Additional support needs and disabilities
Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Families who have children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) often require additional support from a range of specialist services.
As your Health Visiting Service, we are skilled in helping you navigate the services available and provide support and coordination throughout this process; we will work in partnership with you, so, together, we can achieve the best outcomes for your child and family.
We also recognise that each child and family are unique and our service will be personalised to meet your needs. This could mean for example, supporting you through the assessment process at the time of a diagnosis or supporting the effective transition of your child from the Health Visiting to the School Nursing Service.
If you have any concerns regarding your child’s progress, you can speak to your doctor or health visitor. This could be with common issues such as sleep or toilet training or any questions regarding your child’s development such as speech and language or reaching other developmental milestones.
The Local Offer
The Local Offer is the updated online resource for services for parents and children identified with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It also has information and contact details on all services working with children and families in Hackney and the City.
The City of London Local Offer
Compliment from a family
Very relaxed appointment, felt very comfortable. I felt like they cared and listened to me and my husband.
Services and drop-ins in Hackney and the City
Hackney Ark
Hackney Ark is a centre for children and young people with disability and special educational needs. It brings together services from across the fields of health, education and social care to provide an integrated response to the needs of disabled children and their families.
Speech and language therapy
This is a service for children who have difficulties with speech (e.g. speech sounds), language and communication, and the skills needed for this such as attention and listening and interaction. We also work with children who have eating and drinking difficulties.
Contact your local Children’s Centre or health visiting service for more information about groups called Talking walk-in.
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Speech and language therapy service
Physiotherapy services
The service is based at Hackney Ark and can help if you have questions regarding your child’s mobility and gross motor tasks (e.g. crawling, running, and jumping).
huh-tr.childrensptreferrals@nhs.net
Children’s Physiotherapy Service
Occupational Therapy
This service is based at Hackney Ark if you have any questions regarding your child’s independence or participation in everyday activities such as washing, dressing, feeding, play and leisure activities or school activities.
huh-tr.childrensotreferrals@nhs.net
Children’s Occupational Therapy Service
Children’s Psychology Service
First Steps is an NHS psychology service for children and young people aged 0 – 18 years and their families. It is delivered from your local Children’s Centre and some GP surgeries.
The service can offer early help with any difficulties related to behaviour, emotions and relationships before they become more complicated or difficult to address; this can include concerns such as toilet training, sleep, tantrums, fussy eating.
Education, health and care plan
Are you unsure of who to speak with regarding an Education, Health and Care Plan if your child has additional support needs?
Hackney SENDIAGS is the Special Educational Needs Disability Information and Guidance Service.
The service offers impartial advice on questions regarding SEND.