children aged up to five years (mainly pre-nursery stage) or whose development is causing concern.
A key worker - who will work in partnership with families to oversee and coordinate the delivery of these services and provide families with a single point of contact for information and advice and for emotional and practical support.
KIDS nurseries and crèches
Children’s Centres - providing practical, emotional and advisory support and additional information on services
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Little Beehive Montessori tutoring
Little Beehive offers 1:1 and group educational tutoring for children ages 2.5 to 7 years of age. Focuses on sensory materials. Giving extra help in core school subjects.
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Littlesheep Learning sells teaching and learning resources. In our online shop, we stock a range of games and jigsaws, educational resources and specially selected teaching materials. Their products are ideal for children with special educational needs (SEN) and anyone who wants to support and encourage their child's learning from pre-school throughout their primary education.
Max and Friends
Max and Friends combines the entertainment of a classic children’s television program with the rigor of an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) approach to curriculum.
Max and Friends is fun, easy to use and, best of all, it will help children develop the critical skills that are the foundation for all learning.
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Offers information, advice and support for parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs. You can ask for details of your local service from your child's school or local authority. You can also find details about their services, and contact details for your local service on their website.
Newsbeat
Cerebra's quarterly magazine Newsbeat is free to members. They feature columns written by parents about their experiences. Updates on research being carried out that might be of interest to people caring for children with neurological conditions, and articles written by professionals in many different fields.
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Parents for inclusion is a self-help organisation giving information, advice and support on education matters to parents of children with learning difficulties. It has parent support groups and can help a parent prepare their representations or case for an appeal. Publications are available. Tel: 020 7738 3888.
Portage is a home-visiting educational service for pre-school children with additional support needs and their families.
We are a small family company who has developed a tried and tested reading scheme in kit form with which anyone - including special needs child or adult, can learn to read in 6 - 10 weeks of just 10 mins daily.
Teaching kids to read, especially those who struggle. Research, classroom strategies, parent tips, books & authors, and much more, for educators and families.
A fab resource for teachers and dedicated parents to quickly and easily create printable worksheets, activities, and tests for a wide range of student levels and abilities.
ICT resources for learners of all ages with special educational needs. They also provide a wide range of practical and inspiring services to support SENCOs, classroom teachers and LEAs.
SEN Teacher provides cost-free teaching & learning resources for students with special needs and learning disabilities.
Sensory Linq UK
Sensory Linq are specialists in the field of sensory impairment. They offer support, guidance and training to local authorities, social and health care agencies in order to help them meet statutory requirements. They can even give you advice on meeting the needs of children who are deafblind (have multisensory impairment) on request.
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Children attend a group session at Small Steps once per week with a parent or carer. A team of teachers, conductors and physiotherapists lead the parent/ child team through a structured programme designed to help each child achieve the next developmental steps.
Special Educational Consortium
The Special Educational Consortium (SEC) is a group of organisations who protect and promote the right of disabled children and children with special educational needs to a high - quality education which meets their needs.
SEC also has a Parliamentary Group that is particularly active during the passage of legislation. The role of the Parliamentary Group is to represent the views of SEC to members of parliament.
What do they do?
•They provide the SEN and disability sector with a strong and unified voice with which to talk to Government, Parliament and officials.
•They provide a forum for the its members to develop their thinking on education policy and set political strategy across the sector.
For more information visit the website or ring the number.
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SENAC is a charity in Northern Ireland providing an independent advice, information and advocacy service for parents of children and young people with special educational needs up to the age of 19 across a wide range of learning difficulties. Advice Line: 028 9079 5779
A group of families who home educate children with Special Educational Needs.
Online support group for families of disabled children with special needs. The aim is to bring families together for friendship, to share information and to support one another. Advice on education, services, therapies, respite and other issues.If you care for a disabled child, you and your child may be entitled to some financial assistance and concessions to aid with the increase in living and travelling costs.
Publishes a range of books and materials for teachers and parents of dyscalculic children that will enable you to work with your child at home.
A directory for Special Educational Needs and Information Communication Technology Resources. Provide a central location for all your favourite resources, as well as introduce you to new ones you might not have found otherwise for your child or individual with learning or physical difficulties.
This is a website for parents, carers and people who work with and for disabled young people in transition to adulthood.
