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SPACE supports parents and carers of children and young people with SEND.

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SPACE supports parents and carers of children and young people with SEND.

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Our team of Peer Educators are all parents and carers. They all have lived experience of supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). They understand the journey and are here to help you navigate it, wherever you are and whatever stage you're at.

We offer a range of accessible, flexible support options.

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About SPACE | Support for Parents And Carers in Essex

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SPACE supports parents and carers of children and young people with SEND.

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Information about support services and local opportunities for children and young people with SEND – find what you need all in one place.

The Local Offer support information - Essex County Council - YouTube

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Essex Local Offer, Chelmsford, Essex. 5,734 likes · 122 talking about this. Find out about help available for children and young people (aged 0-25). This is the Local Offer.

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'Find local support fast' - a database of the different support groups and networks in and around Harlow.

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©2023 Frontline, All rights reserved. Complies with International WCAG2.1AA accessibility standards. | The Code Guy

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Treehouse Family Hub is our closet hub. They provide support and services for families.

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Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service

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Tree House Family Hub provides a warm and friendly service for families. We welcome children, young people and their families and provide access to support and services to help children and families achieve the best start in life.

Our wide range of services include interactive drop-in sessions for the whole family, Healthy Family drop-in's and baby massage.

We want parents and carers to have access to services and networks which will empower and help them support their family.

Please feel free to contact us or come along and meet the Barnardo's team leading the groups and activities, for a full list, please see the timetable below.

Tree House Family Hub serves Harlow district along with other local sites in Potter Street and Meadows.

Our activity calendar

There are lots of activities and groups going on at your local healthy family hub that you can just drop-in to or book. View our events calendar below or follow the link below to visit our face book page.

Parnall Road,
Harlow,
CM18 7NG

Opening hours Monday to Friday: 9.00am to 5.00pm

If you have an immediate query please call us. When emailing please specify which location your query relates to.

The Meadows and Potter Street Delivery Site is based in Harlow and is part of the Treehouse Family Hub.
The Meadows Family Hub Delivery Site,
Harberts Road,
Harlow,
CM19 4DL

Potter Street Family Hub Delivery Site,
Carters Mead,
Harlow,
CM17 9EU

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Treehouse Family Hub - Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service

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Tree House Family Hub provides a warm and friendly service for families. We welcome children, young people and their families and provide access to support and services to help children and families achieve the best start in life. Our wide range of services include interactive drop-in sessions for the whole family, Healthy Family drop-in's and baby massage.

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An information pack to help families navigate the support that is available and includes practical interventions, resources, hints and tips based on the lived experiences of local families.

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Attention Deficit Disorder

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We all experience all these emotions, and that's ok. We have to learn the tools to help us move into the 'green' zone where we are 'in control' and 'ready to learn'.

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Long term literacy difficulties/ dyslexia

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Long term literacy difficulties/ dyslexia

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Dyslexia can present in many different ways - not just reversed letters and difficulties in reading

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Always speak to your child's class teacher first. Ring the school office to make an appointment. Feel free to bring a list of concerns and questions so that you don't forget anything. These could be academic, social, emotional, speech and language, behavioural (both at home and school).

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people's behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse.

Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age and may become more noticeable when a child's circumstances change, such as when they start school.

Most cases are diagnosed when children are under 12 years old, but sometimes it's diagnosed later in childhood.

Sometimes ADHD was not recognised when someone was a child, and they are diagnosed later as an adult.

The symptoms of ADHD may improve with age, but many adults who were diagnosed with the condition at a young age continue to experience problems.

People with ADHD may also have additional problems, such as sleep and anxiety disorders.

Getting help

Many children go through phases where they're restless or inattentive. This is often completely normal and does not necessarily mean they have ADHD.

But you should discuss your concerns with your child's teacher, their school's special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) or a GP if you think their behaviour may be different from most children their age.

It's also a good idea to speak to a GP if you're an adult and think you may have ADHD, but were not diagnosed with the condition as a child.

What causes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

The exact cause of ADHD is unknown, but the condition has been shown to run in families.

Research has also identified a number of possible differences in the brains of people with ADHD when compared with those without the condition.

Other factors suggested as potentially having a role in ADHD include:

being born prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy)

having a low birthweight

smoking or alcohol or drug abuse during pregnancy

ADHD can occur in people of any intellectual ability, although it's more common in people with learning difficulties.

How attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is treated

For children with ADHD, although there's no cure, it can be managed with appropriate educational support, advice and support for parents and affected children, alongside medicine, if necessary.

For adults with ADHD, medicine is often the first treatment offered, although psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) may also help.

Living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Parents of children with ADHD

Looking after a child with ADHD can be challenging, but it's important to remember that they cannot help their behaviour.

Some day-to-day activities might be more difficult for you and your child, including:

getting your child to sleep at night

getting ready for school on time

listening to and carrying out instructions

being organised

social occasions

shopping

Adults with ADHD

Adults with ADHD may find they have problems with:

organisation and time management

following instructions

focusing and completing tasks

coping with stress

feeling restless or impatient

impulsiveness and risk taking

Some adults may also have issues with relationships or social interaction.

Page last reviewed: 24 December 2021
Next review due: 24 December 2024

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

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Read about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a condition that affects people's behaviour.

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

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Concerned about your child's sleeping, eating, behaviour, SEND, referrals or want signposting for other support.
Call  0300 2470122 to speak to the team who work alongside the Health Visitors (0-5) and School Nurses (5-19).

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Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service

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Tree House Family Hub provides a warm and friendly service for families. We welcome children, young people and their families and provide access to support and services to help children and families achieve the best start in life.

Our wide range of services include interactive drop-in sessions for the whole family, Healthy Family drop-in's and baby massage.

We want parents and carers to have access to services and networks which will empower and help them support their family.

Please feel free to contact us or come along and meet the Barnardo's team leading the groups and activities, for a full list, please see the timetable below.

Tree House Family Hub serves Harlow district along with other local sites in Potter Street and Meadows.

Our activity calendar

There are lots of activities and groups going on at your local healthy family hub that you can just drop-in to or book. View our events calendar below or follow the link below to visit our face book page.
Tree House Family Hub Facebook Page

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Tree House Family Hub - Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service

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Tree House Family Hub provides a warm and friendly service for families. We welcome children, young people and their families and provide access to support and services to help children and families achieve the best start in life. Our wide range of services include interactive drop-in sessions for the whole family, Healthy Family drop-in's and baby massage.

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ADHD is not just children who can't sit still

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Just like adults, children and young people feel worried and anxious at times.
But if your child's anxiety is starting to affect their wellbeing, they may need some help.

What makes children anxious?

Children can feel anxious about different things at different ages. Many of these worries are a normal part of growing up.

From the age of around 6 months to 3 years it's very common for young children to have separation anxiety. They may become clingy and cry when separated from their parents or carers. This is a normal stage in a child's development and should stop at around age 2 to 3.

It's also common for preschool-age children to develop specific fears or phobias. Common fears in early childhood include animals, insects, storms, heights, water, blood and the dark. These fears usually go away gradually on their own.

There may also be other times in a child's life when they feel anxious. For example, many children feel anxious when going to a new school or before tests and exams. Some children feel shy in social situations and may need support with this.

When is anxiety a problem for children?

Anxiety becomes a problem for children when it starts to get in the way of their everyday life.

If you go into any school at exam time, all the children will be anxious, but some may be so anxious that they do not manage to get to school that morning.

Severe anxiety like this can harm children's mental and emotional wellbeing, affecting their self-esteem and confidence. They may become withdrawn and go to great lengths to avoid things or situations that make them feel anxious.

What are the signs of anxiety in children?

When young children feel anxious, they cannot always understand or express what they are feeling. You may notice that they:

become irritable, tearful or clingy

have difficulty sleeping

wake in the night

start wetting the bed

have bad dreams

In older children you may notice that they:

lack confidence to try new things or seem unable to face simple, everyday challenges

find it hard to concentrate

have problems with sleeping or eating

have angry outbursts

have a lot of negative thoughts, or keep thinking that bad things are going to happen

start avoiding everyday activities, such as seeing friends, going out in public or going to school

Find out more about the symptoms of anxiety on our page about anxiety disorders in children.

Why is my child anxious?

Some children are more likely to have worries and anxiety than others.

Children often find change difficult and may become anxious following a house move or when starting a new school.

Children who have had a distressing or traumatic experience, such as a car accident or house fire, may have anxiety afterwards.

Family arguments and conflict can also make children feel insecure and anxious.

Teenagers are more likely to have social anxiety than other age groups, avoiding social gatherings or making excuses to get out of them.

Find out more about social anxiety.

How to help an anxious child

If a child is experiencing anxiety, there are things that parents and carers can do to help.

First and foremost, it's important to talk to your child about their anxiety or worries. Reassure them and show them you understand how they feel.

If your child is old enough, it may help to explain what anxiety is and the physical effects it has on our bodies. It may be helpful to describe anxiety as being like a wave that builds up and then ebbs away again.

As well as talking to your child about their worries and anxiety, it's important to help them find solutions.

For example, if your child is worried about going to a sleepover, it is natural to want to tell them not to go. However, this could mean your child feels that their anxiety will stop them from doing things.

It's better to recognise their anxiety and suggest solutions to help them, so they can go to the sleepover with a plan in place.

Other ways to ease anxiety in children

teach your child to recognise signs of anxiety in themselves

encourage your child to manage their anxiety and ask for help when they need it

children of all ages find routines reassuring, so try to stick to regular daily routines where possible

if your child is anxious because of distressing events, such as a bereavement or separation, look for books or films that will help them to understand their feelings

if you know a change, such as a house move, is coming up, prepare your child by talking to them about what is going to happen and why

try not to become overprotective or anxious yourself

practise simple relaxation techniques with your child, such as taking 3 deep, slow breaths, breathing in for a count of 3 and out for 3.

distraction can be helpful for young children. For example, if they are anxious about going to nursery, play games on the way there, such as seeing who can spot the most red cars

turn an empty tissue box into a "worry" box. Get your child to write about or draw their worries and "post" them into the box. Then you can sort through the box together at the end of the day or week

Find out more

When should we get help?

If your child's anxiety is severe, persists and interferes with their everyday life, it's a good idea to get some help.

A visit to a GP is a good place to start. If your child's anxiety is affecting their school life, it's a good idea to talk to their school as well.

Parents and carers can get help and advice about children's mental health from Young Minds' free parent helpline on 0808 802 5544, from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm.

Find out more about treatments on our page about anxiety disorders in children.

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How to help your child deal with anxiety about things such as going to school or socialising with friends. Also, how to tell when it's time to get medical help.

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Autism spectrum condition/disorder

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Although autism is more commonly diagnosed in boys than girls it can affect both. Not all children with autism have an area of extreme strength (like in Rainman).
Autism is a spectrum and can range from some people who exhibit stereotypical behaviours (non-verbal, spinning, flapping, only one interest) to others who you may not realise have a diagnosis - "Mild autism doesn’t mean one experiences autism mildly . . . It means YOU experience their autism mildy. You may not know how hard they’ve had to work to get to the level they are.” – Adam Walton

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Autistic people may act in a different way to other people

Autistic people may:

find it hard to communicate and interact with other people

find it hard to understand how other people think or feel

find things like bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable

get anxious or upset about unfamiliar situations and social events

take longer to understand information

do or think the same things over and over

If you think you or your child may be autistic, get advice about the signs of autism.

Autism is not an illness

Being autistic does not mean you have an illness or disease. It means your brain works in a different way from other people.

It's something you're born with. Signs of autism might be noticed when you're very young, or not until you're older.

If you're autistic, you're autistic your whole life.

Autism is not a medical condition with treatments or a "cure". But some people need support to help them with certain things.

Autistic people can live a full life

Being autistic does not have to stop you having a good life.

Like everyone, autistic people have things they're good at as well as things they struggle with.

Being autistic does not mean you can never make friends, have relationships or get a job. But you might need extra help with these things.

Autism is different for everyone

Autism is a spectrum. This means everybody with autism is different.

Some autistic people need little or no support. Others may need help from a parent or carer every day.

Some people use other names for autism

There are other names for autism used by some people, such as:

autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the medical name for autism

Asperger's (or Asperger syndrome) is used by some people to describe autistic people with average or above average intelligence

More about Asperger's

People with Asperger's do not have the same learning disabilities that many people with autism have, but they might have a specific learning difficulty.

Some people call this "high-functioning" autism.

Doctors do not diagnose people with Asperger's anymore because it's now thought of as part of autism spectrum disorder. But if you were diagnosed with it before, this will stay as your diagnosis.

It's not clear what causes autism

Nobody knows what causes autism, or if it has a cause.

It can affect people in the same family. So it may sometimes be passed on to a child by their parents.

Autism is:

not caused by bad parenting

not caused by vaccines, such as the MMR vaccine

not linked to diet

not an infection you can spread to other people

Autistic people can have any level of intelligence

Some autistic people have average or above average intelligence.

Some autistic people have a learning disability. This means they may find it hard to look after themselves and need help with daily life.

Autistic people may have other conditions

Autistic people often have other conditions, such as:

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

dyslexia

anxiety

depression

epilepsy

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Find out what autism is and how it affects people.

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Children and Adolescent mental Health services (formally known as EWMHS - emotional wellbeing mental health services)

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Children with sensory processing disorders may react unexpectedly to some sounds, tastes, smells.

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Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that mainly causes problems with reading, writing and spelling.
It's a specific learning difficulty, which means it causes problems with certain abilities used for learning, such as reading and writing.

Unlike a learning disability, intelligence isn't affected.

It's estimated up to 1 in every 10 people in the UK has some degree of dyslexia.

Dyslexia is a lifelong problem that can present challenges on a daily basis, but support is available to improve reading and writing skills and help those with the problem be successful at school and work.

What are the signs of dyslexia?

Signs of dyslexia usually become apparent when a child starts school and begins to focus more on learning how to read and write.

A person with dyslexia may:

read and write very slowly

confuse the order of letters in words

be confused by letters that look similar and write letters the wrong way round (such as "b" and "d")

have poor or inconsistent spelling

understand information when told verbally, but have difficulty with information that's written down

find it hard to carry out a sequence of directions

struggle with planning and organisation

But people with dyslexia often have good skills in other areas, such as creative thinking and problem solving.

Read more about the symptoms of dyslexia.

Getting help

If you think your child may have dyslexia, the first step is to speak to their teacher or their school's special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) about your concerns.

They may be able to offer additional support to help your child if necessary.

If your child continues to have problems despite extra support, you or the school may want to consider requesting an in-depth assessment from a specialist in assessing specific learning difficulties (SpLD), an educational psychologist or a speech and language therapist.

This can be arranged through the school, or you can request a private assessment by contacting:

Adults who wish to be assessed for dyslexia should contact a local or national dyslexia association for advice.

Read more about how dyslexia is diagnosed.

Support for people with dyslexia

If your child has dyslexia, they'll probably need extra educational support from their school.

With appropriate support, there's usually no reason your child can't go to a mainstream school, although a small number of children may benefit from attending a specialist school.

Techniques and support that may help your child include:

occasional 1-to-1 teaching or lessons in a small group with a specialist teacher

phonics (a way of teaching children to identify and process the smaller sounds that make up words) combined with other techniques

technology like computers and speech-recognition software that may make it easier for your child to read and write when they're a bit older

Schools and colleges must offer support to students with a specific learning difficulty like dyslexia, and have access to specialist staff who are trained in helping students with special education needs.

Assistive technologies such as speech-recognition software, word processors and electronic organisers can be useful for adults, too.

Employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace to help people with dyslexia, such as allowing extra time for certain tasks.

Read more about how dyslexia is managed.

Support groups

As well as national dyslexia charities such as the British Dyslexia Association (BDA), there are several local dyslexia associations listed on the BDA website.

These are independently registered charities that run workshops and help to provide local support and access to information.

What causes dyslexia?

People with dyslexia find it difficult to recognise the different sounds that make up words and relate these to letters.

Dyslexia isn't related to a person's general level of intelligence. Children and adults of all intellectual abilities can be affected by dyslexia.

The exact cause of dyslexia is unknown, but it often appears to run in families.

It's thought certain genes inherited from your parents may act together in a way that affects how some parts of the brain develop during early life.

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Read about dyslexia, a common type of learning difficulty that can cause problems with reading, writing and spelling.

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Child Development Centre

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Dyscalculia is a difficulty understanding numbers and other mathematical concepts including sequencing e.g. days of the week

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Developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD), also known as dyspraxia, is a condition affecting physical co-ordination. It causes a child to perform less well than expected in daily activities for their age, and appear to move clumsily.
This topic is about DCD in children, although the condition often causes continued problems into adulthood.

Find out more about DCD in adults.

Symptoms of DCD

Early developmental milestones of crawling, walking, self-feeding and dressing may be delayed in young children with DCD. Drawing, writing and performance in sports are also usually behind what is expected for their age.

Although signs of the condition are present from an early age, children vary widely in their rate of development. This means a definite diagnosis of DCD does not usually happen until a child with the condition is 5 years old or more.

Find out more about symptoms of DCD in children.

When to seek medical advice

If you're concerned about your child's health or development, talk to a GP or health visitor, or speak to a nurse, doctor or special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) at your child's school.

They may refer your child to an occupational therapist, paediatrician, or another health professional who can assess them and try to identify any developmental problems.

Find out more about diagnosing DCD in children.

Causes of DCD

Doing co-ordinated movements is a complex process that involves many different nerves and parts of the brain.

Any problem in this process could potentially lead to difficulties with movement and co-ordination.

It's not usually clear why co-ordination doesn't develop as well as other abilities in children with DCD.

However, a number of risk factors that can increase a child's likelihood of developing DCD have been identified.

These include:

being born prematurely, before the 37th week of pregnancy

being born with a low birth weight

having a family history of DCD, although it is not clear exactly which genes may be involved in the condition

the mother drinking alcohol or taking illegal drugs while pregnant

Treating DCD

There's no cure for DCD, but a number of therapies can help children to manage their problems.

These include:

being taught ways of do activities they find difficult, such as breaking down difficult movements into smaller parts and practicing them regularly

adapting tasks to make them easier, such as using special grips on pens and pencils so they are easier to hold

Although DCD does not affect how intelligent a child is, it can make it more difficult for them to learn and they may need extra help to keep up at school.

Treatment for DCD will be tailored to your child and usually involves a number of different healthcare professionals working together.

Although the physical co-ordination of a child with DCD will remain below average, this may be less of a problem as they get older and develop coping strategies. Some children may continue to have problems.

However, difficulties in school - particularly producing written work - can become much more prominent and require extra help from parents and teachers.

Find out more about treating DCD in children.

Dyspraxia or DCD?

While many people in the UK use the term dyspraxia to refer to the difficulties with movement and co-ordination that first develop in young children, this term is used less often by healthcare professionals.

Instead, most healthcare professionals use the term developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD) to describe the condition.

This term is generally preferred by healthcare professionals because dyspraxia can have several meanings.

For example, dyspraxia can be used to describe movement difficulties that happen later in life because of damage to the brain, such as from a stroke or head injury.

Some healthcare professionals may also use the term specific developmental disorder of motor function (SDDMF) to refer to DCD.

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Developmental co-ordination disorder (dyspraxia) in children

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Read about developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD), also known as dyspraxia, a condition that affects physical co-ordination.

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Education Health and Care Plan

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Find out about auditory processing disorder, a condition where you have difficulty understanding sounds including spoken words.

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Educational Psychologist

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Local Authority

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Oppositional Defiant Disorder

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Occupational Therapist

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Pathological Demand Avoidance

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Picture Exchange Communication System

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Speech and Language Therapy

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Special Educational Needs

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Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

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Social Emotional and Mental Health

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Journey of Autism Diagnosis and Early Support

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Independent Provider of Special Education Advice

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(IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice

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(IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice

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IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) - helping children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) get the education they are entitled to by law

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Essex Family Forum (EFF) is the parent Carer Forum in Essex for families whose children and young people have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

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We want to hear about the experiences of our SEND Families in Essex.

From NHS waiting times to support in schools, accessing clubs/activities to obtaining equipment to support your child.

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Welcome to the Essex Family Forum - Disabilities Support Community

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The Essex Family Forum will be a well-informed, connected and empowered community of families that includes children and young people up to the age of 25 with disabilities or additional needs. We will work in partnership with organisations, our Local authority and health commissioners aiming for quality outcomes that..

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2. HILT Lead Practitioner for SEND (SENCo)- Mrs Scott and/or Assistant SENCo Mrs Drake

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2. HILT Lead Practitioner for SEND (SENCo)- Mrs Scott and/or Assistant SENCo Mrs Drake

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Mrs Scott works across the Trust so is ably supported by Mrs Drake. They both work closely with the class teachers and will always speak with them in the first instance if any parents raise concerns with them.

If you do wish to speak to Mrs Scott or Mrs Drake, you can arrange a phone call by calling the school office.

Mrs Scott can make referral to the Child Development Centre (CDC) where Speech Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Paediatricians, are based; Healthy Family Support Practitioners, CAMHS and many other services.

They work closely with the Educational Psychology Team and Inclusion Partners in Essex.

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Five Finger Breathing | a simple guided breathing exercise for kids

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West Essex Inclusion Project Facebook Page

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West Essex Inclusion Project Facebook Page

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West Essex Inclusion Project. 872 likes · 1 talking about this. Delivering Short breaks clubs and activities across West Essex, also sharing SEND information.

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Autism Support | PACT For Autism | England

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PACT for Autism is a charity providing support for families and carers of individuals within the autism spectrum and similar conditions. We support people with or without a diagnosis.

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Important to remember: You don't need a formal diagnosis to get support in school! Support is based on need and not a label.

1) Speak to your class teacher. They will listen to your concerns and may have already noticed similar things in class such as your child struggling with reading, spelling remembering instructions or mixing up letters. Our teachers are very experienced in recognising when a child may need additional support and are well equipped to put strategies in place. These may include the use of word mats, sound mats, and letter formation prompts, as well as other helpful tools like visual aids, writing frames, fine motor skill activities, and opportunities for oral rehearsal before writing.

2) If there are continued concerns from the teacher after implementing support strategies over a period of time, the teacher will speak to the SENCo/Assistant SENCo. We will then do our investigations and offer our support through gathering information. We may provide a screener, if this is necessary - this will not diagnose but it will provide advice for more targeted support.

Support is offered whenever a teacher recognises a need! We will keep you updated as things develop!

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A One Plan is a support plan used in Essex schools to help children with additional needs. It’s a way of making sure your child gets the right support, tailored to them.

Here’s how it usually works:

1. First signs of concern – If you or your child’s teacher notice they’re struggling (academically, socially, emotionally, etc.), the teacher will start by using what’s called "Ordinarily Available Provision" which means support that’s available to all children within the classroom (like small group work or visual aids). You might not even be aware of this level of support as it is what is noticed in the classroom and assessed and adapted on a lesson by lesson basis.

2. Working together – If your child still needs more help, the school will talk to you and may gather information from other professionals (like the SENCO). This is a joint effort – you, your child, the teacher, and others will look at what’s working and what’s not.

3. One Plan – If your child needs more than what’s usually offered in class, a One Plan might be created. This is additional to and different from what’s typically available. It sets out specific outcomes and support strategies, and it’s reviewed regularly with you involved every step of the way.

So, your child doesn’t automatically need a One Plan if they are on the SEN register – it depends on the level of need and what’s already been tried. But if more targeted support is needed, then a One Plan can be a really helpful next step.

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What's the difference between a One-Page Profile and a One Plan?

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What's the difference between a One-Page Profile and a One Plan?

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A One Page Profile is a simple communication tool. It gives a snapshot of your child, what they like, what helps them, and how best to support them. It’s really useful if your child might benefit from small adaptations, but doesn't need targeted intervention.

These are created with the child so their voice is included, and then shared with you at parent consultations, where you can add your thoughts too. It helps everyone (teachers, support staff, and parents) to understand what works best for your child.

A One Plan is a step up. It’s for children who need support that is additional to and different from what’s usually provided in the classroom. This includes clear, targeted outcomes (like improving communication or emotional regulation) and specific support strategies.

To set this up, we usually hold a 30-minute session where we work together (school staff, you, and sometimes other professionals) to agree on the best next steps and support for your child. These plans are reviewed every term to make sure they’re working. Sometimes the SENCo/Assistant SENCo will attend but sometimes they will not need to attend as you and the teacher know the child the best.