Introduction
Discovering that your child has an additional need can be one of the most upsetting experiences a parent goes through. You may have been told this at an early stage or you may have realised it as your child developed. You may still be waiting for more information about your child's condition.
The Yellow Book
This is a guide to services in South Gloucestershire for children with additional needs and aims to help you and your child get the support and information you need, from a child's early years through his or her school years to adolescence and beyond. To view the yellow book see 'Read more' opposite.
Support for parents
Childrens Playlink is a children's charity which organises a number of playschemes during the Easter and summer holidays for children with additional needs. In addition to organising schemes dedicated to these children Childrens Playlink believes that parents should also have the opportunity to let their children attend mainstream playschemes. During the school Easter and summer holidays, using funding from South Gloucestershire Social Services and South Gloucestershire Children's Fund, we employ 'buddies' as adult helpers to provide support on a one-to-one basis for each child with additional needs wishing to attend a mainstream playscheme. These children must live in South Gloucestershire to be eligible for this support.
Please contact Childrens Playlink for further details on 01454 865631.
Supportive Parents
Supportive Parents is a parent-led organisation providing the Parent Partnership Service for Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. This service is confidential and provides independent parental support to parents of children with special educational needs. They offer information and support by means of a telephone information and support line, face-to-face support at meetings and help with written information to enable parents to play a more active role in their child's education. Supportive Parents encourages partnership between parents and professionals and gives feedback on their service to education providers.
Information and Support Line: 0117 9897725
This service is available 10am - 2pm, Monday, Wednesday and Friday during term time only
Answerphone at all other times
Admin line / Fax: 0117 9897724
Special Friends Club
This club has four clubs for special needs children:
- The Youth Club is a club for 11-16 year-olds to attend without their parents
- The Junior Club is for 5-11+ year-olds. Parents must stay on the premises but volunteers supervise the children, allowing the parents and carers a break for coffee and a chat
- The Active Kids Club is for families with special needs children aged 0 - 10. Activities are organised for at least two sessions of every week of the school holidays
- The Explorers Club is for families with special needs children aged 0 - 16. There are organised visits to adventure parks, tourist attractions, etc.
Please contact Lynne Watkins, development worker for further details on 0117 961 5571.
Talking Point
This is a website about communication development and disability for parents, carers and professionals. It has two major areas - www.talkingpoint.org.uk/parentpoint which offers knowledge, ideas and resources for families including:
- An interactive message board
- Factsheets
- Downloadable songs and nursery rhymes
- Webcasting
The second major area is www.talkingpoint.org.uk/talkinglinks which enables parents to search by postcode and find vital information about speech and language, education and voluntary sector services.
Contact a family
This is a UK-wide charity providing support, advice and information for families with disabled children. The website offers specialised areas of information and advice from, for example family members, fathers, professional workers and students.
Freephone: 0808 808 3555 or textphone: 0808 808 3556.
Or you can email: info@cafamily.org.uk
See our 'Read more' and 'Other websites' sections for more information about additional needs or special needs children.