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To help your child understand their neurodivergent sibling, the witherslack group have created a support pack filled with advice and guidance from their experts. From explaining neurodevelopmental conditions in a digestible way, to top tips for managing sibling relationships, plus so much more.

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Mrs Lilley is the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENDCO) and Assistant Headteacher. Mrs Lilley works closely with the inclusion team and external agencies to provide support to children and families and enable them to thrive.

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Mrs Massey is the Family Support Worker. Mrs Massey works within the inclusion team and works closely with pupils, families, and staff to provide guidance and practical support.

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Miss Gibbs is the inclusion support worker. Miss Gibbs provides targeted support for pupils through both small group sessions and individual work.

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Our Art Intervention Teacher provides a calm and nurturing environment where children can explore a range of materials. Sessions offer valuable opportunities for pupils to express themselves, share their thoughts and feelings, and enjoy being fully immersed in creative activities.

Each session lasts approximately 30–45 minutes and takes place in small groups of 4–6 children, ensuring a supportive and focused experience for every pupil.

For more information on accessing Art Therapy please speak to a member of our inclusion team

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Forest Nurture sessions, led by Mr Simmonds, small-group support in addition to regular Forest School. These nature-based sessions help to build children’s confidence, resilience, and self-esteem through learner-led activities such as den building and exploration. In a calm and supportive outdoor environment, pupils are encouraged to develop social skills, manage risk, and build a positive connection with nature.

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In-School Lego Therapy sessions delivered by the inclusion support worker provides small-group support to help children develop social skills, communication, and teamwork. Through structured, hands-on Lego activities, pupils learn to collaborate, take turns, and express themselves in a fun and engaging environment. These sessions offer a supportive space where children can build confidence, strengthen relationships, and enjoy creative problem-solving.

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Soft Start Club , led by Mrs Massey runs for 20 minutes each morning and is designed to give children who struggle with the morning transition a gentler start to the day. These sessions help pupils settle calmly, feel supported, and begin the school day ready to learn and engage.

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Inclusion Groups are run by the inclusion support worker from the School's Nest setting. There are run in small groups, tailored to meet the individual needs of the children attending. Focusing on Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) as well as Communication & Interaction (C&I), these sessions provide targeted support to help pupils build confidence, develop key skills, and feel supported in a safe and nurturing environment.

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https://www.nspcc.org.uk/advice-for-families/

We would like to share the NSPCC website as a trusted source of support for families. Their Family Support section offers clear, practical advice on a range of parenting topics including wellbeing, behaviour, and online safety.

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We have created our own self-service PTFA shop, where parents can buy items of pre-loved school uniform, seasonal attire (such as Christmas jumpers and world book day outfits) and wellies for Forest School.

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https://coramfamilylives.org.uk/

We understand that family life and parenting can sometimes be challenging, and that the right support at the right time can make a real difference. This service offers a wide range of support for families, including a national helpline, online chat, WhatsApp and email support, as well as helpful advice articles and free online parenting courses. In-person support is also available in locations across England and Wales for those who need it

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Coram Family Lives provides targeted early intervention and crisis support to families. If you need to talk, we’re here to listen

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Parent Talk, run by Action for Children, offers down-to-earth parenting advice you can trust. You can explore helpful articles on a range of topics or speak to a parenting coach about anything that’s worrying you. The service is free, and no question is too big, small, or embarrassing.

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Parental Minds offers a supportive space for anyone helping to care for a child or young person’s emotional wellbeing. They provide practical guidance, reassurance, and a listening ear, with advice shaped by families’ experiences and informed by professionals and research.

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https://www.devon.gov.uk/children-families-education/child-family-support/family-support/family-hubs/

Whether you need advice, support, or just someone to talk to, family hubs help you find the right help, in the right place, at the right time.

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https://www.homestart-southandwestdevon.org.uk/

Home-Start offers local, community-based support for families, backed by the national organisation Home-Start UK. They provide trusted guidance and practical help to parents, with a focus on improving children’s development and supporting the health and wellbeing of the whole family

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https://www.devon.gov.uk/children-families-education/child-family-support/young-people/young-carers/

If your child provides physical or emotional care for a family member , they may be a young carer. Registering as a young carer can help them access support, guidance, and opportunities designed to support their wellbeing and development. Please follow the link above to complete the referral , if you require support with this please make contact with Mrs Massey.

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Find more information on what a young carer is and why they need support.

https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/blog/young-carers-who-are-they-and-how-are-they-impacted/?utm_source=dm.google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=grant%20account%20blog&utm_content=young%20carers%20who%20are%20they%20&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4be-sP6ijAMVqYBQBh10HQNxEAAYASAAEgIFX_D_BwE

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Young carers: who are they and why do they need support?

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Looking after family members is hard when you’re a child. One in three young carers say their caring role makes them feel stressed. We make sure no one has to cope alone.

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We offer a small, supportive in-school group for children who may have caring roles at home. This is a gentle, welcoming space where pupils can take time to relax, connect with others, and access extra support if needed.

To ensure the group remains a calm and nurturing environment, places are limited, so not all children registered for young carer support will be able to attend at all times. However, all pupils will continue to be supported in school in ways that best meet their needs.

Please speak to Mrs Massey or Miss Gibbs for more information.

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Sibs exists to support people who grow up with or have grown up with a disabled brother or sister. It is the only UK charity representing the needs of over half a million young siblings and over one and a half million adult siblings.

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We know that being a young carer can sometimes feel challenging, and there are organisations that can offer support. One of these is Carers Trust, which runs a network of local carer organisations across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Through this network, young carers and young adult carers can access information, advice, practical support, and sometimes care in the home. Many local Carers Trust services also have dedicated support specifically for young carers. You can find out more and access their support here: https://carers.org/getting-support-if-you-are-a-young-carer-or-young-adult-carer/getting-support-if-you-are-a-young-carer-or-young-adult-carer?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlfHPnebeiwMVz5VQBh0GXg1aEAAYASAAEgLNh_D_BwE.

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The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise to recognise and support those who serve, or have served, in the Armed Forces, along with their families. It ensures that they are treated with fairness and respect in their communities, workplaces, and society. You can find out more about the Covenant and the support available here : https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/about-the-covenant/

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This service offers guidance and support for families with children and young people, including those currently serving or who have served in the Armed Forces. It provides access to community networks, charity support, and information for families caring for children and young people with SEND.

https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-support/expert-guidance/care-caring/support-service-children

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We want to share a wonderful resource for Forces families. Reading Force uses books to help children and their families connect, encouraging shared reading, discussion, and scrapbooking. This initiative can help improve communication and strengthen family relationships, one page at a time.

https://www.readingforce.org.uk/

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We would like to highlight Little Troopers, a charity supporting children with parents serving in the British Armed Forces, whether regular or reserve. These children often experience unique challenges, such as frequent moves and periods of separation from their parent(s) due to service commitments. Little Troopers provides child-focused support, offering resources and initiatives to help these families navigate these challenges.

https://www.littletroopers.net/

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April is international month of the military child Find out more here ENTER NOW our Through Our Eyes photo competition Find out more here Supporting all children of our British Armed Forces Little Troopers is a registered charity supporting all military children who have parent(s) serving in our British Armed Forces, regular or reserve.

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Children and Families in Grief is a charitable organisation that provides practical, emotional and creative support for children and their families in South Devon following bereavement.

CFG can also offer small group support in school, if this is something that you would be interested in your child accessing please contact Mrs Massey.

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For information , advice and resources on child bereavement please use the following link:

https://childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk/resources/child-bereavement-resources/

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We would like to share the MHST 10 a Day initiative, designed to support children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. It offers ten simple, practical activities that can be incorporated into daily life to help reduce stress, build resilience, and promote positive emotional health. This resource is a helpful way for families to support their child’s wellbeing at home.

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Mental Health Support Team in School (MHST) 

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Mental Health Support Team in School (MHST) 

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We are proud to be a school supported by the MHST team. Mrs Massey is happy to assist with making an MHST referral. If you would like to submit a referral yourself, please complete the attached referral form and return it to the appropriate email address, which can be found at the bottom of the form.

Please see the link below for more information on the Mental Health Support Team in School .

https://childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk/resources/about-the-cfhd-mental-health-support-team-in-schools/

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Lumi Nova: Tales of Courage is an engaging child-led, parent/guardian supported therapeutic intervention that can be used on most smartphones or tablets.

https://childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk/resources/introduction-lumi-nova-a-therapeutic-game-for-childrens-worries-and-anxiety/

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Lumi Nova - Free for families in Devon — Lumi Nova: Tales of Courage

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We would like to introduce HappyMaps, an award-winning website created by professionals and parents. It is designed to make it easier for families to find reliable mental health support and information. HappyMaps brings together trusted resources in one place, helping parents and young people access the right support quickly and confidently.

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HappyMaps - Find the best support, advice and information on young people's mental health, all in one place. For Parents, Professionals and Young People.

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Read reviews

"I think this is a fabulous resource-very clearly laid out with the full range of supports available, from parenting tips through to professional help" (Parent)

"This is great to recommend to parents when they are worried about their children. It's the best website for mental health issues that I've found" (Teacher)

"Excellent. I work for CAMHS Bristol and regularly recommend this website" (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)

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Home - HappyMaps: Help and Resources for Children's Mental Health

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An award-winning website on children's mental health collating sensible and professional advice on common problems. With new self-help pages for young people.

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Childline is a trusted service offering wellbeing and emotional support for children. It provides a safe space where young people can talk about anything that’s worrying them and access advice, guidance, and resources to help with their mental health and overall wellbeing.

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On Thursday 30 November from 2:30am - 7:30am, you won't be able to contact Childline whilst we do some important maintenance to our systems. This means that 1-2-1 chats, calling and messages to Childline will be unavailable. You'll still be able to use the Childline website for advice and information.

If you're in danger or it's an emergency, you should always call 999

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Get help and advice about a wide range of issues, call us on 0800 1111, talk to a counsellor online, send Childline an email or post on the message boards.

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We would like to share Mind, a leading mental health charity that provides information, advice, and support for anyone experiencing mental health challenges. Mind offers practical guidance and resources for children, young people, and families to help promote wellbeing and access the right support when it’s needed.

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We would like to highlight Young Minds, a charity dedicated to supporting young people’s mental health. They provide tools to help children and teens look after their wellbeing, empower adults to support them effectively, and give young people a safe space to express themselves and have their voices heard.

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BBE’s Virtual Calming Room - Guided Relaxation

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GUIDED MEDITATION & MINDFULNESS ACTIVITIES

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We would like to share a helpful resource from the NHS for parents on managing child behaviour. This guide offers practical tips and strategies to support positive behaviour and handle common challenges, helping families create a calm and supportive home environment.

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If problem behaviour is causing you or your child distress, or upsetting the rest of the family, it's important to deal with it.

Do what feels right

What you do has to be right for your child, yourself and the family. If you do something you do not believe in or that you do not feel is right, it probably will not work. Children notice when you do not mean what you're saying.

Do not give up

Once you've decided to do something, continue to do it. Solutions take time to work. Get support from your partner, a friend, another parent or your health visitor. It's good to have someone to talk to about what you're doing.

Be consistent

Children need consistency. If you react to your child's behaviour in one way one day and a different way the next, it's confusing for them. It's also important that everyone close to your child deals with their behaviour in the same way.

Try not to overreact

This can be difficult. When your child does something annoying time after time, your anger and frustration can build up.

It's impossible not to show your irritation sometimes, but try to stay calm. Move on to other things you can both enjoy or feel good about as soon as possible.

Find other ways to cope with your frustration, like talking to other parents.

Talk to your child

Children do not have to be able to talk to understand. It can help if they understand why you want them to do something. For example, explain why you want them to hold your hand while crossing the road.

Once your child can talk, encourage them to explain why they're angry or upset. This will help them feel less frustrated.

Be positive about the good things

When a child's behaviour is difficult, the things they do well can be overlooked. Tell your child when you're pleased about something they've done. You can let your child know when you're pleased by giving them attention, a hug or a smile.

Offer rewards

You can help your child by rewarding them for good behaviour. For example, praise them or give them their favourite food for tea.

If your child behaves well, tell them how pleased you are. Be specific. Say something like, "Well done for putting your toys back in the box when I asked you to."

Do not give your child a reward before they've done what they were asked to do. That's a bribe, not a reward.

Avoid smacking

Smacking may stop a child doing what they're doing at that moment, but it does not have a lasting positive effect.

Children learn by example so, if you hit your child, you're telling them that hitting is OK. Children who are treated aggressively by their parents are more likely to be aggressive themselves. It's better to set a good example instead.

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Advice for parents and carers on dealing with difficult behaviour in toddlers and young children, including toddler temper tantrums.

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This set of webinars provides an understanding of emotion coaching and tips for using emotion coaching in family life

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Somerset children & young people : Health & Wellbeing : Emotion Coaching Webinars For Parents And Carers

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Somerset children & young people : Health & Wellbeing

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Follow a step-by-step learning journey to build emotional health, resilience and confidence. The evidence-based Solihull Approach model that underpins the bitesize topics has been tested by researchers as well as hundreds of thousands of parents to give you confidence it will make a positive difference in your relationships.

Courses can be accessed for free using code : TAMAR

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Home > Learn Learn Find your pathway to better emotional health Follow a step-by-step learning journey to build emotional health, resilience and confidence. The evidence-based Solihull Approach model that underpins the bitesize topics has been tested by researchers as well as hundreds of thousands of parents to give you confidence it will make a positive […]

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If you would like additional support for your child’s wellbeing, you can make a referral to our School Nurse team. They provide confidential advice, guidance, and support for a range of health and emotional wellbeing needs, helping children and families access the right resources and care.

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=gzehjWjLP0S7S5l_d_1b-_YhosBpEslDn-g9PvvcCm9UMVJXRzZHMzFBQkxLMVY5VVNHTzJSNUtIQyQlQCN0PWcu

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To request support from the Family Hubs team you can contact Mrs Massey or use the link above.

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Please take the time to complete our survey. Your feedback is important.

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We know that when a child struggles to sleep, it can affect the whole family. Our recommended sleep support services offer guidance and practical strategies to help your child—and your family—enjoy better nights and brighter days.

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Our dedicated sleep service is here to help.

Alongside our Sleep Tips booklet and relevant guides, we also offer one-to-one support. This involves completing an application form for your child and two weeks' worth of sleep diaries which we'll send out to you as long as you come under our criteria for support.

If you need one-to-one support and are a parent/carer or a professional referring a family with their consent to having sleep support, please click the button below to contact the sleep service.

If you have a question or query about our services please email us at [email protected].

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Sleep tips Our Sleep Tips booklet introduces and explains different techniques for you to try that may improve your child's sleep. It covers ten main topics including bedtime routines, daytime napping, comfort objects and moving bedtime backwards or forwards. It gives lots of illustrated hints and tips for putting the...

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Sleep advice and useful information - Children and Family Health Devon

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If your child or young person is struggling to sleep it can be exhausting for them and for the whole family. More than half of all children may have difficulties settling or sleeping at some point in childhood. Children with additional needs and learning disabilities can be more likely to experience sleep difficulties. Everyone needs sleep. And […]

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If your child is having difficulties with sleep, you can make a referral to our School Nurse team for support. They can offer advice, guidance, and strategies to help your child develop healthy sleep habits and improve wellbeing for the whole family.

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It's important to continue offering a wide variety of healthy foods. Setting good eating patterns at this stage will stand your child in good stead for the rest of their life.

Try the following:

Stick to a routine with three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and tea, with healthy snacks mid morning and mid afternoon. Make sure they sit in the same place to eat as often as possible, to help them feel comfortable and secure.

Offer food when they are most likely to be hungry. Some children are starving as soon as they wake up, while others need longer to work up an appetite.

Present simple, healthy food. Don't ask them what they want - at two, they won't know. Give small portions, offer praise when it's finished, then offer more. Give tried and tested foods alongside anything that is new so that the meal looks familiar. Studies have shown that some toddlers need to be given a new food more than ten times before they will accept it.

Eat together. This makes mealtimes more enjoyable and sociable. Ask for a spoonful of your child's food, then offer them yours. Show your enjoyment by saying 'yummy' and giving lots of smiles - this will boost their confidence. Invite their friends round for meals. Toddlers will often accept new foods if eating with other children who like and enjoy that particular food.

Encourage them to feed themselves. You might face a mess, but they may well eat more if they have more control. Finger foods like sandwiches, cheese on crackers, breadsticks and hummus, small sausages, vegetable sticks, pieces of fruit, fish fingers or a few chips are favourites with toddlers.

If your child will eat only a few foods, build on these. For instance if they like potato, try different types such as mash and roast potatoes. If they reject something they previously enjoyed, don't worry. Introduce it again later.

Try to keep your cool even if a meal hasn't been eaten. If you are anxious and tense, your child will pick up on this and it could make the situation worse. So don't make a fuss - just take the plate away without comment.

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It's important to continue offering a wide variety of healthy foods. Setting good eating patterns at this stage will stand your child in good stead for the rest of their life. Try the following: Stick to a routine with three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and tea, with healthy snacks mid morning and mid afternoon.

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If your child is having difficulties with eating or food choices, you can make a referral to our School Nurse team for support. They can offer guidance, advice, and practical strategies to help your child develop healthy eating habits and ensure their wellbeing.

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Eating meals - hints and tips - Children and Family Health Devon

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Mealtimes are important: family mealtimes are when children can copy the grown-ups using cutlery, learn social skills and promotes sensible eating habits. Here are some ideas and activities to promote the development of mealtime skills. Pre-eating activities and games The following activities require coordinated use of both hands and are similar skills required forusing cutlery […]

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Eating meals with sensory differences - Children and Family Health Devon

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It is important that any underlying medical issues or health concerns, including behavioural and emotional challenges are fully explored before suggesting it is a sensory-based difficulty. If the child is known to still regularly choke, gag or present with any other swallow or breathing related difficulty, then it is advised that a medical professional should […]

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Need information or support for an eating disorder? Find out about how to seek help including services that Beat offer.

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We would like to signpost ERIC, the national charity dedicated to supporting children’s bowel and bladder health. They provide guidance and resources to help families manage continence issues and reduce the impact on children’s wellbeing and daily life.

https://eric.org.uk/

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If your child is experiencing difficulties with toileting, you can make a referral to our School Nurse team. They can provide confidential advice, practical strategies, and support to help your child build confidence and manage their toileting needs.

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Toileting is a complex task requiring motor planning and co-ordination to get to the bathroom, fine motor skills to undo buttons and remove clothing, body awareness to wipe and clean and good sensory awareness to recognise the 'need to go'.
General information
Toileting is a great step towards achieving independence and each child will vary in terms of what they are able to achieve. Signs of being ready to start toilet training are children recognising when they become wet, need to toilet or have opened their bladder or bowels, and they should be able to remain dry for around two hours. In order to toilet train they will need to be able to get on and off and sit on the toilet. They will also need to have a routine (going to the toilet at regular and predictable points such as after meals) and lots of encouragement.
Toileting difficulties
Sensory differences can impact on a child's ability to become independent with toileting, for example a child with movement difficulties could find it hard to keep their balance in sitting on the toilet, the child with tactile (touch) processing difficulties may find toilet paper too rough and avoid wiping, or if they have poor body awareness (proprioception) they might not be able to clean themselves accurately. Another difficulty could be with the internal awareness, or that 'need to go'. These children often present with a wide range of indicators such as difficulties with regulating their body temperature, respiration and recognition of thirst or even hunger e.g. always eating or not being aware they are thirsty.

Ensure the environment is calm and quiet. Some children may prefer increased light, whilst others may find some lighting too bright.

All training or development of toileting skills should be relaxed and calm, it will take time and not work every time. If your child is not progressing after a few weeks of trying, leave it for a couple of weeks and try again later.

Offer a reward for opening their bladder or bowel on the toilet or even when the child asks to use the toilet. The reward could even be a simple high-five or making a really big fuss of success.

Make it fun; show them the colour in the toilet changes colour when they have successfully opened their bladder, or get a toilet training ball for boys to aim at!

Ensure your child is able to get on and off the toilet easily, you may need a non-slip step or handle for them to hold onto. If you are unsure liaise with the Occupational Therapy team for further advice around equipment.

Ensure your child has a step or stool under their feet when they are seated; this will help them to feel stable and may reduce anxieties if they have problems with balance.

Get a soft ring reducer to ensure they feel supported and comfortable and don't fall through the toilet seat.

Read children's books or social stories about toileting with pictures to outline the sequence.

Role play the toileting sequence with dolls, giving dolls lots of praise for trying.

Speak to nursery or school about their pattern for toileting/nappy changes and work together to set up a toileting programme.

If the noise is too much, place sound absorbing towels in the bathroom, or try earplugs, music or running water.

With smearing of faeces, try your child on a fixed bathroom routine and increase experiences of strong smells.

Use distractions like books, songs, music and pictures on the walls or have bathroom sensory tools such as fidgets, chewy tube or textured things to pull and stretch.

If they find some elements difficult then try using some proprioception or deep pressure activities prior to toileting to enable your child to better tolerate the sensations.

Difficulties with recognising the "need to go"

Help your child gain awareness of stomach muscles by resting your hands on your child's lower tummy.

Engage in therapy ball activities- lying over the ball, crossing midline (arms or legs reaching to the other side of the body). This is believed to increase registration and help individuals recognise internal sensations. If your child isn't keen on a therapy ball, you could encourage them to lie over the arm of a sofa instead.

Play bubble blowing games to work stomach muscles in preparation for toilet training.

Start with the child sitting on the toilet or potty (in the bathroom/toilet where possible) in a flexed position, for five minutes at a time. Leave the tap running if this is helpful.

When on the potty/toilet encourage your child to play blowing games e.g. bubbles, this will encourage the stomach pushes required for your child to use the toilet.

If your child doesn't seem to be aware that they are urinating, let them go naked - they will see when they urinate and connect the sensation with the consequence.

Engaging in regular body awareness activities such as yoga (Cosmic kids is good) and body scans (scanning each part of the body for sensations) can increase awareness of a child's body.

Modelling behaviour such as telling your child when you need a 'wee' or 'poo' how that feels can be a good way to teach them about internal body sensations. Practicing with them how they feel before and after, focusing on their lower body (bladder, tummy and bowel) can support this learning.

Increasing awareness of internal body sensations (interoception) is key to encouraging recognising the body sensations of needing to use the toilet. See the interoception handout for more information.

This can be tricky if a child has poor body awareness. Increasing their proprioceptive input, e.g. pushing the wall, will wake up arms and hands and give the brain increased information about body in space.

Using wet wipes can increase tactile input thereby increasing information about where the body is in space.

You could try having a mirror next to the toilet so that your child can see where their hands are, but they may struggle to adjust their body in space.

Some children may have poor fine motor skills; this could be due to a number of reasons.

You could try giving your child a toy to fidget with whilst on the toilet - this may increase feedback to the brain to encourage fine motor skills.

Where possible, put a long mirror in the toilet so your child can see if they have adjusted their clothes properly.

Loose fitting elasticated clothing, to make it easier to pull up and down.

Some children dislike water, making hand washing very difficult.

Try novelty soap with a toy in the middle - get your child to wash the soap away to get to the toy. You could also try a visual timer so they can see how long they have to wash for.

Using the right temperature water may help, try using warm water rather than cold or hot.

If your child will not hand wash, then try hand rub, baby wipes or even a flannel.

References:
http://voices.yahoo.com/toilet-training-tips-children-sensory-issues-7867302.html

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/The_SPD_Companion-SPD-and-potty-training.html

Building Bridges Through Sensory Integration: Therapy for Children with Autism and Other Pervasive Developmental Disorders by E. Yack, P. Aguilla and S. Sutton.

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Occupational therapy advice: Toileting (Sensory Differences) - Children and Family Health Devon

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Toileting is a complex task requiring motor planning and co-ordination to get to the bathroom, fine motor skills to undo buttons and remove clothing, body awareness to wipe and clean and good sensory awareness to recognise the 'need to go'. General information Toileting is a great step towards achieving independence and each child will vary [...]

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Myhealth Devon Neurodiversity information page.  This is a guide to help find support, information and resources for children, young people and families.

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https://childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk/health-topic/neurodiversity/

Find resources, information and support around neurodiversity from children and family health Devon.

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Every person’s brain is unique. We all think, learn and act differently. We all have different strengths and face different challenges. The term ‘neurodiversity’ is used to explain the concept that our brains all work differently.

People with conditions such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia, anxiety and Tourette’s syndrome are sometimes referred to as neurodivergent people, whether diagnosed or as yet undiagnosed. The term neurodivergent simply means that your brain works differently to what may be considered ‘typical’.

The term ‘neurotypical’ refers to someone whose brain – the way their brain works – falls within the society standards of what is considered ‘typical’.

It’s thought that around 15 per cent of children and young people in Devon have a neuro diverse diagnosis, or neuro diverse needs as yet undiagnosed, equating to at least 30,000 children and young people across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay.

The language around neurodiversity is evolving and sometimes people may use different terms to those we’ve outlined here or use them in a slightly different way.

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A local support group where families can find help , support and guidance from others who understand.

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https://www.devon.gov.uk/children-families-education/child-family-support/family-support/family-hubs/

Whether you need advice, support, or just someone to talk to, family hubs help you find the right help, in the right place, at the right time.

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DIAS (Devon Information Advice and Support) provides information, advice and support on special educational needs and disability (SEND).

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DIAS information for parents and carers

DiAS information for parents and carers is based on the questions that we get asked every day.

It's designed to be easy to understand, clear and relevant to you. We work with parent carers to create it and we welcome feedback from you to help us make it better.

We also work with experts and professionals and use up-to-date evidence and best practice when we write our information. Our information aims to help you practically, while at the same time showing you that we understand what life is like with a child or young person with SEND.

Each webpage has a matching PDF document. These are in the section called resources, so you can download them and take them away. We have a range of leaflets, fact sheets, "how to" guides, top tips and other resources. You can also find these in the main menu under the tab called resources. This website is growing and changing, so new information is being added regularly and existing information updated.

If you can't find what you are looking for or you'd like to give us feedback about our information or website then please email Sarah Smith.

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Information for parents and carers - Devon Information Advice and Support

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Information for parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs, including factsheets, leaflets and how to guides.

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Parent Carer Forum Devon (PCFD) is a group of parents and carers who have come together to make a difference for other parents and carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in their community.

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Urgent help and support from Devon Partnership NHS Trust and other services offering mental health advice and recovery initiatives.

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Urgent help and support from Devon Partnership NHS Trust and other services offering mental health advice and recovery initiatives.

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Every Wednesday

10am - 1pm

Courtenay Centre,

Kingsteignton Road

TQ12 2QA

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Whatever you're going through, call Samaritans free any time, from any phone, on 116 123.

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People contact us with all sorts of concerns and what might be a small issue to you may be huge to someone else.

You could be going through something new or have been struggling to cope for some time, either way, we're here if you feel you need some extra support.

If what's getting to you isn't on this list, please still get in touch.

Common reasons people contact us are:

relationship and family problems

loss, including loss of a friend or a family member through bereavement

financial worries

job-related stress

college or study-related stress

loneliness and isolation

depression

painful and/or disabling physical illness

heavy use of or dependency on alcohol or other drugs

thoughts of suicide

We won't make decisions for you, and we'll support the decisions you make.

You are the expert on your own life. Our advice or opinions are not important.

If you want advice, we may be able to give you contact details for organisations that specialise in helping with specific problems and situations.

Calling from some landlines
All UK mobile phone networks and telephone providers have confirmed to us that Samaritans' 116 123 number is available and free to call from landlines and mobiles.

However, some offices, organisations and care homes have restrictions on the types of numbers that can be dialled; this means that if you try call us from an office phone, you might get a busy tone or message saying that it is an unrecognised number.

If you're unable to change the settings of your phone system, you can also call 116 123 for free from any UK mobile. Another option is to call 0330 094 5717 (local call charges will apply and will appear on your bill).
Has Samaritans' UK helpline number changed?
Yes, in September 2015, we launched a our new UK helpline number, 116 123. (It replaces our old UK helpline number, 08457 90 90 90.) Our listening service is exactly the same.

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Whatever you're going through, call us free any time, from any phone, on 116 123.

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This website, co-funded by NHS England, has been designed by a group of people who want to help anyone who is struggling with the very challenging situation we are all in, to feel a bit calmer and find new ways to help them cope.

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We all have times when we feel low, anxious or overwhelmed and it's not always easy to know what to do to feel better.

Here, you can find what works for you. This resource will show you simple and practical ways to ease anxiety, manage stress, lift your mood and sleep better.

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If you are feeling stressed, anxious, low or can’t sleep, Every Mind Matters can help with expert advice, practical tips and personalised actions to help you.

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Explore self-help courses & workshops for better mental health

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Discover ways to feel less isolated and more confident in dealing with anxiety, depression and uncertainty with our BeWell self-help courses and workshops.