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SPACE offers free support to families of children and young people with SEND, delivered by parents and carers with lived experience. They offer:

one-to-one support

guidance information and resources

community events

online groups

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Home | Support for Parents And Carers in Essex

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SPACE offers free support to families of children and young people with SEND, delivered by parents and carers with lived experience. They offer:

one-to-one support

guidance information and resources

community events

online groups

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Home | Support for Parents And Carers in Essex

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Essex Child & Family Wellbeing Service offer support services for primary school aged children. The team consists of Specialist Community Public Health Nurses, Band 5 Nurses, Children and Young Person's Practitioners (CYPP) and Healthy Family Support Practitioners (HFSP).

Support offered:

Emotional health and wellbeing

Improving sleep

Nutritional support

Physical health complaints

Health needs assessment

Managing health conditions

Personal hygiene

Signposting, advice & support

Contact the school nurse team on 0300 247 0015

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Do you provide help and support for a partner, child, relative, or friend who otherwise couldn’t manage? We can help.

We have a range of support for Adult Carers around the county.

Initially, we will have a chat with you to understand your situation and any challenges you are facing, working with you to identify what support you might need so we can direct you to the right support.

We can speak to you in person, online or over the phone – however your feel more comfortable. Either way, we have secure systems and processes in place to keep your data private and confidential.

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A Carer is someone who, without payment, provides help and support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without their help.

This could be due to age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability.

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A Carer is someone who, without payment, provides help and support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without their help. This could be due to age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability.

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SPACE offers free support to families of children and young people with SEND, delivered by parents and carers with lived experience. They offer:

one-to-one support

guidance information and resources

community events

online groups

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Home | Support for Parents And Carers in Essex

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Essex Child & Family Wellbeing Service offer support services for primary school aged children. The team consists of Specialist Community Public Health Nurses, Band 5 Nurses, Children and Young Person's Practitioners (CYPP) and Healthy Family Support Practitioners (HFSP).

Support offered:

Emotional health and wellbeing

Improving sleep

Nutritional support

Physical health complaints

Health needs assessment

Managing health conditions

Personal hygiene

Signposting, advice & support

Contact the school nurse team on 0300 247 0015

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We offer specialist support to children and young people aged 5-18 who have autism and/or ADHD. Alongside this, we provide guidance and practical help for their parents and carers. Our holistic, child-centred approach focuses on emotional wellbeing, understanding individual needs and developing practical support strategies. We aim to help families feel understood, reassured and empowered as they navigate their own unique journey.

Children must have a diagnosis of autism and/or ADHD or have had a referral for diagnosis accepted.

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Essex Neurodiversity Support Service - Kids

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Shropshire Universal Autism Support project is a service supporting the emotional well-being of children and young people.

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Autism & ADHD advice at your pace. We help children and young people under 25 and their families. You don’t need a diagnosis of autism to get help.

Our service is free for families living in North East Essex (Colchester and Tendring).

Assistance in understanding the EHCP process

Attending meetings with schools or professionals

Advice on strategies that may help at home

Guidance and advice on where to find the right community support for you with a focus on autism/ADHD

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Supporting children and young people (aged 0-25) and their families. Read on to find out more about how we support families.

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SPACE offers free support to families of children and young people with SEND, delivered by parents and carers with lived experience. They offer:

one-to-one support

guidance information and resources

community events

online groups

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Home | Support for Parents And Carers in Essex

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Find out about help available for children and young people with SEND (aged 0 to 25).
This is called the Essex Local Offer.

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Essex County Council: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) | Essex Local Offer

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We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use this website, remember your settings and improve this service.

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Young Carers are children who look after a friend or family member, due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction. They often take on responsibilities normally expected of an adult. They can struggle to balance caring with going to school, doing homework, and making time for themselves and their friends.

We provide services for Young Carers in Essex and their families so they get the support they deserve.  Whether they need somebody to talk to who understands or a break from caring and the chance to meet other Young Carers.

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Young Carers Action Day took place nationally on Wednesday 11 March. Organised by Carers Trust, the annual event shines a spotlight on the incredible children and young people who help care for family members who may be ill, disabled or experiencing mental health...

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SEND Sensation is a local trusted partnership that brings together communities to offer families choice and empower children and young people to access opportunities.

Since 2023, SEND Sensation has offered Short Breaks community clubs and activities to families in Essex living with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

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Send Sensation | Local. Accessible. Positive.

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A partnership of locally trusted organisations that promote a level playing field and positive experiences for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

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Weekly youth club for 8-14 year old young people with SEND.

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InterAct is an innovative, enterprising, local Essex based charity that delivers support where needed most – in the heart of the community. We are forward-thinking and fast-paced. Our work is challenging and the environment can be pressurised but… we enjoy it!

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Essex Short breaks give parent carers and siblings of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities a break from their additional caring responsibilities, whilst enabling children and young people to meet friends, take part in activities, develop independence and have fun. It is part of Essex County Council's early help approach.

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Short Breaks for disabled children in Essex

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Short Breaks can help you with your caring responsibilities, have time away, find clubs and more.

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Information and videos about the Autism assessment process.

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Information and videos about the ADHD assessment process.

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East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

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If your child has been referred for ADHD, they will be booked for an initial assessment with a clinician.

Before the first appointment we may invite your child to come in for a QB test first. This is a computer based test that takes about 15 to 20 minutes dependent on the child's age.

When your child then comes for the first appointment, the doctor will discuss the child's full history and will review the QB results.

We may be able to give you the diagnosis in this appointment. Sometimes we need to do a further assessment such as a school visit which will be arranged by our team and then your child will be invited back for a follow up.

What is a Qb Test?

The QB test is a diagnostic screening tool which helps with the assessment of ADD / ADHD.

The Qb results can help find out why your child may be having difficulties in concentrating, feeling fidgety or having too much energy at night. Some of these feelings may be more noticeable in school.

The results of the Qb can help determine the type of support they may need in the future to help them feel more confident.

The Qb Test is an essential part of the ADHD pathway and the results are used along with other ADD/ADHD assessment tools to help the clinician make a final diagnosis.

Video's to watch with your child.

These videos also show you QB tests. You may want to watch the appropriate video with your child depending on their age.
QB Test for 6 to 12 year olds. The video opens in a new window which takes you to YouTube where accessibility controls may not be supported. QB Test for 12 to 60 year olds. The video opens in a new window which takes you to YouTube where accessibility controls may not be supported. What happens on the day of the QB test?
You and your child will be welcomed on arrival by our Qb screener who will:

check all personal details are correct

explain the test directions

explain why the parent/carer will need to leave the room to aid concentration

watch a test instruction video

complete practice tests to make the child feel more confident

you can ask questions prior to the test starting

when your child is ready the Qb screener will start the test

During the Qb Test
Your child will be asked to:

sit in front of a computer screen

a soft flexible head band will be placed around their head with a reflective ball attached to measure movement during the test

your child will hold the responder button in one of their hands

they will click in response to certain shapes they see on the screen

the test will automatically end after the required time

Does the camera film my child?
The camera only films the movement of the infra-red marker attached to the headband. The only information the camera captures is how much the marker has moved during the test.

Please don't wear anything sparkly or with a reflective strip as this will interfere with the test equipment.
What if my child is anxious about getting it 'wrong'?
It is not a pass or fail test. The Qb Test is about tracking how they respond and will help gather valuable information to help support them in the future.

You will also have the opportunity to ask questions at the appointment so do not worry if your question is not on our list.

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East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

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Children's ADHD assessment - East Suffolk & North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

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If your child has been referred for ADHD, they will be booked for an initial assessment with a clinician. Before the first appointment we may invite your child to come in for a QB test first. This is a computer based test that takes about 15 to 20 minutes dependent on the child's age.

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WEBSITE: Community child health referrals for neuro-development

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WEBSITE: Community child health referrals for neuro-development

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East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

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East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

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Community child health referrals for neuro-development - East Suffolk & North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

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ESNEFT community paediatrics autism and ADHD referrals In ESNEFT Community Paediatrics we accept referrals for the following: Developmental delay in Neuro-developmental referral ESNEFT. When we receive a referral form and supporting evidence, one of our Community Paediatric team reviews it. They make sure it has all the information we need. We add the child to the waiting list.

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DOCUMENT: NEE Neurodevelopmental Disorder Pathway Guidance for Parents and Carers

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DOCUMENT: NEE Neurodevelopmental Disorder Pathway Guidance for Parents and Carers

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This document is a helpful guide to explain about ADHD and Autism, the ESNEFT process further, help with completing the forms and will signpost to further supportive information.

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North East Essex NDD Referral Guidance Document

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Created by Families in Focus

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Supporting your Neurodivergent Child - Resource Pack

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Supporting your Neurodivergent Child - Resource Pack

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Supporting Your Neurodiverse Child is a pack that is available to all parents and carers and includes information about Neurodiversity, the diagnostic process, information on support for your child at school, sensory needs, emotional regulation, health, and wellbeing and much more.

The pack is available to download, or you can request a hard copy to be delivered to you via the website.

Email Address:

hello@essexfamilyforum.org

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Essex Family Forum, SEND the Right Message (STRM) Support Services and MyOTAS (My Own Time And Space) Charity are proud to have written and produced a pack which is full of useful information for families with a neurodivergent child.

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The Maze Group have a unique approach to SEND which offers insights into how children with additional needs experience the world. They have free monthly coffee mornings in Colchester, Clacton-on-Sea, Mistley and Harwich and a specialist weekly programme available online through a video series and face-to-face in Colchester, Clacton, and Harwich.

The Maze Group also offer a course on navigating the SEND system.

They also provide specialist support for parents who have additional needs. Their aim is to guide, advise and support you for as long as you need.

Telephone Numbers: 07809 900161 or 07708 873023

Email Addresses: amanda.towns@themazegroup.co.uk and sue.anderton@themazegroup.co.uk

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Our coffee mornings are free. These are hosted by Colchester Parent Support Group (in Colchester) and North Tendring Parent Support Group (in Harwich and Mistley).

The online content and videos are also free.

The MAZE Parenting Programme and SEND Programme are fully funded by the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group for North East Essex. This means we can offer our groups free of charge but must prioritise those parents whose GP surgeries are located within North East Essex.

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The MAZE Group | SEND Parenting Support Group in Essex

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Supporting families of children with additional needs. A special educational needs & disability (SEND) support group for parenting advice in Essex.

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Providing advice, support, and information to families with SEND children on education, disability benefits and other areas of support.

Delivering weekend activity clubs in Colchester and Chelmsford for SEND children and their siblings.

Telephone Number: 01245 353575 (Monday – Friday 10:00am – 4:00pm, with 24-hour answerphone)

Email Address: helpline@fifessex.org.uk

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Families InFocus (Essex) is a parent-led charity, supporting families who have a child (or children) or young person up to the age of 25 with any Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND).

We have been supporting SEND families for over 25 years.

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Families InFocus (Essex) is a parent-led charity, supporting families who have a child (or children) or young person up to the age of 25 with any Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND). We have been supporting SEND families for over 25 years.

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Essex Child & Family Wellbeing Service offer support services for primary school aged children. The team consists of Specialist Community Public Health Nurses, Band 5 Nurses, Children and Young Person's Practitioners (CYPP) and Healthy Family Support Practitioners (HFSP).

Support offered:

Emotional health and wellbeing

Improving sleep

Nutritional support

Physical health complaints

Health needs assessment

Managing health conditions

Personal hygiene

Signposting, advice & support

Contact the school nurse team on 0300 247 0015

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Supporting families with autistic children to navigate clinical and non-clinical services, including diagnosis, health, educational, social, and financial support.

Telephone Number: 01206 577678
Email Address: advocacy@autism-anglia.org.uk

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Autism Anglia enhances the lives of those affected by autism in East Anglia

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Essex County Council Sensory Awareness Toolkit

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Essex County Council Sensory Awareness Toolkit

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This guidance is for education providers, SENCOs, parents and carers and other people involved in supporting children and young people, within their everyday life settings. It is designed to equip the reader with knowledge and understanding of how our senses impact on our ability to live.

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Lots of useful information on the The Sleep Charity website:

- Information and Advice

- Courses

- Resources which can be downloaded/printed

- Specific advice for children with SEND needs.

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Supporting people across all ages to improve sleep, and provides sleep training to professionals in the health, social and corporate sectors.