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Please be aware that Goring CE Primary School does not have membership of this so parents would need to pay £24 per session.

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Dear Headteacher/SENCO,

I'm writing to let you know about a free online support opportunity for parents and carers that we run through the Autism Family Support Service.

The next drop-in takes place Tuesday 4th November.

We'd love it if you could share this with families who may benefit. You can share this leaflet with you.

What parents say:

‘Thank you so much for the group this evening. I can't tell you how grateful I feel, and I really do feel less alone and more validated. My hope is back’

You Are Not Alone - Free Online Parent Drop-In

Parenting an autistic child can feel amazing, confusing, and overwhelming, sometimes all in the same day. That's why we host our no-cost monthly online drop-in sessions for parents and carers.

First Tuesday of every month

7pm - 8.30pm

Platform: Zoom

What these sessions are all about

We've created a safe, non-judgemental space where parents can bring their questions, share worries and connect with others who 'get it'.

Topics often included:

·     Understanding and responding to challenging behaviour

·     Making sense of autism on a deeper level

·     The ups and downs of family relationships and dynamics

·     Working with schools and professionals

·     Meeting like-minded parents and realising you are not alone

What we would like parents to take away:

·     Feeling heard, appreciated, and understood

·     Knowing they are seen as the experts on their own child and family

·     Feeling hopeful and having gained practical ideas

Who runs the sessions?

I'm Erik Wagter, co-founder of Autism Family Support Service. Alongside being a social worker, trainer and Solution Focused family coach, I also bring over two decades of personal lived family experience of autism.

These sessions are a chance for parents to talk openly, learn, and connect. They don't have to do this on their own.

If you have families who may be interested, please let them know they can email sallywagter@gmail.com and we will send them the Zoom link.

Thank you for helping us spread the word. Together we can make sure parents know they are not alone.

Kind regards,

Erik Wagter

Co-founder of Autism Family Support Service

www.autismfamilysupportservice.com

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Facing Defiance

A six part online course for parents that you can complete in your own time. A step by step guide through a specific strategy aimed to support parents of children aged between 5 to 12 who are displaying very challenging behaviour, including children with ADHD, ODD and PDA.

Go to facefamilyadvice.co.uk Book online £48 on the Online Parenting Courses page

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To support those who may be dealing with a bereavement, a Postbox to Heaven has been placed at

Marine Gardens Restaurant

West Parade

Worthing

BN11 5EF

It is available 24/7 and is wheelchair accessible, with free parking and is located on the left side of the restaurant, where it is more secluded.

The letters and cards are never opened or read. They are shredded down and turned into compost to use within the gardens.

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Help with the cost of living  - Southern Water and Pension Credits (003)

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Raising Teens - Navigating the Teenage Mind

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Raising Teens - Navigating the Teenage Mind

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Raising Teens: Navigating the Teenage Mind - ONLINE WSCC Adult Learning Service

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Raising Teens: An Introduction to the Teenage Brain - 4th March ONLINE WSCC Adult Learning Service

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If you need urgent dental help and cannot find a dentist, the Dental Helpline can book you an urgent appointment with an NHS dentist.

For up to-date-information and support on getting urgent dental care, contact: 0300 123 1663

Alternatively, email: kcht.dentalhelpdesk@nhs.net for more information.

Monday to Friday 8am and 4pm

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Supporting Children and Young People Following Potentially Upsetting Events in the News or Community.

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Supporting Children and Young People Following Potentially Upsetting Events in the News or Community.

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Thriving in Education Parent Carer newsletter spring 2025 Worthing

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Have you discovered the Disability Register?

The West Sussex Disability Register is a database that collects information on those living with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) aged 0-25 in West Sussex and is managed by West Sussex Library Service. This information is used by West Sussex County Council and its partners to help plan and deliver services now and into the future.

Anyone aged 0-25 with a disability living in West Sussex can sign up and you do not need to have a diagnosis to sign up.

You can sign up online or the Disability Register team can speak to you over the phone to help complete the form. Those aged 13+ can self-register on their own or with the help of a parent or carer.

Sign up now: https://yourvoice.westsussex.gov.uk/disability-register-0-25

By joining the Register, you will:

·         Help West Sussex County Council and our partners to plan and deliver services for now and in the future.

·         Receive a monthly newsletter via email with local information and details of upcoming events and activities, including being the first to know about free SEND friendly activities in your local library.

·         Have access to a Library card with additional concessions, such as free reservations and free audiobook loans, as well as access to a range of free sensory resources.

·         Resources include free sensory stories, communication devices and switch adapted toys.

·         Access to a Max Card – a discount card with local and national offers

Get in touch with the Disability Register team if you have any questions:

Email: disabilityregister@westsussex.gov.uk

Phone: 0330 222 7725

We are also on socials! Follow us for up-to-date information and to be in the know about events and activities taking place in libraries across West Sussex.

Facebook: WestSussexLibraries Instagram: @westsussexlibraries X (Twitter): @WSCCLibraries

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WS33259 West Sussex Disability Register - flyer 2024 double sided

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To meet the growing needs of our children, we have been part of a group pioneering a UK-wide directory of qualified Children and Young people counsellors and therapists with "TAC Access." Our families can use this exciting and powerful tool to select a professional they would like to work with either face-to-face or online.

Please note that funding for this service will need to come from external funds, e.g. parent/carer.

https://www.tacaccess.com/

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TACaccess – Connecting children and young people with mental health therapists

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TACaccess connects mental health commissioners and children and young people with therapists with ease and efficiency. It can be used to source therapists by organisations such as schools or by individuals

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Established in 2012 by Oliver Clark, Rehab 4 Addiction is an advisory and referral service for people who suffer from alcohol, drug and behavioural addiction.

Rehab 4 Addiction works closely with rehabilitation centres and outpatient clinics throughout the United Kingdom and the admissions team matches your addiction with an appropriately placed rehabilitation centre.

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Welcome to Rehab 4 Addiction. Established in 2012 by Oliver Clark, Rehab 4 Addiction is an advisory and referral service for people who suffer from alcohol, drug and behavioural addiction.

Rehab 4 Addiction works closely with rehabilitation centres and outpatient clinics throughout the United Kingdom and the admissions team matches your addiction with an appropriately placed rehabilitation centre.

Learn about our team members here.

Who we work with

We are able to offer rehabilitation centres referrals, and we always prioritise the needs of the specific client when doing so.

We maintain a substantial network of rehabilitation centres throughout the United Kingdom. We work with private rehabilitation centres, the NHS and even a number of 'luxury rehabilitation' centres abroad.

How we make money

Rehab 4 Addiction is a trading name owned by ADT Healthcare Ltd and operates as a free information, advisory and referral service for those seeking addiction treatment options throughout the UK and abroad.

We offer free advice on both private and free services and give a selection of treatment options to help you make an informed choice, so you can choose treatment for you or your loved one's specific needs.

Remember - you pay nothing for the Rehab4Addiction service. We receive a standard fee from whichever provider you choose.

Whilst we do not work with every single treatment provider in the country or abroad, we have selected a large number with good reputations and CQC ratings that we believe will deliver the best possible outcomes.

We like to be transparent that we are paid a standard referral commission fee from the majority of the private treatment providers that we work with. This allows Rehab 4 Addiction to operate commercially, but, please rest assured that we introduce you to a selection of providers for you to choose from, and you pay exactly the same price as if you were to approach them directly.

In addition, we also provide information on many free services and treatment option alternatives for the majority of our users who do not have the funding available for privately funded treatment.

Serving callers throughout the United Kingdom

We can offer immediate access to quality rehabilitation centres in literally any corner of the United Kingdom. Finding the right rehabilitation centre is not as simple as you might think. If you search the internet for 'rehabilitation centre' the number of options is vast and often confusing.

And since your budget is a factor in your choice of rehabilitation centre you may give up before you even begin to round the number of options down to a manageable number.

Our admissions team will work within the confines of your budget, ensuring you select the most appropriate rehabilitation centre for your specific addiction.

Finding our services

The administrative office is located in Central London, and just a five minute walk from Liverpool Street Station. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is about 20 miles west of Rehab 4 Addiction. It takes about one hour to travel to our location via taxi.

The quickest way to travel to us from Heathrow is via the Heathrow Express. This service runs every 30 minutes, connecting Paddington Station and the airport.

You can take the Underground from Paddington Station via the Hammersmith & City or Circle lines to Liverpool Street Station.

We are located 30 miles north of London Gatwick Airport. It takes about one hour and a half to reach us from Gatwick Airport. The quickest way to reach us is via the Gatwick Express.

If you are coming by car, then we can park at Finsbury Square NCP. The postcode for this is EC2M 2AF.

We are located within the congestion charge zone. If you drive in the City during the day (7 AM to 10 PM), there is a £15 charge you must pay per day.

Our address is:

Astral House, 129
Middlesex st
London
E1 7JJ
United Kingdom. Tel: 0800 140 4690

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About Us | The People Who Make a Difference | Rehab 4 Addiction

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Click here to learn about Rehab 4 Addiction. We offer a range of rehabilitation services across the UK.

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Goring CE Primary School is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on any information contained within the site. While the information contained within the site is periodically updated, no guarantee is given that the information provided in this website is correct, complete, and up-to-date.

Although Goring CE Primary School’s website may include links providing direct access to other Internet resources, including websites, Goring CE Primary School has not participated in the development of those other sites and does not exert any editorial or other control over those sites. Goring CE Primary School is not responsible for the accuracy or content of information contained in these sites.

Links from Goring CE Primary School to third-party sites do not constitute an endorsement by us of the parties, advice or their products and services. The appearance on the website of advertisements and product or service information does not constitute an endorsement by Goring CE Primary School, and Goring CE Primary School has not investigated the claims made by any advertiser.

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Allsorts - Information and support for young people under 26 who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or unsure (LGBTU) of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Advocacy service to provide representation also available.

Aspens (Autism Sussex) - A charity enabling people with an autistic spectrum condition to receive help and specialist support.

Autism explained - Video animation providing a view of autism from a young person’s perspective.

Beat (formerly Eating Disorders Association) - The UK’s leading eating disorder charity with online support groups and a helpline for anyone under 18.

CGL (Change, Grow, Live) - A free and confidential drug and alcohol service for young people aged up to 25. Their service includes housing, education, training and employment as well as psycho-social and clinical substance misuse treatment.

Childline - Comforts, advises and protects children 24 hours a day and offers free confidential counselling.

Early Intervention Psychosis Service - Treatment for psychosis, a condition which affects a person's mind, changing the way they think, feel and behave, unable to tell the difference between reality and their imagination.

e-wellbeing (YMCA Dialogue) - A free and confidential counselling service for young people aged 11-18 in West Sussex.

Family Eating Disorders Service (FEDS) - Support for children, young people and families affected by an eating disorder.

Find It Out centres - Drop in-centres offering information, advice and guidance to young people aged 13-25.

LifeCentre - A charity supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse of all ages.

Mind Advocacy - Advocacy service for young people aged 11-18 in West Sussex area who are in the community or who are informal inpatients.

Mind - An independent mental health charity providing information and support to anyone experiencing mental health issues, plus Autism & Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) training courses for parents and carers.

On My Mind (Anna Freud Centre) - Self care strategies if you are feeling low or anxious, and a wellbeing directory.

Samaritans - A 24-hour confidential listening and support service.

Sussex Mental Healthline - Offers crisis care for people in urgent need of help with their mental health. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Saturn Centre (SARC) - A sexual assault referral centre providing a range of services to people of all genders who have been raped or sexually assaulted. It is open for police referrals across Sussex 24/7.

Winston’s Wish Bereavement Support - Counselling for children, young people and families who have experienced bereavement in their direct family.

Young Minds - A leading UK charity providing resource booklets, self-help guides, service directory and a parent and carers helpline.

Your GP - Often a good person to talk to if you are struggling with your emotional wellbeing. They are also able to refer you directly to the Youth Emotional Support Service and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

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NHS Choices and Right to Choose ADHD Pathways 

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NHS Choices and Right to Choose ADHD Pathways 

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Anyone can choose Right to Choose if the waiting times for assessment are in excess of the legal time frames. Parents can select a company; they need to fill in the info on the company website and take this to the GP requesting that the GP refers with Right to Choose. Note - GPs don't have to do this.

If children are in the CAMHS system it is advised that they remain on the waiting list.

There are strict rules around medication for children which must be reviewed annually by a clinical psychiatrist in CAMHS. Having an early assessment won't help to jump the queue to a faster route for medication. Parents could choose to pay for an annual medication review privately and could use DLA to fund this.

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Here at Goring, we were excited to celebrate Neurodiversity Week and talk about all the things that make us different - and brilliant!

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The Sunshine Academy is a monthly subscription service that provides high quality SEND training for all.

Just £9.99 a month will grant you access to all areas of the Academy.

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Low-cost, high-quality SEND training and CPD for schools, parents, carers and professionals.

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At Goring, we strongly believe in working in partnership with all outside agencies and keeping children and their families at the heart of what we do.

Each term, there will be termly meetings which will be driven by the needs of our families and our children. If there is anything that you feel would be of use to yourselves, or other parents, please let Miss Senior or Mrs Hood know either by email nsenior@goringprimary.org / chood@goringprimary.org or via the school office on 01903 241175.

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If you missed our first meeting on 16th June 2023, please download the above PowerPoint for more information.

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If you missed our Parent / Carer Forum on Weds 20th March, please see the PowerPoint above for information regarding Early Help.

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West Sussex Autism and Social Communication Team 

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West Sussex Autism and Social Communication Team 

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Exploring Autism for Parents and Carers

A new and updated programme offering up to date thinking and links to research-based evidence for parent carers of autistic children and young people.

Are you a parent/carer of a child or young person, aged 8-16 years, who is autistic or on the social communication pathway and have not attended this course before? This NEW programme has been redeveloped to ensure that it is current and up to date. The course is an excellent source of information for those new to Autism or for those requiring a little more in-depth knowledge. Parent carers and the facilitators will learn and collaborate together. The programme is free of charge to families of children in West Sussex maintained schools and academies, at this time.

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Our parents and carers service aims to increase your knowledge and awareness of mental health and boost your confidence in coping with and addressing your child or young person’s mental health.

Whether they are suffering from anxiety, depression, stress, disordered eating or emotionally-based school avoidance, our peer support service can help you support your young person – and in doing so help improve your own well-being by meeting and sharing with other parents and carers.

For more details, click on the link below:

https://www.westsussexmind.org/help_and_support/specialist-services/parenting-support#:~:text=If%20you%27re%20interested%20in,our%20support%20request%20form%20below.

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Our parents and carers service aims to increase your knowledge and awareness of mental health and boost your confidence in coping with and addressing your child or young person's mental health.

Whether they are suffering from anxiety, depression, stress, disordered eating or emotionally-based school avoidance, our peer support service can help you support your young person - and in doing so help improve your own well-being by meeting and sharing with other parents and carers.

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If you're worried about your child or young person's mental health and well-being, we can help you to support them and build their resilience

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NEW - Reaching Families NDP Navigation Service

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NEW - Reaching Families NDP Navigation Service

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Reaching Families have been commissioned by NHS Sussex to pilot and develop a new support service for parent-carers of children undergoing assessment on the West Sussex Neurodevelopmental Pathway. Our new service is now available to parent-carers via referral from a professional working with their child.

The NDP Navigation Service provides information, training and support to parent-carers of children and young people waiting on, undergoing or completed an assessment for ADHD, Autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. The project consists of the following elements:

Telephone support from an NDP Support Worker

Information and resources on your child's condition and needs

Training workshops and courses on neurodiversity

Access to a specially trained parent-carer befriender with a similar lived experience

Access and support in attending one of our parent-carer support groups

Access to other Reaching Families services

Signposting to other relevant projects and services

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The NDP Navigation Service provides information, training and support to parent-carers of children and young people waiting on, undergoing or completed an assessment for ADHD, Autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. The project consists of the following elements:

Telephone support from an NDP Support Worker

Information and resources on your child's condition and needs

Training workshops and courses on neurodiversity

Access to a specially trained parent-carer befriender with a similar lived experience

Access and support in attending one of our parent-carer support groups

Access to other Reaching Families services

Signposting to other relevant projects and services

Who is eligible to access the service?

The NDP Navigation Service is available to parent-carers of children and young people who are at one of the following stages of the West Sussex Neurodevelopmental Pathway.

The point of referral to the NDP

Whilst the child/young person is waiting for assessment

During the assessment process

When a diagnosis has been given

If no diagnosis has been received, but traits of a neurodevelopmental condition have been identified

Up to 12 months following diagnosis

What we cannot help with

We cannot make referrals to the Neurodevelopmental Pathway, influence the neurodevelopmental assessment process or provide a key working service. We are also unable to provide crisis support.

How to access the service

Support from our NDP Navigation Service is available to parent-carers of children and young people who are on the West Sussex Neurodevelopmental Pathway. Referral must be made by a professional working with their child. Please download the accompanying referral form (Word document).

Following referral to the navigation service you will be contacted by one of our NDP Support Workers who will help with signposting, accessing information and training and where necessary, provide you with other short term support.

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Reaching Families NDP Navigation Service

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The NDP Navigation Service provides information, training and support to parent-carers of children and young people waiting on, undergoing or completed an assessment for ADHD, Autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

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These mental health workshops, all led by experienced CAMHS clinicians or partner organisations will take place virtually between October 2023 and July 2024. Each webinar will be available at two different times, once during the day (10am) and once in the evening (7pm) to make it as easy as possible for people to attend, depending on their lifestyle.

Parents and carers will be able to choose to attend as many or as few as they think are appropriate for them to attend, with recordings of all webinars being made available afterwards. All previous webinars that have been delivered are available to watch back here - Workshops for parents and carers :: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (sussexcamhs.nhs.uk) and cover ADHD, Anxiety, Autism & Challenging Behaviour, Building Self-Esteem & Resilience, Depression, Eating Disorders, Managing Self Harm & Suicidal Thoughts, and Sleep.

The sessions last for 90-120 minutes with the opportunity to ask any questions to CAMHS clinicians. Due to anticipated high numbers of attendees, any questions will need to be sent in advance.

To book a ticket, please go to our Ticketlab page: Sussex CAMHS Parent/Carer Webinars | TICKETLAB

Contact Sussex CAMHS Participation Team (CAMHSParticipationTeam@spft.nhs.uk) with any questions.

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SEN Mighty Mites play session Lancing Manor Leisure Centre, BN15 0PH Free - just turn up on the day or contact: 07503 177100 richard.deniese@worthingmencap.org For Children 6 and under with additional needs, their parents and siblings. Giving families a chance to connect and share experiences or concerns with others whilst children play in a safe and understanding environment.

Lancing Manor Leisure Centre, BN15 0PH Free - just turn up on the day or contact: 07503 177100 richard.deniese@worthingmencap.org

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Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) is a childcare top-up for working parents. It can be used to help pay for accredited holiday clubs, childminders, or sports activities. This enables parents and carers to access childcare during the school holidays, also saving them money. It is estimated that there are 1.3 million working families who are eligible for TFC in the UK however only a small percentage are making use of the scheme. Around 75% of families are losing out on this support.

TFC is available for children aged up to 11, or 17 if the child has a disability. You can find out more about the scheme by visiting www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare.

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Maybridge Community Church is offering support to parents and carers over the next few months.

Maybridge Connect Group offer support to parents or carers of children with special educational needs. They meet on the first Wednesday of the month, during term time, from 09:30am - 11:30am at 77 The Strand and there is no need to book.

Further info is available from ruth.stanley@maybriedge.org.uk

Midweek Mash-Up runs every Wednesday from 4.00pm - 5:30pm during term time. Further information is available from Ruth Stanley at ruth.stanley@maybriedge.org.uk

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CAMHS have recorded some workshops focusing on anxiety, autism, eating disorders and sleep, with more workshops to be added over the coming months.

Each workshop is accessible with subtitles and gives an overview of a specific difficulty and also some hints and tips on how young people can be supported. These videos could be particularly useful for parents or carers over the summer holidays when they can access the extra support they may need.

There are also links to some resources that parents may find helpful, either while their young person is waiting to see CAMHS, or as an alternative to CAMHS.

The workshops are available to watch here: https://www.sussexcamhs.nhs.uk/resources/resources-for-families-carers-and-professionals/parent-and-carer-workshops

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Free online courses for parents / carers

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Free online courses for parents / carers

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The government is currently funding Level 2 CACHE Accredited Online Short courses all around SEND and young people's wellbeing.
All subjects are completed online in a 6-8 week timeframe in the learners own time. Upon completion, the learner will receive a certificate from the Awarding body and are able to access another subject.

There is a range of fully funded CACHE accredited qualifications available to help better understand some key issues around young people's mental health and wellbeing, along with a range of other qualifications that may help with developing careers.

Course Information/Structure:

- Online E Learning Platform.

- Have a full 6-8 weeks to complete the course

- Assigned your own login details, can log in and out when you please

- Assigned your own tutor who will support you throughout and mark your work

- No Exams or Essays. All Q&A based.

- Gain a Level 2 awarded certificate upon completion (GCSE Grade C equivalent)

Minimum Requirements:

- Aged 19 or above

- Not currently on a Government funded course (inc apprenticeships)

- Has been in EU/UK for the past 3 years

Subjects Available:

Understanding Autism
Neuroscience In The Early Years (0-7)
Understanding Children and Young Peoples Mental Health
Distressed Behaviour In Children
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Understanding Specific Learning Difficulties

If you wish to find out more, please complete the following link and someone will give you a call and talk you through how it works:

https://theaimgroup.co.uk/booking-form/0014J00000tX370

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With the rise in the cost of living, Maybridge Community Church understand that this winter will be challenging.
That's why they are opening up the building to provide a warm and welcoming space with free food, games, refreshments, films, help and more.
Every Saturday from the 7th January 2023 9:00 - 4:00 at 77 The Strand

Find out more at maybridge.org.uk/warmspace

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Cost of living - West Sussex County Council West Sussex County Council is working in partnership to support people and families who are struggling the most with the cost of living. The are urging anyone who is struggling to access the support available through the link above.

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Contact our Community Hub

Our Community Hub is open seven days a week and offers information and advice about support available.

You can call us or fill in a contact form online.

Contact the Community Hub

You may be eligible to access help from the Household Support Fund, which is available through our Community Hub and can help support eligible residents who are struggling with costs towards fuel or food bills. For full details, including how to apply, see the Community Hub pages.

You don't have to be receiving benefits to access help from your local council. If you do receive benefits, they won't be affected in making an application via this scheme.

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Cost of living - West Sussex County Council

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Our Community Hub is open seven days a week and offers information and advice about support available. You can call us or fill in a contact form online. Contact the Community Hub You may be eligible to access help from the Household Support Fund, which is available through our Community Hub and can help support eligible residents who are struggling with costs towards fuel or food bills.

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Please complete the attached and email to:
victoria.andrews@westsussex.gov.uk

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CUES: Coping with Uncertainty in Everyday Situations A course for parents of autistic children or social communication differences

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CUES: Coping with Uncertainty in Everyday Situations A course for parents of autistic children or social communication differences

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Are you a parent/carer of a child or young person, aged 6-16 years, who has autism or social communication differences?

The CUEs course is an excellent source of information for those who would like to develop strategies to help support their child/ren to cope with intolerance of uncertainty (IU) in everyday situations. The course is free of charge to families of children in West Sussex maintained schools, at this time.

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West Sussex County Council collects information about children and young people aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to help plan and deliver their services.

Who can sign up to the register? Young people between 0 and 25 years old who have a disability. By a disability we mean:
* Something that has a big effect on your day to day life
* Every day things might take more time, effort, planning or support
* You might need to do things differently or need more help than most other people your age
* Something you live with for life or have had for a long time

Parents, carers, and young people can complete our online form now to join the register. Once registered they can collect Max Card from their local library which offers discounts on national attractions.

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Allsorts Youth Project listens to, connects & supports children & young people under 26 who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender identity (LGBT+) and their families.

They can be contacted via their website (above) on on

01273 721100

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Accessibility Toolbar

Our Services

Current waiting times

Youth Groups & One-to-One Sessions
Up to 2 weeks for initial induction

Family Service
Up to 2 weeks for initial induction

Any LGBT+ space is your space.
‍Allsorts is committed to creating an organisation that is representative of our wonderfully diverse LGBT+ community.

We endeavour to employ a POC and Minority Ethnic workforce and recruit and involve POC and Minority Ethnic trustees, to ensure representative support for young people within our service.

To ensure competency across the board, all our staff have undertaken inclusion training, which has equipped them with skills to empathetically work with children and young people from all walks of life.

If you would like to know more, or have any questions, head over to our Inclusion Pledge & Anti-Racism Statement

To get in touch with Allsorts, please visit our contact page

If you are in crisis, please click here to access services offering crisis support.

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Allsorts Youth Project provides youth, family and LGBT+ training services across Sussex. Our youth support and groups are for children & young people under 26 who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

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Family hubs offer a range of activities and support to parents and carers, for children and families.
Many hubs are open for you to drop in and play during opening hours.

You can also pop in, or phone, to speak to staff and access information, advice and guidance on a whole range of issues affecting you and your family.

There are also public access computers to use, free of charge.

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Our 'Find it Out' offer is available to all young people in West Sussex aged between 11-19. We also support young people up to 25 who have additional needs or have experienced care.

We can provide you with information, advice and guidance by answering any questions you may have. We can help you find local services, make referrals and talk about your needs.

If we can't find the right service to support you, or you need some further support but your family doesn't, we can offer up to five sessions with one of our staff members who will work directly with you on what you require support with. We will provide tailored sessions designed to achieve the positive outcomes you want to focus on.

We also offer whole family working that supports everyone in your home and gets everyone working together with your consent, if that is what you need.

For further information and support, please complete the online form below or contact one of our family hubs (a contact phone number and email address is available on the right-hand side of the page).

Request for support for young people online form

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Worthing West Family Hub (Durrington) - West Sussex County Council

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Our 'Find it Out' offer is available to all young people in West Sussex aged between 11-19. We also support young people up to 25 who have additional needs or have experienced care. We can provide you with information, advice and guidance by answering any questions you may have.

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Theresa May was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2016 - 2019, and the first world leader to have type 1 diabetes.

She was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2013 following a blood test after her recent weight loss. However, after the tablets she was prescribed by doctors failed to work, further tests revealed that she had type 1 diabetes.

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Princess Eugenie, King Charles III's niece was diagnosed with scoliosis at a young age.
Eugenie was told she would have to have life-changing surgery on her back when she was 12 years old. She had titanium added to her spine to rebuild it as a result of a curvature.

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Understanding and Supporting My Child with ADHD

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Understanding and Supporting My Child with ADHD

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Rose Ayling-Ellis is an English actress. Deaf since birth, she is a British Sign Language user. She is best known for playing the role of Frankie Lewis, in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2020–2022).

In 2021, she became the first deaf contestant to appear on Strictly Come Dancing and with Giovanni Pernice, won the 19th series. She is the recipient of the Visionary Honours for Inspirational Person of the Year.

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While the 26th President of the United States was perhaps best-known for his conservationist efforts, Theodore Roosevelt also stayed active outdoors in the face of numerous health conditions. Among these were asthma, eye problems, and epileptic seizures.

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What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety (What-to-Do Guides for Kids) Paperback – by Dawn Huebner

Mr. Men Little Miss: Worries: A Book about Anxiety from the New Illustrated Children’s Series for 2022 about Feelings (Mr. Men and Little Miss Discover You)

When My Worries Get Too Big: A Relaxation Book for Children Who Live with Anxiety (The Incredible 5-Point Scale) Paperback – by Kari Dunn Buron

The Huge Bag of Worries Paperback – by Virginia Ironside

The Worry Tiger Paperback – by Alexandra Page

I'm Worried  –  by Brian Moses

When I Feel Worried (The Way I Feel Books) Paperback – by Cornelia Maude Spelman

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Simone Biles is known widely as the Olympic champion who dominated the sport of gymnastics during the 2016 Rio Olympics. Biles has won four consecutive all around titles and is the first female to do so since the 1970’s. She also has competed and won 14 world championship medals.

At a young age, Biles was diagnosed with Attention Deficient Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD).

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Frida Kahlo was a Mexican painter best known for her uncompromising and brilliantly coloured self-portraits that deal with such themes as identity, the human body, and death. She had multiple disabilities including polio as a child and spinal and pelvis damage from a car accident, became a world-renowned self-portrait painter.

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Ellie has achondroplasia, a common cause of dwarfism, and has been interested in swimming since the age of five.

Ellie was the youngest British athlete at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, and won gold medals in the 100m freestyle and 400m freestyle. She has continued to be successful in swimming winning many gold medals and breaking world records.

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Known as The Governess on ITV's The Chase, Anne was diagnosed with autism when she was 46, after watching a TV show and recognising her own behaviour in some of the subjects.

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Hannah, who has cerebral palsy, suffered two cardiac arrests within 48 hours of birth, which affected two parts of her brain. She was left with balance, mobility and fine motor impairment.

But this has most certainly not held her back. She is a gold medal-winning Paralympic wheelchair racer and 10 times world champion. In 2012 she became the first Paralympian to break a world record in the London Olympic Stadium for the 100 metres T34.

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Stevie Wonder is a musical icon who has broken down barriers and embraced his blindness to enjoy endless success in the music industry. The singer went blind shortly after birth.

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Best known for his titular role in the Harry Potter films, Daniel revealed that he had a mild form of dyspraxia in 2008 in an interview for his Broadway debut in Equus. He was unsuccessful at school and ‘he sometimes still has trouble tying his shoelaces.

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Michelangelo, a famous artist, was born in 1475. He is thought to have had an extreme fixation on his work. He had difficulty with emotional regulation, had trouble with social interactions, and thrived on strict routines and it is believed that he had autism.

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The rapper says his music helps him deal with his ADHD. Plus, his mind is always moving and that's good for his craft, he says.

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One of the most influential physicists in history who developed the laws of relativity and shaped the ways we think of the world today. It is firmly believed that Einstein had dyslexia.

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ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ASC
Autistic Spectrum Condition
EHCP
Education, Health Care Plan
ELSA
Emotional Literacy Support Assistant
ILP
Individual Learning Plan
ODD
Oppositional Defiance Disorder
OT
Occupational Therapist
SALT
Speech and Language Therapist
SENAT
Special Educational Needs Assessment Team
SEND
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

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Learning and Behaviour Advisory Team / Autism and Social Communication Team

Every term, the Inclusion Team meets with Sarah Jones from LBAT and Louisa Owens from ASCT to discuss children for whom further advice is required. Following this discussion, Sarah and Louisa may then come into school to provide further support.

Parental permission is always sought for this to happen and advice is shared with parents after the meeting.

School nurse
We can make referrals to the school nurse for support with:

☐ Continence issues e.g., soiling, day or night-time wetting

☐ Sleep issues

☐ Support for school staff when they need to produce individual health care plans for pupils

☐ Poor school attendance related to health issues

☐ Sexual health advice

☐ Lifestyle concerns including weight, smoking, drugs, or alcohol

☐ Health needs assessment following safeguarding meetings

☐ Emotional health and wellbeing support, such as low self-esteem, low mood, low level anxiety

Speech and Language Therapist
If there are concerns about your child's and language, school staff will assess your child using the Speech and Language Progression Tool. Depending on the results they may then make a referral to the speech and language therapy service. Referrals can be made for a variety of reasons, including:

- pronunciation

- stuttering and stammering

- severe lisp

- difficulty following instructions in an age appropriate manner

- slow processing speed

CDC / CAMHS

Referrals are made to CDC and CAMHS for those children with possible mental health issues or neurodevelopmental issues.

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If you have any concerns about your child, always speak to the class teacher first. Make an appointment to see them and write down any questions you may want to ask.
If you need further advice or support, contact Miss Senior, our Inclusion Leader. If necessary, Miss Senior can make referrals to outside agencies such as Child Development Centre (CDC), CAMHS or Speech and Language Therapy Service.

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https://www.andysangels.org.uk/index.html
The purpose of Andy’s Angels is to provide a Grief Play Café which will be a safe space for children and their families to go to while they are navigating their way through their own grief journey.

As grief has no time limit neither does our Grief Play Café, anyone can access our sessions regardless of how long their loved one has been gone.

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By making a regular or one-off donation, you will become one of our Angels - people who want to help us provide support to people and their families at a time when they need it most. Thank you.

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By making a regular or one-off donation, you will become one of our Angels - people who want to help us provide support to people and their families at a time when they need it most. Thank you.

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Following a Sussex-wide review of emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people, a new West Sussex Single Point of Access (SPoA) for emotional wellbeing and mental health support has launched.

The new service provides a simplified single route so that children, young people, families, carers and professionals can be directed to the right service, eliminating the need to refer to multiple services.

Led by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), the new arrangement is delivered in partnership with West Sussex County Council. The services work together to triage the referrals and determine which service is the most appropriate offer for the young person.

Anyone - children, young people, parents, carers, families, GPs and other professionals - can make a referral. When making a referral to SPoA, please provide as much information and detail about the issues the young person is currently experiencing. Doing so will allow SPoA to triage the referral much more quickly and effectively.

How to make a referral

Go to e-wellbeing.co.uk/support and click on the link.

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Would your child qualify for Disability Living Allowance? 

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Would your child qualify for Disability Living Allowance? 

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https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children/eligibility

Does your child

need much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability?

they have difficulty getting about?

If they have had these difficulties for at least 3 months and it is expected to last for at least 6 months, they may qualify for DLA.
To claim DLA for a child you need to be their parent or look after them as if you’re their parent. This includes step-parents, guardians, grandparents, foster-parents or older brothers or sisters.

If your child currently lives in England or Wales you can apply by either:

printing off and filling in the DLA claim form

phoning the Disability Living Allowance helpline and asking for a printed form

Disability Living Allowance helpline
Telephone: 0800 121 4600
Textphone: 0800 121 4523

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Usually, to qualify for Disability Living Allowance ( DLA) for children the child must:

There are some exceptions to these conditions if the child is living in or coming from an EEA country or Switzerland.

If your child currently lives in Scotland, you need to apply for Child Disability Payment instead.

You can claim DLA for children if you're in or out of work.

If you're not a British citizen

If you and your child are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you will usually also need settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to claim DLA for your child.

The deadline to apply to the scheme was 30 June 2021 for most people, but you might still be able to apply. Check if you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Children under 3

A child under 6 months must have lived in Great Britain for at least 13 weeks.

A child aged between 6 months and 3 years must have lived in Great Britain for at least 26 of the last 156 weeks.

The rules on residence do not normally apply if a medical professional has said the child might have 12 months or less to live.

The child's disability or health condition

The child's disability or health condition must mean at least one of the following apply:

they need much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability

they have difficulty getting about

They must have had these difficulties for at least 3 months and expect them to last for at least 6 months.

If a medical professional has said they might have 12 months or less to live, they do not need to have had these difficulties for 3 months.

Care component

The rate the child gets depends on the level of looking after they need, for example:

lowest rate - help for some of the day

middle rate - frequent help or constant supervision during the day, supervision at night or someone to help while they're on dialysis

highest rate - help or supervision throughout both day and night, or a medical professional has said they might have 12 months or less to live

Mobility component

The rate the child gets depends on the level of help they need getting about, for example:

lowest rate - they can walk but need help and or supervision when outdoors

highest rate - they cannot walk, can only walk a short distance without severe discomfort, could become very ill if they try to walk or they're blind or severely sight impaired

There are also age limits to receiving the mobility component:

lowest rate - the child must be 5 years or over

highest rate - the child must be 3 years or over

If your child is under these ages and you claim DLA for them, you should be sent a claim pack 6 months before they turn 3 and 6 months before they turn 5. You can then apply for the mobility component if you think they're eligible for it.

If you have not received any claim packs and you think your child may be entitled to the mobility component, contact the Disability Service Centre.

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Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children

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Help for children under 16 with disabilities - DLA rate, eligibility, how to apply, claim form.

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Pet loss support for children - missing my friend

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Pet loss support for children - missing my friend

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https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-loss-support-children-missing-my-friend

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Children's reaction to the loss of a pet

Most children form strong and special bonds with their pets and they are an important member of the family.

The death or loss of a pet may be particularly painful if:

the pet was very special, such as a first pet

there have been other losses in the child's life, for example the death of a grandparent, loss of friends by changing schools, or the break-up of parents or other family members

The age of the child and their concept of death may also influence how they react to the loss of a pet

Children up to two years of age have little concept of death, but may miss the presence of an animal and will be aware of tensions in the family if others are grieving.

Two to four-year-olds have difficulty grasping that death is permanent and may commonly ask:
"Where is Sammie going? Why isn't he moving?"

Five to ten-year-olds may ask: "Why don't the eyes close? What happens to him when he goes in the ground? Does euthanasia hurt? Will my other pets be lonely?"

By the age of nine onwards, most children are aware of the biological finality of death and they may be curious about the aspects surrounding death, such as post-mortem or burial

Adolescence is a time of high emotions and adolescents may be less willing to share feelings or talk about real issues. In fact they may feel closer to their pet than with other members of their family

Useful tips when supporting a child through pet bereavement

Consider other possible losses that the child may be experiencing which may be influencing their grief

Make sure the child doesn't hear about the pet's death from someone they don't know

Always be honest about the circumstances - don'tpretend that the pet has "gone missing" if, in fact, it has died

Include the child when discussing options or making decisions about the pet

Don't underestimate their feelings. Encourage the child to talk about their pet and express their emotions; writing a story or poem or drawing a picture of their pet can be helpful

Try to understand the importance of the animal and what the child has lost; don't trivialise or minimize their grief

Use language that the child will understand - straightforward words such as "dead" or "died" are more appropriate than "put to sleep", which may cause some confusion and anxiety for younger children

Be prepared to talk about how the animal died, but don't include distressing details

Inform their teacher if the child is very upset, but do so discreetly

Don't be afraid to share your own feelings of sadness

If children are having other difficulties in their lives, a pet's death may be the last straw and particular care must be taken to understand their problem; professional help may be needed

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Pet loss support for children - missing my friend | Blue Cross

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Most children form strong and special bonds with their pets and they are an important member of the family.

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https://springboardsupport.org/our-services/worthing-6to12s/

Springboard are a registered charity whose our main focus is to remove barriers and transform lives for children, young people and their families.

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Springboard’s Worthing 6-12’s group provides support to disabled children, through sessions, activities, trips and breaks that give them opportunities to make friends and build friendships, play and become comfortable in safe and supportive environments.

The group also gives parents and carers a break from their caring role, as well as give them the comfort that their child is having fun playing with others with the support they need.

Sessions focus around developing disabled children’s friendships and social networks, helping them to interact with others, becoming familiar in a different setting that is not home or school, learning through play as well as helping children to cope with being away from their parents or carers. All sessions support children to take part in a variety of enjoyable, recreational and social activities in an inclusive environment which increases their self-esteem, confidence and social skills as well as encouraging physical exercise, improving motor skills and introducing new opportunities.

Sessions run all year round, both during the school term and school holidays. Activities are tailored to ages and abilities and include sessions in house*, in the local community and where possible trips further afield. Sessions include games, arts and crafts, cooking, sensory play, pet therapy as well as going to places of leisure such as the cinema, bowling, swimming and local parks.

We aim to ensure that everyone has fair and equal access to our sessions so that as many families and young people are able to access the sessions as possible.

Outcomes

Reduce isolation by working with disabled children to build friendships, lead active social lives and build confidence in accessing their local community.

To increase life skills and independence by working with disabled children to make decisions, learn new skills and try new things.

To enhance family wellbeing and relationships by giving disabled children the same opportunities as their non disabled peers and enable parents/carers to have a break from their caring responsibilities.

You can access our Worthing 6-12’s sessions by becoming a member. Once you are a member, we will meet with you to assess any care and support required as well as identify key outcomes that you wish to work towards. We will then send out our programmes so you are able to see what is on offer and request spaces accordingly.

Worthing 6-12s Membership

Family Annual Membership | £30.00 per year
Worthing 6-12s Session Cost | Variable depending on activity

For further information, please contact us:

*Palatine Primary School, Palatine Road, Worthing BN12 6JP

Worthing 6-12’s is Ofsted registered.  Registration number EY471224

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Springboard’s Worthing 6-12’s group provides support to disabled children, through sessions, activities, trips and breaks that give them opportunities to make friends and build friendships, play and become comfortable in safe and supportive environments. The group also gives parents and carers a bre…

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PACEY Guide to Preparing Your Child for Starting School 

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PACEY Guide to Preparing Your Child for Starting School 

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Supporting Your Child as They Prepare for School 

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Supporting Your Child as They Prepare for School 

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https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/education-children-and-families/childcare-and-early-education/other-information/supporting-your-child-as-they-prepare-for-school/#overview

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Overview

All parents want to help their child get the most from their time at school and we are committed to supporting you to ensure that happens.

Starting school is a memorable point in a child's life and there are many processes in place to support your child's start at school and make the change as smooth as possible.

When to start school

All children are offered a place at school to start in the September of the academic year (September to August) in which they turn five. All children must be in education from the term after their fifth birthday, but the majority of children start school in the September following their fourth birthday.

To work out when your child can start school, and when you can apply, view School age ranges and year groups.

When you have received the offer of a school place, you may wish to take the opportunity to discuss the school's induction arrangements and your child's start date with the school. You can defer admission until the start of the spring or summer term, so long as your child has not reached compulsory school age. However, you must inform the school of this decision.

You may also wish to discuss with your school whether a gradual start - sometimes called a staggered start - over the first two weeks of term may help your child settle in. Note that a child starting school, even on a part-time basis, will no longer be eligible for free childcare funding at an early years setting.

If your child is summer-born and you consider they are not ready to start school before their fifth birthday, you may discuss the option of your child being put in the younger year group. You can make a request to us by referring to the Information for parents booklet.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

The EYFS is followed by all early years settings and continues through to the end of a child's reception year in school.

Children may attend a range of settings before they start school, and your child may have a Learning Journal recording their attainment, progress and any additional support needs.

This will be forwarded to the school to help staff understand your child's progress to date and to enable your child to continue their learning in the EYFS according to your child's needs.

Read more about the EYFS on the Foundation Years website.

Choosing a school

The Pupil Admissions teams administer the application process and provide information about:

infant and primary schools in West Sussex

how and when to apply, including any deadlines

the application process (Parents Information booklet)

what happens when a school is oversubscribed (oversubscription criteria).

Visiting the school is the best way to decide whether it will meet your child's needs. Look out for school open days to go and visit the schools you are interested in or ask for an appointment if you cannot get along to the day.

Think of questions you want to ask when visiting schools to find out more about the school environment and whether it will suit your child. You might want to ask questions about how they support children's emotional well being, what support they can offer if your child is struggling with their work or any other aspects of school life.

If your child has particular interests, you might want to ask about the opportunities there are for children to engage in these activities. You might also want to look at some of their school policies to understand more about how the school works.

Read a copy of the school's prospectus and their latest Ofsted inspection report, available on each school's website or by contacting the school directly. These will provide you with information about how well a school is performing. You can also view inspection reports on the Ofsted website.

Read the oversubscription criteria for the schools you want and how places were offered the previous year. This will help you to make realistic applications and avoid disappointment.

If your child has Special Educational Needs and/or a Disability (SEND)

West Sussex SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIAS) provide information and impartial advice to parents and carers of children who have special educational needs. This includes:

support if you have difficulties with the school application process

helping you to formulate your thoughts when choosing the type of school that may be suitable for your child

support to complete school application forms if you need assistance.

All schools are expected to adapt their provision to meet the needs of all of the children attending. Most children's needs can be met by the resources already available within the school. For some children, a formal assessment and plan to support their needs may be appropriate. This might include an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

You may feel that your child's needs are particularly complex and you would like to consider more specialist provision, or you may want your child to access your local school alongside their friends.

If you're considering specialist provision, please speak to the professionals that support your child as they will need to be assessed for an EHCP. Having an EHCP does not guarantee a place at a specialist school, so you should also look at local schools and apply for a mainstream school place for your child.

Getting ready - your child's learning and skills

One of the best things you can do to prepare your child for school is for them to attend an early years or childcare setting. Find out about free childcare places on Childcare options.

It is important to understand how children learn and encourage the behaviours that help them to be good learners. Adults who work with young children call these the Characteristics of Effective Learning. All children demonstrate each of them at some time if they are given the opportunities to do so.

Children learn and develop through playing, exploring, being active and creative, and being with adults who allow them to think through problems and find their own solutions. They learn too when things do not go to plan so, under supervision, let them have freedom to explore and take some risks.

You can support your child to use and develop their skills by giving them time to play and explore, playing alongside them but letting them take the lead and praising them for the way they try, even if they do not get things right first time.

More things you can do to support your child's learning and skills

Reading skills - Encourage your child to look at and read books as this will put them at a great advantage when they start school. You can get further help and support for your child to develop early literacy skills from the Words for Life website.

Language skills - Sing songs together, have fun with rhymes and jokes and ask them to follow simple practical instructions, for example, finding their shoes and putting them on.

Writing skills - Help them to draw, making marks with pencils, crayons or paintbrushes on paper, or with sticks in sand. Give your child meaningful opportunities to write - for example, writing their own shopping list, keeping a record of the goals as they are scored in a football match, or making and writing in birthday cards. Praise your child's efforts, even if that is not how you would do it yourself. Look at numbers, letters and familiar words you see around you, for example,when you are shopping.

Number skills - Encourage them to use words such as many, a lot, more or less, finding things in a group that are different or the same, such as shapes or colours, finding opposites and patterns, and involving your child in everyday activities that require counting. You can count out the plates when you are preparing food or count the socks as you take them out of the washing machine. It helps children to understand what the numbers mean if they touch the objects as they count.

Personal and social skills - Arrange for them to play with other children so that they can learn to share and take turns. It can help children to feel happy to share if they decide before a friend comes to play which toys they are happy to share, and put away any they don't want anyone else to play with. Encourage them to tidy up after playing, making sure you join in too and praise their efforts. Talk about feelings and emotions and encourage them to have a go and become more independent, for example, dressing themselves, pouring a drink or going to the toilet.

Physical skills - Help them by using scissors, drawing, craft activities and moulding play dough. Find opportunities to climb, run, skip, jump and lift, and by playing and exploring at the park. Take part in games and activities that make them out of breath.

Talk with your child - Encourage them to rest when they are tired or explain why they need to wear boots when it is muddy outdoors to help them to know why to do things.

If you have any concerns about your child being ready for starting school, speak to their pre-school provider, or your health visitor.

Getting ready - practical preparations

As your child approaches school age, prepare yourself and your child for the changes ahead.

Your child's confidence and positivity

Helping them to feel confident and positive about school will give them a good start. They will be in a new place, with new children, rules and routines. Many children find this exciting while others will be a little daunted. Parents can find it daunting too, so try to be positive.

Talk with your child about what they think school will be like and share books with positive stories about starting school. Your local library is likely to have some books and it is free. Find out more about books to read with children in our starting school booklist.

To help your child feel confident on their first day at school, take them along when buying their uniform, and choose items they can easily take on and off themselves. Children grow very quickly so do not get it too soon. Some schools may sell second-hand uniform, so ask them if they do.

School visits, and transition from pre-school

Many schools and pre-schools help children during their transition to school. They arrange programmes which may include:

visits to the school over several weeks

walks around the school to see where things are, such as playgrounds and toilets

spending time in a classroom with teachers and other children

the new teacher visiting your child in their pre-school setting

time for parents to meet staff members and ask questions

staff from the school visiting you and your child at home.

Find out about any school visits well in advance so that you are able to attend. You may need to book time off work so that you can share this experience with your child.

More practical preparation

Get used to the sleeping routines that your child will have when they start school. Getting enough sleep is very important and the recommended amount of sleep changes as children grow up.

Start to gather the things your child will need, such as school uniform, PE (physical education) kit, bag, water bottle and lunch box. Your school will let you know if there are any rules or things to consider when buying items. Ensure everything your child takes to school is clearly named, as other children may have identical items.

Practice a morning routine with your child, getting ready the things they will need for a school day.

Practice the route to school so that you will be able to arrive at the gate in plenty of time.

All children in reception, year one and year two are entitled to free school meals. If there is a particular reason why your child will not have school meals, talk to the school about alternative options. Talk to your child about the meal they will have and what mealtimes will be like. They will be encouraged to feed themselves and to cut their own food using a knife and fork, so try and practice at home. Once your child is beyond year two, you can find out how to apply for a school meal. If your child is eligible for free school meals, it is helpful to the school if you apply even in reception, year one and two. This allows the school to access additional funding called Pupil Premium to support children in the school.

Share information about your child which could be important for the school to know, such as allergies, health issues or additional needs.

As soon as you know school term dates and INSET days the schools will have, make a note of them. Read and understand the school's policy about taking your child out of school during term time.

Encourage your child to do things independently and build up their confidence, such as packing their own bag or going to the toilet. If going to the toilet is an issue for your child, speak to the school as soon as possible so that support can be put in place. Read more about toilet training.

Let them ask you for help when they need it rather than offering it so that they will be confident to ask others for help at school. If they ask for help, encourage them to have a go with some parts of the task that they can manage so they can develop their confidence and independence

Think about what your own daily routine will be like once your child is at school.

Find out about the methods of communication that your school uses. Make sure you are set up to receive them and your SMS or email is set up to notify you of a new message. Do not be embarrassed to ask the school lots of questions. They want you to be fully informed so that your preparations for school are stress-free.

Getting ready - childcare arrangements

If you are working or studying you may need to organise out of school childcare. Try to plan for this in advance, as childcare places for school age children can be in demand.

Depending on your needs, you may need to look for:

breakfast clubs

after-school clubs

childminders

holiday playschemes.

The Family Information Service provides information about:

the types of childcare that cater for school age children before school, after school, or during the school holidays

local childcare providers, including whether they provide a morning drop-off or afternoon collection service to your school

help with the costs of childcare that you may be able to get

what to look for and what to ask when visiting a childcare provider through a checklist.

If you can't find what you need on our web pages, please get in touch.

The first few days of school

Give yourself a little extra time on the first few days to allow for unforeseen events. If things do not go exactly as you planned, despite your preparation, try to keep calm so that your child remains positive about going to school.

Ask your child about what they are learning at school and get involved wherever possible. They will be delighted that you are interested in what they are doing. Children learn best when they are happy.

Morning drop-off

It can be helpful to take and collect your child on the first day. Remember to show them where you will pick them up at the end of the day. It can be difficult saying goodbye, but ensure they know that you will be back to collect them. If someone else is going to be picking them up, make sure that they know this and who it will be.

Afternoon collection

Welcome your child when you collect them and give them your attention. They may want to tell you all about their day as soon as they see you so make sure you have time to listen. If they do not want to talk about it, that is OK too and perfectly normal.

Your child may find it more tiring being at school all day than they were at a pre-school setting or at home. Do not put pressure on your child to do stuff after school, as they may be worn out.

They may be really hungry at the end of a school day. Take a healthy snack when you pick them up or try giving them an early tea.

Working together with the school

Encourage your child to talk to the teacher if they are worried or upset about anything that happens.

If you do have concerns about how your child is settling at school, ask your child's class teacher about when you can meet to plan working together to help your child feel more comfortable. The teacher may have made the same observations as you.

Ask if there are things you can do at home that will help support your child. If you want to talk again about how things are going, agree a time with the teacher.

It can also help if you:

let the teacher know if there is something happening at home that may be affecting your child

let them know about any health problems your child has

read school notices as soon as possible and reply if needed.

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Supporting your child as they prepare for school - West Sussex County Council

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All parents want to help their child get the most from their time at school and we are committed to supporting you to ensure that happens. Starting school is a memorable point in a child's life and there are many processes in place to support your child's start at school and make the change as smooth as possible.

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Deaf / Hearing Impaired Children Book List 

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Deaf / Hearing Impaired Children Book List 

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https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/15096/res_deaf_hearing_impaired_children_booklist.pdf

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https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/14866/gender_id_booklist.pdf

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Refuges, Seeking Asylum and Moving Abroad Book List 

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Refuges, Seeking Asylum and Moving Abroad Book List 

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https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/14867/refugees_seeking_asylum_booklist.pdf

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https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/14862/black_stories_matter_booklist.pdf

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https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/14859/all_kinds_of_families_booklist.pdf

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https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/4797/teenagers_with_dyslexia_booklist.pdf

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https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/4796/children_with_dyslexia_booklist.pdf

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Death / Bereavement Book List for Teenagers

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Death / Bereavement Book List for Teenagers

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https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/15137/death_bereavement_teenage_booklist.pdf

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Death / Bereavement Book List for Children 

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Death / Bereavement Book List for Children 

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https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/15136/death_bereavement_childrens_booklist.pdf

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https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/9208/new_baby_booklist.pdf

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https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/9210/toilet_training_booklist.pdf

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https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/15092/aspergers_and_autism_booklist.pdf

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https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/15139/fears_anxiety_booklist.pdf

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https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/9209/starting_school_booklist.pdf

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Autism and Tactile Processing - a course for parents / carers 

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Autism and Tactile Processing - a course for parents / carers 

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(sensoryintegrationeducation.com)

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as an autistic individual and occupational therapist rachael will provide personal and professional experience alongside the latest research that looks at tactile processing differences amongst the autistic population. this masterclass will explore the impact of tactile processing differences on activities of daily living

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As an autistic individual and Occupational Therapist Rachael will provide personal and professional experience alongside the latest research that looks at tactile processing differences amongst the autistic population. This Masterclass will explore the impact of tactile processing differences on activities of daily liv

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Introduction to Sensory Integration Difficulties - course for parents / carers 

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Introduction to Sensory Integration Difficulties - course for parents / carers 

# data[].attributes.body
(sensoryintegrationeducation.com)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Introduction to Sensory Integration Difficulties

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Find out why sensory integration is part of everyone's development and learning and how it is critical to help us all to participate in daily life. Consider how sensory differences can affect behaviour, learning, emotions and communication. Learn about the neuroscience that supports the theory of sensory integration.

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Understanding Sensory Processing in Teenagers -course for parents / carers

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Understanding Sensory Processing in Teenagers -course for parents / carers

# data[].attributes.body
(sensoryintegrationeducation.com)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Understanding Sensory Processing in Teenagers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Explore the different sensory integration difficulties people present with as a result of inadequate processing and integration of the senses. We will explain how these difficulties can impact a teen's day-to-day activities. Give you a toolkit of ideas to help you support your young person.