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Online drop ins for parents from Unity's Healthcare specialists. See the attached poster for more details

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SENDIASS Information Sessions on offer for families in the Summer Term 2026

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Our online home learning tool for Maths. Your child's home learning and extra learning can all be found here.

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Suffolk SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service) is a confidential and impartial information, advice and support service on issues related to Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). It is free, easy to access and confidential. We can help children, parents and young people take part in decisions that affect their lives

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Suffolk SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service) is a confidential and impartial information, advice and support service on issues related to Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). It is free, easy to access and confidential. We can help children, parents and young people take part in decisions that affect their lives.

We offer information, advice and support to:

Children and young people (up to 25 years) with SEND

Parents and carers of children with SEND

Practitioners (who might support children, young people or parents to access our service)

Download our:

service leaflet for parents and carers (PDF)

service leaflet for children and young people (PDF)

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Welcome to Suffolk SENDIASS Suffolk SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service) is a confidential and impartial information, advice and support service on issues related to Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). It is free, easy to access and confidential.

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SENDIASS offer a wide range of parent and child workshops on all manner of SEND matter from neurodiversity to managing anxiety and stress.

Please check the link to see what is available. The booking link is at the top of the webpage.

Please let us know if you attend a session, we would love to hear about it!

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Our Psychology in Schools Team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

Use the hyperlinks below to find out more about the workshop and get the link to the video on YouTube.

Parent Workshop Programme

Childhood Neurodiversity Parent Workshop Programme

Workshops for Young People

Archived Workshops

All workshops

Supporting Young People with Eating Difficulties

This workshop explores reasons why children and young people may struggle with eating difficulties, what parents/carers can do to help and what are the red flags for eating disorders to alert families to seek specialist help. The workshop is presented by Dr Annie Bryant (clinical psychologist) and Emily Mizen (assistant psychologist) from the Psychology in Schools Team.

Supporting our young people with challenging behaviour

In this workshop Dr Kelsey Odgers (Clinical Psychologist, NSFT) and Katherine Thrasher (Assistant Psychologist, Countywide ADHD Service, NSFT) will explore child behaviour that parents or teachers find challenging to manage, such as: hyperactivity, difficulties with attention, aggression, difficulties with friendships and relationships, and irritability. We will cover practical strategies to help manage these behaviours positively. This workshop may be helpful for parents who have concerns around possible ADHD in their young person.

Tools to Manage Uncertainty and Building Resilience in Young People

Life is always unpredictable, but we have been living with a much higher degree of uncertainty over this last year than is usual. This workshop will introduce strategies that parents/carers/professionals can support their young people to help them cope better with uncertainty now and in the years to come. Being able to adapt to situations by learning to tolerate emotions and cope with change reduces stress levels and is a great skill for life. This workshop is suitable for parents/carers of all children struggling in the current pandemic who would like to learn strategies they can teach their children to manage difficult thoughts, feelings, and situations. It is also helpful for professionals who might work with young people.

"What I will take away from tonight's session - Try to take the uncertain path instead of keeping to the safe route was new to me and I think will change my life and make my children's future better. Living life to the full instead of a half life like I feel has been the case".

Surviving Lockdown Mark 3

This workshop explores how we make sense of what we are all experiencing at the moment. It will consider the most significant challenges posed by the pandemic for both parents and young people (including anxiety and low mood) while also thinking about the most helpful ways to manage these challenges.

"I found your session so helpful as it made me feel that I am not alone as a parent, that we are all going through this together. It made me feel that actually 'I'm doing an ok job' and not to be too hard on myself. I found the biochemistry side of things fascinating and it was exactly the things that are happening with my son. It made me feel reenergised and to 'keep going'."

Supporting Young People with Anxiety

This workshop is for parents of school aged children to help them understand anxiety better. The session covers: what is anxiety, why anxiety, how it effects the brain, how it effects the body, how it impacts on what we do and don't do and how parents can support their children/adolescents who might be struggling with anxiety.

"Connection over correction - its very difficult to do this and I often need reminding! ideas to help Children move from reassurance to self-assurance was useful as I'm often exhausted from having to reassure constantly!"

Supporting Young People with Low Mood

All of our young people have days when they feel low, this is perfectly normal. Sometimes this low mood hangs around for a bit longer and starts to make it much more difficult for our young people to do the things that are important to them and have the kind of relationships they want to have with others. For us as parents it can be hard to spot these difficulties especially among all the other changes that are happening in adolescence. This workshop will help you to have a better understanding of why our young people are more vulnerable to low mood once they reach adolescence, the warning signs and some evidence based strategies to best support your young person.

Building Resilience - managing the next steps
Part 1
This workshop explores what resilience is and why it is important for our young people. The sessions focus on five key components to wellbeing and resilience and suggests practical support for our young people in each of these five areas. The workshop pays particular attention to the approaching summer holidays and the opportunities these offer.
Part 2
This workshop, delivered by the Psychology in Schools Team (NSFT) is an extension of our previous workshop; Resilience and Managing the Next Steps (Part 1). In this workshop, we explore what resilience is, and provide an overview and re-cap of the five key components to wellbeing and resilience. By strengthening resilience, young people are in a better position to manage challenges in life, including change and transitions. The workshop also looks more closely at transitions, and how to help support young people to build the skills to manage transitions, as well as discussing practical considerations when preparing your child for a transition.

Supporting our children and adolescents with sleep

Experiencing sleep difficulties at some stage in our lives is common. We know that children and young people can particularly struggle with their sleep. Sleep difficulties are not only frustrating, but they start to impact on our mood and everyday lives.

This sleep workshop is aimed at parents and carers who have children over 11 years old who may be experiencing difficulties with their sleep. The workshop, delivered by the Psychology in Schools Team, covers important topics such as:

why we need sleep

why teenagers may struggle more with this

what you can do to support your young person to have a better night's sleep

Understanding the teenage brain - Supporting our teenagers with emotions

During adolescence, the brain is going through some very big changes - these changes are positive and support our young people to make the transition into adulthood. However, these changes can be confusing and understanding what is happening in the teenage brain is incredibly helpful. This session will explore these brain changes and how they impact on all aspects of our adolescent's life, including mood, behaviour, risk taking and relationships. We will also explore what we can do to strengthen our relationships with our young people and support them through this period of development. With thanks to Dr Hazel Harrison for the brilliant brain house illustration.

Supporting your child to manage their big feelings

Dr Hope Westgate and Dr Tamara Scully, Clinical Psychologists from NSFT, deliver a workshop for parents on 'supporting children to manage big feelings'. This workshop includes information on children's emotional development and what is happening in their brain when they are experiencing big emotions. It also provides practical and supportive guidance on what are some of the things that parents can do to support their children with the emotions they experience. This workshop is primarily aimed at parents of children who are under 12.

Managing Exam Stress

A workshop for parents and young people to provide guidance around exam season.

It is very normal for exams and tests to lead to anxiety, stress, and worry. This workshop is designed for both parents and young people to attend to provide guidance around preparing for and coping with exam season.

View a refreshed 2022 edition on our YouTube Channel

Understanding young people's self-harm

This workshop delivered by the Psychology in Schools Team (NSFT) provides an introduction to understanding self-harm among young people and adolescents. It aims to develop parents' understanding of self-harm and will cover: "What is self-harm?", "Why does self-harm happen?", and "What can I do to help?".

This workshop is presentation based and aimed at parents and carers who live within Norfolk and Suffolk.

This video contains information on self-harm among young people. If you are concerned about your child's safety please speak to a health professional. Samaritans can be called on 116 123.

Getting the best out of your relationships with your person

Dr Beth Mosley MBE (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) introduces Viktoria Cestaro and Sue Staff, experienced mental health clinicians, to present this parent workshop on how to get the best out of your relationships with your young person. We consider how adolescence can change our relationships and communication style with young people and how we can connect effectively with our children/young people, especially when they are struggling. This workshop provides some practical advice and guidance on communicating with those young people we love. It will be helpful if you feel your communication can sometimes be explosive or you feel you do not have enough connection with your young person, and they may be struggling with low mood.

How to get what you want: Adolescent workshop

Do you find that it is sometimes really difficult to get from others what you need? Do others struggle to understand you or you get the least helpful response from them? This session by the Psychology in Schools Team helps give practical tips for young people on how to communicate well with others (whether that is your friends, parents, teachers or any other human being). These tips have been tried and tested by other young people, and can be especially helpful, especially if you may experience times of low mood.

How to talk to your young people about the war in Ukraine

As parents and families we are likely to have been shocked about the devastating situation in Ukraine. Our children will be having conversations with us and others and trying to make sense of what is happening. This workshop aims to highlight the importance of communication around these topics and to consider the way in which we do this, providing practical guidance for having these sensitive conversations. We discuss how to manage exposure and time spent reviewing news stories, and how to turn difficult feelings into helpful actions.

Supporting your child to attend or get back to school

This workshop, delivered by the Psychology in Schools Team, focuses on supporting parents to help their young people in attending or getting back into school. The workshop provides an understanding of school avoidance for parents, with reference to West Suffolk Guidance. It also discusses strategies and ideas that can be used to help young people feel confident in re-engaging with school.

Building Understanding and Supporting Your Child with Tourette's Syndrome/Tics

This workshop delivered by clinicians experienced in working with young people with Tourette's/Tic Disorder will provide information about Tourette's and Tics in children and young people, dispel some common myths and give guidance on how you can best support your child/teenager as they negotiate the highs and lows of life with tics.

Building Confidence and Managing Anxiety in Your Child (Under 12s)
Part 1
This workshop is for parents of children under 12 who have attended or viewed a recording of the Psychology in Schools Team anxiety workshop

and/or

This is the first part of a two-part webinar is delivered by the Under 18s Wellbeing Team part of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. It will provide additional strategies and aims to further develop understanding of anxiety, so that parents feel more confident in supporting their young people.

View part one on our YouTube channel:
Part 2
This workshop is for parents of children under 12 who have attended the "Building Confidence and Managing Anxiety in Your Child (Under 12s) - Part 1. This is the second part of a two-part webinar is delivered by the Under 18s Wellbeing Team part of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. It will provide additional strategies and aims to further develop understanding of anxiety, so that parents feel more confident in supporting their young people.

View part two on our YouTube channel:

Parenting the Anxious Adolescent
Part one
This workshop is for parents of children and adolescents who are aged 12 and above, who have attended or viewed a recording of the Psychology in Schools Team anxiety workshop

This is the first part of a two-part webinar is delivered by the Under 18s Wellbeing Team part of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. It will provide additional strategies and aims to further develop understanding of anxiety, so that parents feel more confident in supporting their young people with anxiety.

View part one on our YouTube Channel:
Part two
This workshop is for parents of children and adolescents aged 12 and above, who have attended or viewed a recording of "Parenting the Anxious Adolescent - Part 1" . This is the second part of a two-part webinar is delivered by the Under 18s Wellbeing Team part of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. It will provide additional strategies and aims to further develop understanding of anxiety, so that parents feel more confident in supporting their young people.

View part two on our YouTube Channel:

Supporting our Young People with Anxiety

This workshop is for parents of school aged children to help them understand anxiety better. The session covers: what is anxiety, why anxiety, how it effects the brain, how it effects the body, how it impacts on what we do and don't do and how parents can support their children/adolescents who might be struggling with anxiety.

Understanding trauma

This workshop recording is for parents and carers of young people who have experienced trauma. It includes a brief introduction to understanding what we mean by trauma and considers the impact of early traumatic experiences on child development. It focuses on what you can do to support your young person's wellbeing and sense of psychological safety. Resources and information around services have also be shared in the workshop for when further support is needed.

Supporting our Young People with OCD

This workshop is for parents of school aged children to help them understand 'Obsessive Compulsive Disorder' (OCD) better. This session covers: what OCD is, how it effects and impacts young people and how parents can support their children/adolescents who might be struggling with OCD and further support available. The Psychology in Schools Team is based in Suffolk, UK so resource information focuses on services local to there, but helpful national resources for parents, carers and young people are also shared. Since contact details change, do check the original source for the most up to date information about services.

Supporting your child to regulate their emotions

Does your child struggle to manage strong emotions, get very stressed or have difficulty with managing relationships? Then this parent/carer workshop may be for you! This introductory session will explore what emotion dysregulation is and what can impact a child's ability to regulate their emotions. It will then focus on what parents and carers can do to support their children/adolescents in this.

Supporting our Young People with self-harm

Knowing your young person is finding things difficult and engaging in self-harm can be frightening and confusing for parents. This workshop aims to develop parents' understanding of self-harm and will cover: "What is self-harm?", "Why does self-harm happen?", and "What can I do to help?". This event is presentation based and presenters will not be able to speak to attendees directly. If you are concerned about your child's safety and require crisis support please call 0808 196 3494; this number operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This session will take place via Zoom. You can access the event either by using the link in your confirmation email or using the Online Event Page. A password is not required to enter the event. To access the Online Event Page please click the "View the Event" button on the reminder email and log into your Eventbrite account. More detailed instructions will be sent with your confirmation email.

Social Media and the Impact on our Teenagers' Mental Health

This workshop increases understanding of how the use of social media might be associated with mental health difficulties, including anxiety, low mood, self-harm and body image. It also explores the world of our young people to offer a balanced perspective to supporting our young people in this area. Delivered by Dr Beth Mosley (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) and Emily Mizen (Assistant Psychologist).

Building Resilience, Managing the Next Steps

A workshop to support parents/carers in building the resilience of their young people whilst looking ahead to the summer holiday and transitions.

Childhood Neurodiversity

What you need to know as a parent or carer

What is neurodiversity? What is autism, ADHD and learning disability? Does my child need a diagnosis to get support? This introductory workshop answers these questions and introduces where parents/carers can find advice and guidance for supporting their neurodiverse children. Delivered by Dr Beth Mosley (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) and Dr Annie Bryant (Clinical Psychologist).

Managing big feelings (including anxiety and low mood)

This workshop explores why neurodiverse children may develop difficulties with their emotions, including anxiety and low mood and how parents/carers can support neurodiverse children with managing their big feelings. Delivered by Dr Annie Bryant (clinical psychologist) and Dr Kelsey Odgers (clinical psychologist) from the Psychology in Schools Team.

How the Brain Develops

This workshop covers childhood brain development including the impact of relationships in early childhood and changes in adolescence. The workshops will also explore neurodiversity in brain development and how parents/carers can support their child's developing brain. The workshop is presented by Dr Annie Bryant (clinical psychologist) and Emily Mizen (assistant psychologist) from the Psychology in Schools Team.

Understanding and managing behaviour

When distressed, neurodiverse children and young people may show behaviours that challenge the adults around them. This workshop explores how to understand behaviour and how parents/carers can support their neurodiverse children with behaviours of distress. The workshop is presented by Dr Annie Bryant (clinical psychologist) and Anna Mulvey (assistant psychologist) from the Psychology in Schools Team.

The impact of early life stress

This workshop explores the impact of early life stress, or traumatic experiences, on childhood development. It considers neurodivergent children's vulnerability to early life stress and provides advice on how parents/carers can support their children with the potential impacts of early life stress. The workshop is presented by Dr Annie Bryant (clinical psychologist) and Linda Brindle (senior psychotherapist) from the Psychology in Schools Team.

Live workshops

You can get information about the latest LIVE workshops by logging into Eventbrite and following the Psychology in Schools team. You will then be notified of upcoming workshops and have a link to book onto these.

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Our Psychology in Schools Team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

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Access to recording of previous Parent information and training events from SENDIASS

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Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service or SENDIASS is a confidential and impartial support and advice service for parents, carers, children and young people (up to 25 years) on issues related to Special Educational Needs and disability.

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They offer home visiting family support. They also provide one to one, practical and emotional support to families. Services are tailored to each family’s individual needs. They also run Group work. These sessions helping to reduce isolation, increase bonds between parents and their children and give families access to a support network that may be missing.

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Families Together Suffolk help support local families in Suffolk

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Information and advice for families of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Suffolk.

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Information and advice for families of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Suffolk.

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Activities Unlimited is part of Suffolk County Council. We give grants to activity providers around the county, to enable them to put on high quality, inclusive groups, clubs and activities for children and young people with additional needs and disabilities

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Short breaks open to all children and young people with SEND in Suffolk, plus Short Break Personal Budgets.

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Local services and advice in Suffolk covering childcare, schools, child mental health services and staying in learning until a child is 18 years old.

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Local services and advice in Suffolk covering childcare, schools, child mental health services and staying in learning until a child is 18 years old.

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Information on how to place a referral for neurodiversities such as ASD or ADHD

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If you suspect that your child has a neurodevelopmental condition such as Autism or ADHD, it can be an anxious time.

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The Right to Choose Pathway is an alternate pathway for ASD and ADHD referrals, please see the table on this webpage for estimated timescales.

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Right to Choose - If you are based in England under the NHS you now have a legal right to choose your mental healthcare provider and your choice of mental healthcare team.

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NHS Advice on how to help your child with certain behaviours seen in some autistic children

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Common types of behaviour in autistic children

Some autistic children may behave in ways that put a lot of strain on you and your family.

You may hear health professionals call some behaviours "challenging".

These behaviours include:

stimming - a kind of repetitive behaviour

meltdowns - a complete loss of control over behaviour

Some autistic children can also be physically or verbally aggressive. Their behaviour can be harmful to themselves or other people.

But remember, all autistic children are different and not every day will be challenging or stressful.

Why these behaviours happen

Many autistic children have difficulties with communication, which can affect their behaviour.

Some things that can cause these behaviours include:

being oversensitive to things like bright lights or loud noises

being undersensitive to things like touch or pain

anxiety, especially when routines suddenly change

not being able to make sense of what's going on around them

being unwell or in pain

These behaviours are not your or your child's fault.

Stimming

Stimming stands for "self-stimulating behaviour". It's a kind of repetitive behaviour.

Common stimming behaviours include:

rocking, jumping, spinning, head-banging

hand-flapping, finger-flicking, flicking rubber bands

repeating words, phrases or sounds

staring at lights or spinning objects

Stimming is usually harmless. It may look odd to others, but there's no need to stop it if it's not causing any problems for you or your child.

Ambitious about Autism has more on stimming and repetitive behaviours.

Meltdowns

Meltdowns are a complete loss of control caused by being totally overwhelmed.

If your child has a meltdown, the most important thing is to try to stay calm and keep them safe.

If you're worried your child might hurt themselves, try to hold them to keep them safe.

It's not always possible to prevent meltdowns, but there are some things you can do that may help.

These include:

letting your child wear headphones to listen to calming music

turning down or removing bright lights

planning ahead for any change in routine, such as a different route to school

It may help to keep a diary for a few weeks to see if you can spot any meltdown triggers that you can do something about.

The National Autistic Society has more on meltdowns.

Advice from other parents

If you need emotional support, call the National Autistic Society's Parent to Parent phone line on 0808 800 4106.

You can also get advice and help from support groups and online forums.

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How to help with your autistic child's behaviour

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Some autistic children may behave in ways that put a lot of strain on you and your family. You may hear health professionals call some behaviours "challenging". These behaviours include: stimming - a kind of repetitive behaviour meltdowns - a complete loss of control over behaviour Some autistic children can also be physically or verbally aggressive.

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A hub on information on autism and services available.

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We are the UKs leading charity for autistic people and their families. Since 1962, we have been providing support, guidance and advice, as well as campaigning for improved rights, services and opportunities to help create a society that works for autistic people.

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Free resources and services that can help with understanding what to look out for, child’s speech, language and communication milestones, how to get support and even some simple ways you can help your child at home.

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Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives

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Skip to content

We give families the confidence and skills to help their children. If you're concerned about your child's speech and language development, we can help.

We know that it can be hard to know where to start if you are worried about your child's development. If you think your child is having challenges with talking and understanding words, we are here to help you.

Our free resources and services can help with understanding what to look out for, how to get support and even some simple ways you can help your child at home.

Our progress checker will provide short questions you can answer to see how your baby or child is getting on with their talking and understanding of words.

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Help for families - Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives

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We give families the confidence and skills to help their children. Access our free resources and learn more about ways to encourage children's speech and language development.

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Information and resources on how to support your child at home with dyslexia or dyslexic traits.

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How can I support my child? - British Dyslexia Association

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The British Dyslexia Association is the voice for the 10% of the population that are dyslexic

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Further information and resources on how to support your child with dyslexic traits.

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How can I explain about Dyslexia to my child?
You can view and share our booklet 'Understanding Dyslexia', which was written by a parent and child, specifically for parents and children. The booklet is available in two versions, one for primary age and one for secondary aged children.Click here

Helpful information is also available via the CBBC Newsround website here
How can I support my child's reading, spelling or writing?
You can also view the parent area on the websites of some of the Trust Member organisations.

What about other Specific Learning Difficulties?

Other useful links for support of those with Specific Learning Difficulties are:

Other Resources

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How can I explain about Dyslexia to my child? You can view and share our booklet 'Understanding Dyslexia', which was written by a parent and child, specifically for parents and children.

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Developed to provide students, staff and families a range of strategies to support mental health. The tasks come from a variety of groups and organisations and have been written with our students in mind.

Please feel free to download and use at home.

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Emotional Based School Non-Attendance (EBSA or EBSNA)

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Emotional Based School Non-Attendance (EBSA or EBSNA)

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The local authority's support offer and resources for parents struggling with EBSNA

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EBSA (Emotionally Based School Avoidance)

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Advice to help children and young people who feel anxious about going to school

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A collection of resources from the ADHD foundation.

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ADHD Foundation Support Booklet for Parents

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ADHD Foundation Support Booklet for Parents

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A booklet with support and guidance put together by the ADHD Foundation.

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This A-Z guide gives you advice on how to help your child with their feelings and behaviour, as well as mental health conditions and life events.

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Our A-Z guide gives you advice on how to help your child with their feelings and behaviour, as well as mental health conditions and life events. We'll also show you where you can get help.

For information and advice on the cost-of-living crisis, including where to find financial support for you and your family, read our guide to money and mental health.

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Parents' A-Z Mental Health Guide | Mental Health Advice

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Our A-Z guide to support has information and advice on how to help your child with specific mental health conditions, and difficult feelings & life events.

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A collection of resources, downloads and links to useful websites around mental health and wellbeing.

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Is this your domain?Connect it to your Wix website in just a few easy steps:

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Support, advice and resources to help parents of children with hearing impairments.

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We're here for you whenever you need us - if you've just found out your child has a hearing loss, you need support with making decisions as your child grows up or you work with deaf children. Join us today to access all our information, services and support.

Become a member

Join a community of more than 65,000 parents and professionals supporting deaf children and young people

Join for FREE

with others through events, workshops, campaigns and our online forum, Your Community

information and insights in our resource hub and receive the latest updates via email

one-to-one support and tailored services which help reduce barriers for deaf children

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Information and support | National Deaf Children's Society

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Explore our information and resources about childhood deafness for parents and professionals and find out about our deaf-friendly technology loan service.

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Support and guidance for parents of children with visual impairments.

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Based on what parents would like to know, this section includes practical advice, ideas and contacts for parents and families of children with vision impairment.

Your child and vision impairment - first steps

We know it is a worrying time - there's no "normal" response to finding out your child has a sight condition - people respond in different ways. Here you will find important contacts and information to guide and support you with those  first steps.

Our information and advice for parents is also available in a downloadable booklet for those who prefer offline or hard copy material:

Starting Point

Starting Point is a leaflet for parents of babies and children who are newly diagnosed with an eye condition. It has been produced by a collaboration of support charities and introduces  Sight Advice FAQ  which you can use to ask questions about your child's diagnosis and the support and services available to you. Starting Point is given to families in eye clinics.

If you are a professional who would like to distribute the Starting Point leaflet to families you support please contact Guide Dogs at [email protected].uk  to order copies.

Encouraging independence

There are many ways you can  encourage independence, and help your child to move around more confidently, begin to look after their own needs and feel more confident at mealtimes. Your child may need to be taught skills that others do by imitation, and we tell you about the people who can help with this.

Learning and school

Children with vision impairment are entitled to support for their learning from birth onwards by a specialist teacher called a QTVI. If your child has complex needs, they will usually be supported in a special school in your local authority - find out more on  education and learning.

Financial support

Find out about  financial support, grants and allowances  for families of children with a vision impairment.

Into Adulthood

We have advice and guidance for young people as they make the transition from school into further or higher education, employment and adult support services. See our  Transitions section for more details.

We're here for you

If you have a question about living with sight loss we're here to offer support.

Call 0303 123 9999

"Alexa, call RNIB Helpline" on Alexa-enabled devices

Living with sight loss

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Information for parents of children with vision impairment

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Based on what parents would like to know, this section includes practical advice, ideas and contacts for parents and families of children with vision impairment. Your child and vision impairment - first steps We know it is a worrying time - there's no "normal" response to finding out your child has a sight condition - people respond in different ways.

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A numeracy toolkit to support families enjoying Maths together.

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Find out about our Family Maths Toolkit resources and sign up to access them for free.

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Teaching Resources | Oak National Academy

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Numeracy lessons which can be accessed online to support with specific areas of challenge

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Free Specialist Teaching Resources for Lesson Planning | Oak National Academy

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Free virtual manipulatives to help your child understand maths.

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Hands-On Math Goes Digital In and Beyond the Classroom!

Explore Our Collection of FREE Virtual Manipulatives

From Number Lines to Base Ten, Pattern Blocks to Place Value, Disks our collection of free Virtual Manipulatives gives educators and families access to visual and hands-on digital resources that lead to understanding. Students can use these resources in class and at home to practice math concepts, reinforce their growing math understanding, technology they love in the process.

Free Resources & Instructions for Teachers and Families

We've developed these resources for easy access and easy use:

How-To Videos

There's a short video for each of the Virtual Manipulatives in our collection so teachers can use these digital materials easily and confidently with students.
Watch Now

Activities

Activities from the Didax books that teachers use most for easy download. Engaging challenges address core math operations, concepts and skills, from early numeracy all the way to introductory geometry and algebra.
Access Now

FAQ

Download this document of FAQ's to answer your Virtual Manipulative questions.
Download Now

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Demonstrate key math concepts in your classroom using our new virtual manipulatives!

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Advice from the National Literacy Trust on Reading for pleasure

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What Are The Benefits Of Reading? | National Literacy Trust

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Reading is not just a good way to fill the time. It has important and far-reaching benefits which go beyond a love of a good book.

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Support for Parents on Oracy and Reading

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Further advice from the National Literacy Trust's 'Words for Life' on supporting your child with speaking and reading.

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Tips from The Book Trust on how to read as a family.

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Get advice on reading to children, how to read aloud, encouraging older children to read and helping reluctant readers with exciting, page-turning books. We also have useful leaflets full of tips and advice for you to download and tips for carers and foster families.

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10 tips from the government on supporting children to read.

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Follow this advice to help primary-aged children read at home. There's further resources available online at Online education resources: English resources.

1. Encourage your child to read

Reading helps your child's wellbeing, develops imagination and has educational benefits too. Just a few minutes a day can have a big impact on children of all ages.

2. Read aloud regularly

Try to read to your child every day. It's a special time to snuggle up and enjoy a story. Stories matter and children love re-reading them and poring over the pictures. Try adding funny voices to bring characters to life.

3. Encourage reading choice

Give children lots of opportunities to read different things in their own time - it doesn't just have to be books. There's fiction, non-fiction, poetry, comics, magazines, recipes and much more. Try leaving interesting reading material in different places around the home and see who picks it up.

4. Read together

Choose a favourite time to read together as a family and enjoy it. This might be everyone reading the same book together, reading different things at the same time, or getting your children to read to each other. This time spent reading together can be relaxing for all.

5. Create a comfortable environment

Make a calm, comfortable place for your family to relax and read independently - or together.

6. Make use of your local library

Libraries in England are able to open from 4 July, so visit them when you're able to and explore all sorts of reading ideas. Local libraries also offer brilliant online materials, including audiobooks and ebooks to borrow. See Libraries Connected for more digital library services and resources.

7. Talk about books

This is a great way to make connections, develop understanding and make reading even more enjoyable. Start by discussing the front cover and talking about what it reveals and suggests the book could be about. Then talk about what you've been reading and share ideas. You could discuss something that happened that surprised you, or something new that you found out. You could talk about how the book makes you feel and whether it reminds you of anything.

8. Bring reading to life

You could try cooking a recipe you've read together. Would you recommend it to a friend? Alternatively, play a game where you pretend to be the characters in a book, or discuss an interesting article you've read.

9. Make reading active

Play games that involve making connections between pictures, objects and words, such as reading about an object and finding similar things in your home. You could organise treasure hunts related to what you're reading. Try creating your child's very own book by using photos from your day and adding captions.

10. Engage your child in reading in a way that suits them

You know your child best and you'll know the best times for your child to read. If they have special educational needs and disabilities ( SEND) then short, creative activities may be the way to get them most interested. If English is an additional language, encourage reading in a child's first language, as well as in English. What matters most is that they enjoy it.

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10 top tips for parents to support children to read

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Follow this advice to help primary-aged children read at home. There's further resources available online at Online education resources: English resources. Reading helps your child's wellbeing, develops imagination and has educational benefits too. Just a few minutes a day can have a big impact on children of all ages.

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Tips on supporting your child to read from the BBC.

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Do you remember your favourite books as a child - you know, the ones you read time and time again and knew practically every word of? Maybe you were lucky enough to regularly read stories with your family and had someone to read you a bedtime story before you drifted off to sleep? You won't have known at the time, but those experiences were building vital building blocks for your future.

Reading, being read to, and sharing books in the home helps to build a child's vocabulary and understanding of the world. Research shows children who start school with good vocabulary and communication skills make friends more easily, have fewer behavioural issues and are more likely to do well academically. A strong, early foundation in language has even been linked to better mental health as children get older.

Reading with your child, or encouraging your child to read independently for just ten minutes each day can make all the difference. Here are some tips to help children of all ages to enjoy reading and to get reading more often.

Your child doesn't have to read an entire book in one go! Any time spent sharing or talking about a book is beneficial, even if it's just a couple of minutes at a time. If they have to close the book early because it's time for tea, or they're just losing interest, that's okay. Reading can take a lot of mental energy and taking breaks gives children a chance to slowly build the mental stamina they need, so that soon they will be able to read for longer stretches of time.

National Literacy Trust research has found that, when used appropriately and with an adult, technology can provide an important route into reading for many children, including those in the early years, and boys. Feel free, at times, to use your mobile phones, tablets, computers, laptops and other devices to engage your child in reading and activities that can help them build their vocabulary. This can include a multitude of activities, such as:

* Telling a story using pictures on your phone

* Video calling friends and relatives to engage children in conversation

* Using YouTube to find the lyrics to nursery rhymes

* Using apps to read e-books or listen to audiobooks (many organisations are providing them for free during school closures)

These activities, or similar ones, can be used with children of all ages. Young children will learn best when doing these activities alongside you, and you can help your older child by showing them how to use the technology appropriately. All children benefit from seeing and hearing their parents and carers do things. This helps them understand how to do it themselves. Technology is also most effective when it is linked to other things your child is learning, and when it is balanced with other learning activities.

Research shows that children who engage regularly in conversational turn-taking with an adult learn faster when they're older. Taking every opportunity to chat with your child will help them build the language and vocabulary skills they need for school. Let your child pick the topic they want to talk about, listen to them, ask questions and share your ideas. You can use daily activities to spark conversation with your child, such as getting dressed or making a meal. You'll learn a lot about your child's interests!

Pictures are a great support for young and struggling readers. They are enjoyable to look at, capture children's attention and help them make sense of what they are reading. If your child is unsure about reading all the words in the book, they can start by telling a story using the pictures. Ask your child to describe the pictures they see, ask questions about what the characters are doing and why they might be doing it, and see if they can guess what might happen next. By the end of the book, you may find they have created a whole new and exciting tale!

Tara Parker is Senior Programme Manager for Early Years at the National Literacy Trust, where she supports families to engage in their young child's communication and language development.

For further information check out the rest of Starting Primary School which has lots of ways to help prepare children for different aspects of school life - both practically and emotionally.

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Top tips to support your child's reading at home

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Language development expert, Tara Parker, suggests some top tips to help you make the most of your child's reading time.

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Advice and strategies to support children to practise and develop skills prior to referring to Occupational Therapy.

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Occupational Therapy Motor Skills Resource Pack

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We are extremely busy in our emergency department so please use our services wisely. In emergency and life-threatening cases continue to come forward as normal or call 999.

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Parent Workshops through the NDD Pathway

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Parent Workshops through the NDD Pathway

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Book to attend, or watch recorded versions of workshops for parents of neurodiverse children. The range of topics includes Anxiety, Sleep, Parent Stress, and Sensory Needs

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The programme of free virtual workshops for parents and carers will explore the unique strengths of neurodivergent children and young people, offering practical advice on how to support their individual needs.

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A single place for Suffolk parents or carers to find parenting advice and support to help their child's development.

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A single place for Suffolk parents or carers to find parenting advice and support to help their child's development.

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This online resource is ideal for parents/carers looking for practical advice and strategies to address common sensory processing difficulties, linked to everyday activities, such as dressing, eating, hair washing, sleeping etc. and how to manage a child who is over or under sensitive to sensory input.

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This online resource is ideal for parents/carers looking for practical advice and strategies to address common sensory processing difficulties, linked to everyday activities, such as dressing, eating, hair washing, sleeping etc. and how to manage a child who is over or under sensitive to sensory input.

What does it cover?

The focus of the course is understanding what sensory processing is and how the sensory systems impact on behaviour and everyday activities.

How do I access it?

This online course is accessed by you sending an email to the workshop administrator to request that you are enrolled on the training. Please email childrensot.icps@wsh.nhs.uk putting "Sensory Workshop" in the title line. We need your child's name, date of birth and NHS number - the latter can be found on any letters/reports that you have had about your child from health professionals.

Parents/carers will be contacted via email, so you must have access to an email account. Once enrolled and supplied with your log in details, the course will only be accessible for a limited period of time.

You will be able to access our presentation, which is a mixture of videos and quizzes. You will also have access to a number of resources that you can print off and keep.

It is split into small manageable chunks, and you can view these at a time convenient to you.

What some of our previous parents/carers have said about the course

"I found this workshop really useful. It has made me understand more about my son's behaviours and how to help manage them."

"The additional info sheets are very useful."

"Found the topics covered helped me understand further how my child feels and answers some of the questions I didn't know I needed to ask."

"We liked that strategies were given and examples of products that could help to support were given, the additional information sheets about specific issues were really useful. Thank you."

"Very informative, huge volume of additional resources signposted and included hoping these will be useful sources of reference going forward."

To gain the best possible experience from this online resource, it is recommended that it is viewed via a laptop or tablet.

If you do not have access to either of these, it can still be viewed via a smartphone, but the view will be restricted due to the smaller screen.

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Online sensory workshop for parents and carers

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This online resource is ideal for parents/carers looking for practical advice and strategies to address common sensory processing difficulties, linked to everyday activities, such as dressing, eating, hair washing, sleeping etc. and how to manage a child who is over or under sensitive to sensory input.

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Kooth provides free, safe and anonymous mental health and wellbeing service, providing online counselling and support for children and young people

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Kooth is your online mental wellbeing community. Access free, safe and anonymous

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This programme of free virtual workshops for parents and carers will explore the unique strengths of neurodivergent children and young people, offering practical advice on how to support their individual needs.

The workshops are live on Zoom and last 90 minutes.

https://www.suffolklocaloffer.org.uk/health-and-wellbeing/autism-adhd-and-neurodevelopment/neurodiversity-online-parentcarer-workshops

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A family carer is anybody, of any age, who looks after someone with a long term illness, mental health difficulty or disability who could not cope day to day without this help.

Becoming an unpaid family carer is often a gradual process, like the changes affecting person you care for. The work of caring gradually impacts your daily life, restricting your ability to get time for yourself. Because of this most people see themselves as a ‘wife’, ‘husband’, ‘daughter’, ‘son, ‘brother’, ‘sister’ or ‘friend’, rather than as a family carer.

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Easy on Easy Wear clothing is designed to support children with sensory needs, keeping them happy and comfortable. The products generally include softer materials that are less irritating and softer seams to support those with sensory issues.

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Adaptive Clothing For Kids | Adaptive School Uniform | George at ASDA

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Discover adaptive clothing & school uniform for kids, featuring soft seams, elasticated waistbands & easy-close fastenings to support independent dressing.

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Loop Earplugs are designed to support those sensitive to noise or easily distracted by noise in everyday life. They offer a range of discreet products for varying needs. There is a quiz on their website designed to help find the right product for your child. They offer a 100 day money back returns policy.

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Discover stylish Loop earplugs: experience life at your volume. Loved by 2M+ customers for concerts, sleep, focus & more. Shop now!

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Their school wear section offers black trousers. They also offer seamlesss socks and something called undercover tape on their website which covers seams and labels.

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Our sensory outerwear is perfect for children with Sensory Processing Disorder. Spectra offers a selection of school wear that has been discreetly adapted with flat seams and no labels, allowing them to feel comfortable every day. Our range of Sam Sensory offers tactile clothing which has subtle stimulating textures an

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M & S offer shirts for both boys and girls which are easy on and sensory sensitive.

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With flat seams and thoughtfully designed closures, our Kids’ Adaptive Clothing collection caters to special needs. Find trusted clothing for youngsters at M&S

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Shirts, socks and trousers that are sensory friendly.

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Surviving school is an everyday challenge for so many children. Our specialty school uniform is designed to make every day more comfortable. With flat seams, no tags, soft fabric - our uniform makes everyday a little easier to face.

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Psychology in Schools Team - Spring Parent Workshops

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Psychology in Schools Team - Spring Parent Workshops

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An excellent range of workshops are available, form Managing Exam Stress, Supporting your Adolescent Child, Understanding and Supporting Your Child with Emetophobia (fear of vomit) and Supporting Your Child with Tourettes/Tics

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Spring Term Psychology in Schools Workshop Programme - Jan - March 2026

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Psychology in Schools Team - Generic Workshops - Summer Term

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Psychology in Schools Team - Generic Workshops - Summer Term

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A range on workshops from anxiety, exam stress, OCD. All available here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/psychology-in-schools-team-nsft-32627846273?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Orlo

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Psychology in Schools Team - Childhood Neurodivergence Workshops - Summer

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Psychology in Schools Team - Childhood Neurodivergence Workshops - Summer

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A range of workshops on many different topics to help support parents of neurodivergent children.

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Summer Term Psychology in Schools Workshop Programme - June - Aug 2026

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CMA Exam Access Arrangements Guide 25-26

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CMA Exam Access Arrangements Guide 25-26

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Information, Advice and Sources of Support for Young People in Suffolk

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A place for families, parents, carers and young people in Suffolk to find support and advice.

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Information for health and children's centres teams in Suffolk, which run from our Family Hubs.

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Advice from the NHS on areas of difficulty around sleep in young people.

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Advice from the NHS on areas of difficulty around sleep in young people.

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Advice from the NHS on areas of difficulty around sleep in young people.

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Advice from the NHS on areas of difficulty around sleep in young people.

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Advice from the NHS on areas of difficulty around sleep in young people. This document is aimed at the young person.

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Advice from the NHS on areas of difficulty around sleep in young people. This document is aimed at the young person.

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Advice from the NHS on areas of difficulty around sleep in young people.

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Advice from the NHS on areas of difficulty around sleep in young people.

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Happy Days are a children's charity who offer support with funding for breaks and holidays for SEND children and those with life limiting illnesses

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Happy Days Children’s Charity UK - About Us

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Find our more about Happy Days Children’s Charity and how we’re helping families across the UK