SEND provision for Early Years ages 0 to 5
As a parent or carer of a child with learning and development delay or SEND there is a range of learning and development support for your child as well as family support available in Waltham Forest and nationwide.
We have the following support available:
- Pre and Post Autism Diagnostic Support
- Good Beginnings
- Parent Awareness course (PAWS)
- Early Bird
Parenting and behaviour support
Waltham Forest’s Early Help Service provide a range of workshops and courses. These give parents all the tools and confidence they need to parent their children more effectively, manage challenging behaviours, and support their children’s learning and development. You can call 020 8496 2442 for more information.
Waltham Forest Educational Psychology Service offers free monthly parent and carer consultation sessions for families living in Waltham Forest. They are qualified specialists in child psychology and child development. They specialise in supporting children and young people with special educational needs, learning difficulties and social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.
You can find out more and book a 30-minute consultation by emailing the Educational Psychology Service team.
Find out more about toileting.
Find out more about eating and drinking.
If your child has or may have dysphagia (swallowing) eating and drinking difficulties they are likely to be referred to the Speech and Language Service for specialist support.
Bonding and Attachment
You can contact your Health Visitor, who will be able to help, or if appropriate, they can make a referral to the Child and Adult Mental Health Service or the Service Perinatal Parent Infant Mental Health for support.
Separation anxiety
You can contact your Health Visitor, who will be able to help, or if appropriate, they can make a referral to the Child and Adult Mental Health Service or the Service Perinatal Parent Infant Mental Health for support.
Family Relationships
Waltham Forest’s Early Help Service can allocate a named worker to work with your family when you need more support. The aim is to address problems at the earliest opportunity, before they escalate, and to enable families to support their children in reaching their full potential. You can self-refer or agree with a professional who is working with your family to make a referral.
Waltham Forests Adult Health and Wellbeing Service are also able to provide a link worker to support with issues around marriage break up, low mood, anxiety and relationship conflict.
Find out more about national organisations that can help with family relationships.
Support with stress and anxiety
Our Best Start in Life Programme provides a range of support and information support for parents/carers of under 5’s as well as access to a range of early childhood services.
You can contact your Health Visitor who will be able to help or if appropriate they can make a referral to the Child and Adult Mental Health Service or Service Perinatal Parent Infant Mental Health for support.
Waltham Forest’s Early Help Service are able to allocate a named worker to work with your family when you need more support. The aim is to address problems at the earliest opportunity before they can escalate and to enable families to support their children to reach their full potential. You can self-refer or agree with a professional who is working with your family to make a referral.
Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest are also able to provide a range of support around wellbeing, anxiety and depression
Find out more about national organisations that can help with family relationships.
Opportunities to build friendship/peer groups
All children and families can access a range of free inclusive activities for children of all abilities as part of our Best Start in Life Offer. Some sessions are specifically for children with learning and development delay or SEND. Attending these sessions provide parents/carers an opportunity to make new friends, meet existing friends and support each other through their child’s development journey.
Waltham Forest Parent’s Forum is a friendly, voluntary group of parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and or disabilities aged 0 to 25 in Waltham Forest. You can join the forum through their website and find out more about their regular support groups.
Waltham Forest Carers First offers a weekly borough-wide Parent's Talk Time group where parents get the chance to talk, share useful information, and support each other in a safe environment.
Money and Benefits
Citizens Advice Waltham Forest provides free, confidential, and impartial advice. Their aim is to help everyone find a way forward, whatever problem they face. They will advise on the benefits available to you as a parent or carer of a child with SEND. Also, they can advise on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children and help with filling in the DLA form for your child.
SENDIASS Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) for children, young people, parents, and carers within the Waltham Forest area. They are able to provide a range of support around benefits and schemes that parents/carers of children with SEND can access. These schemes can provide financial assistance as well information, advice, and guidance around services available as part of the Early Years Inclusion Pathway, education, health and social care and EHC plans based on local and national law and guidance.
Find out more about other organisations that can provide money and debt advice.
Supporting children who are seriously ill and have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions
Haven House supports local children and families, from birth, who are seriously ill and have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.
You can ask a health professional who is working with your child to make a referral to access respite, yoga, music therapy, and play sessions.