Support and Advice
Index
Local support groups and services
It is difficult to know where to start, and who to turn to, when your child/young person has emerging, or a diagnosis of special educational needs. Click on the links below to find information, support and resources offered locally.
SEND Allkind Wandsworth
Send Allkind support adults, children and young people, families and communities with mental health support. They offer early intervention to ongoing support.
Wandsworth’s SEND Local Offer website
Wandsworth’s SEND local offer provides information on services, activities and providers that the council expects to be available locally for children and young people from 0 to 25 who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Family Information Service
The Family Information Service provides information and assistance to parents, children, young people and professionals on support services and activities for the 0-19 years age group (25 if the young person has a special need).
Wandsworth Information Advice and Support Service (WIASS)
WIASS is part of the national Information, Advice and Support Services Network (IASSN for SEND).
All WIASS staff are legally trained on special educational needs and disability law by external independent trainers on SEND Law.
How we can help you.
We may be able to support you to:
- Find out information related to SEND (including how the Local Authority (LA), early years settings, schools and colleges should work with parents, children and young people)
- Understand and take part in Education, Health and Care Needs assessments/plan and Annual Reviews
- Prepare and or attend school/LA meetings or early years/school/college visits
- Read through and understand letters, forms, and reports on SEND
- Give your views during meetings, visits or in writing
- Know what you can do if you do not agree with a decision made by the LA or an early years setting, school or college.
Wandsworth Autism Advisory Service (WAAS)
WAAS offers support to parents/carers who have a child with autism/social communication difficulties or those who are undergoing an assessment for autism, through:
- COFFEE MORNINGS: These are free for any parent of a CYP who has a diagnosis of autism (or is on the pathway for assessment). They provide a casual setting with no set agenda for parents to come and ask questions and also share experiences with other parents.
- PARENT WORKSHOPS: These are events which are run by professionals within the WAAS team and will focus on a particular area of need. They will focus on understanding more about autism and offer strategies to support parenting with a space to ask questions at the end.
Parenting Autistic Children Together (P.A.C.T. Course): These are one day courses designed to introduce parents to an overview of what autism is and how it can be supported. We recommend parents then engage with our workshops following completion of this course to gain more specific knowledge.
Wandsworth Autism Advisory Service (WAAS) You Tube channel
There are a range of videos demonstrating how to use particular strategies such as using timers, now and next or choice boards, visual timetables and many more. There are also a number of training recordings.
Wandsworth Carers Centre
Wandsworth Carers Centre is a registered charity that has been providing support to to unpaid carers in Wandsworth since 1995. They can provide help, support, advice and guidance on a range of issues relating to caring for a child or young person with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Supporting Disabled Children's Service
Support for children and young people with severe and enduring disabilities from 0-25 years old and their parents/carers.
Services Include:
- support for children and young people, their families and carers
- assessments of children and young people’s needs
- ensuring the safety of disabled children and young people
- identification of additional resources required
- care of looked after children and young people with disabilities, and organisation of short breaks
- personal Budgets and direct payments
Disabled Children's Register
The Disabled Children’s Register (DCR) records details of children and young people in Wandsworth who have a physical or learning disability. The Register collects information on children and young people who are under 18 years old.
What are the benefits of registering?
You will:
- receive regular information on services for you and/or your child or young person, via eNewsletters
- be able to apply for a WAND card if you meet the criteria; and
- have your say on influencing services in Wandsworth.
WAND card and WAND Card Plus
WAND cards are provided to children and young people who are on the Disabled Children’s Register (DCR) as they have a significant level of special educational needs, disabilities or complex health needs.
The Wand Card and Wand Card + (18-25 years) give eligibility for a range of discounts and concessions from participating business and services, leisures centres and parking in Wandsworth.
Blue Badge parking scheme
A Blue Badge is a parking permit which allows people with certain disabilities to park closer to where they need to go.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
DLA is a tax-free benefit for children under 16 and young people over 16 with a physical and/or learning disability who need help with personal care or walking.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) started to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from 8th April 2013 for people aged 16 to 64 with a health condition or disability.
Personal Budgets
Personal budgets are available for support which is individual to the child or young person. They allow parents and young people more choice and control over the support they receive.
Direct Payments
Direct payments are a way of assisting people to gain greater independence in their lives and more control over their support arrangements.
Support for kinship carers
A Kinship carer is anyone who is raising a child that is not their own. You can be a relative, or even a family friend. There are different types of kinship carers but all are entitled to information, advice and support as many will be raising children who have had adverse life experiences and issues related to trauma and attachment.
Kinship
Kinship is the leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. They deliver national support, advice and information and connect kinship carers, so they feel empowered rather than isolated.
They offer a helpline and website to support kinship carers when they take on the caring role in difficult family circumstances.
The service offers advice and support on topics including:
- local support groups;
- kinship care;
- money;
- work;
- housing;
- legal advice;
- education; and childcare.
You can find out more HERE.
Post Permanence Support
The Post Permanence Support team offers support, advice and information to families who are permanently caring for children other than their birth children.
Services offered:
- linking carers with resources;
- advocating on behalf of carers;
- help and support for the children/young people in the care of their Special Guardians.
- providing training and specialist support groups
- provide a duty helpline Monday to Friday
The team also runs a monthly support group, on the third Tuesday of every month at:
Falcon Grove Resource Centre
10 Falcon Grove, London,
SW11 2ST
From 11am – 1pm
The Virtual School:
Every Council is required in law to have a Virtual School Head who is the lead officer for ensuring that pupils with a social worker, or those who have had one within 6 years, are supported to realise their academic potential and beyond, particularly given that nearly 50% of children in Kinship care have special educational needs.
The Virtual School is responsible for overseeing the achievement of children in Kinship Care, including those with informal kinship arrangements.
You can find more information HERE.
Peer Support for Kinship Carers
Kinship, the Charity, has peer led support groups in most local authorities. The Battersea peer support group meets monthly at:
Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN
It’s open to all kinship carers in Battersea and nearby areas.
A space to talk and support other kinship carers. No judgement, just understanding and signposting to support.
