This page provides information and resources for parents and carers including information on local organisations, local workshops and courses available in Herefordshire.
Supporting your child with additional needs can impact on the health and wellbeing of parents and carers, if you are feeling that things are becoming overwhelming, please contact your GP to discuss support options available for you.
Local support:
Parent Carer Voice Herefordshire – Your voice matters work with (not for) local authorities, health commissioning bodies and social care to represent parent views and experiences to influence and inform the provision and services used by our children, young people and their families. PCVH believes in co-production. Co-production is when parent carers play an integral and equal part in the decision-making process and are fully engaged in shaping, developing, implementing and evaluating services and systems.
Being a parent by Herefordshire Council has information on free local training courses for parents of SEND children & young people.
Welcome to the virtual family hub, full of useful tips about health and wellbeing, family life, your child's development and keeping safe. There's information to support the best start in life and a happy, healthy family home.
Children's centre services offer early help in a number of ways to make sure children have the best possible start in life. They offer a range of different services, including Early Help, to help support your family's needs right up until your child starts school. Support and services are available for all the family and carers involved in your child's care, including children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The services provided at each centre depend on local needs – they are developed in consultation with local communities.
Early Help is about providing your family with the right support at the right time, to meet your needs and help you to achieve lasting positive change in your everyday life. Early help support can be provided if you have a child or young person up to the age of 18 years or up to 25 years old for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Carers information on organisations that can give you information and advice to support you in your caring role.
Children’s Services | Crossroads Together offer practical support for unpaid carers who look after someone with a disability or life affecting illness. If you're new to caring or are an existing carer who needs some additional support, you can also access their free CarerLinks Herefordshire information and advice service
Solihull Approach online parenting courses are a series of NICE approved resources for parents and carers who want to learn more about sensitive and effective parenting and building a positive relationship with their child. This includes a specific course for parents of children with additional needs.
SENDIASS training provide free training to local education, health and social care professionals, children, young people and parents/ carers to increase knowledge of SEND law, guidance, local policy, issues and participation.
SENDIASS have tried to list all of the local support (available across Herefordshire & Worcestershire) and the national support available for SEND for young people, parents, carers and professionals.
SENDIASS guidance for young people has information about SENDIASS Young Person Advisors and guidance for career options, adulthood, money, mentoring, helpful resources and mental health.
Local offer special educational needs and disabilities provides more information about support that your child could receive in relation to your child’s educational needs, together with other local services and support.
National Support:
Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (known as IPSEA). IPSEA provide online and face to face training on the SEND legal framework for parents and carers, professionals and other organisations.
