Early Years SEND Support

As a parent or carer of a child with learning and development delay or SEND there is a range of learning and development support for your child as well as family support available in Waltham Forest and nationwide.

If your child has a learning and developmental delay or SEND the health professionals working with your family should have made a referral to the Councils Early Years Inclusion Pathway. Through the referral, we can ensure that you are regularly provided with a range of information to support your child’s learning and development. We can also ensure they are ready for school and that the right nursery and Reception Class is available for them. There is also a range of support available to support your family's health and wellbeing.

You can find a range of information about finding a suitable childcare provider and the support available to meet your child’s on our Choosing an early years' Provider page.

There is also a range of schemes to assist with childcare costs

All children and families can access a range of free inclusive activities for children of all abilities as part of our Best Start in Life Offer. Some sessions are specifically for children with learning and development delays or SEND.

Lloyd Park Children’s Charity runs a range of inclusive and SEND-specific play and learning activities for children and their families

Walthamstow Toy Library

Walthamstow Toy Library has sites in both, Walthamstow and Leytonstone. They run inclusive play sessions, led by experienced play workers. They have toys and books, activities such as messy play, music makers, and physical fun. All their sessions include a healthy snack, singing, and story telling time. They also provide a toy loaning service with a wide variety of high-quality, fun toys you can borrow.

For more information, visit the Walthamstow Toy Library website

The Together Space

 The Together Space is a place where children and families with and without learning disabilities can comfortably socialise, learn and play together. 

Find out more about the monthly events at the Together Space that you and your child can join.

Downright Excellent!;

Downright Excellent! works with children, their families and their schools, combining fun learning activities, training, specialist therapies, peer support and socialising. They form a circle of support around each child and family to support, empower and inspire. 

Find out more about Downright Excellent's weekly 0 to 5 play sessions.

All children and families can access a range of free inclusive activities, information, and support as part of our Best Start in Life Offer. Attending these sessions will support children’s speech, language and communication skills

Chit Chat Pitter Pat

Chit Chat Pitter Pat is Waltham Forests' Home Learning programme. It has been devised by a qualified teacher in partnership with Speech and Language Therapists. It aims to provide a range of resources and activity ideas to support children of all abilities with their speech, language and communication skills.

The NHS have also produced a range of information, activity ideas and videos about learning to talk, visit the NHS website for more information.

Ambitious About Autism

Ambitious about Autism has a practical toolkit containing information to guide parents/carers through their child’s journey in the early years. From the autism assessment process to the first day of school, this toolkit is packed with practical tips and checklists to support parents/carers during the earliest years of their child’s life. It also provides signposts to sources of support or additional information.

Good Beginnings

Good Beginnings courses are available to randomly selected groups of parents and carers of children waiting for assessment on the Social and Communication Clinic (SACC). The courses include a range of downloadable resources and videos. The resources explain the pathway and provide information and overview to those areas covered on the course such as understanding autism and thing to try with your child.

If you would like to find out more, you can watch the Good Beginnings introduction video or speak to your child’s Speech and Language Therapist to find out more.

Waltham Forest’s Early Help Service provide a range of workshops and courses. These give parents all the tools and confidence they need to parent their children more effectively, manage challenging behaviours, and support their children’s learning and development. You can call 020 8496 2442 for more information.

Waltham Forest Educational Psychology Service offers free monthly parent and carer consultation sessions for families living in Waltham Forest. They are qualified specialists in child psychology and child development. They specialise in supporting children and young people with special educational needs, learning difficulties and social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

You can find out more and book a 30 minute consultation by emailing the Educational Psychology Service team.

Waltham Forests Best Start in Life Offer includes one-to-one sleep and bedtime routine consultations full information on session times and booking details can be found in the Best Start in Life Timetable.

Scopes Sleep Right is a free support service, that helps parents and carers of disabled children to improve their child's sleep. Face-to-face, telephone, and online sessions are available. 

Cerebra Sleep Advice Service provides a sleep tips booklet as well as a one-to-one sleep advice service.

The Sleep Charity also provides advice sheets, a helpline, and information about specialist sleep equipment.

ERIC, the children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity provide information on potty training children with additional needs and supporting children with sensory needs.

The National Autistic Society has also produced a toileting guide for parents and carers

Your Health Visitor will also be able to help.

Further information around toilet training and incontinence support

HENRY is able to provide a range of support around infant feeding, healthy eating, and oral health

Your Health Visitor will also be able to help.

The National Autistic Society has produced a guide that provides support around eating issues.

If your child has or may have dysphagia (swallowing) eating and drinking difficulties they are likely to be referred to the Speech and Language Service for specialist support.

You can contact your Health Visitor who will be able to help or if appropriate they can make a referral to the Child and Adult Mental Health Service or Service Perinatal Parent Infant Mental Health for support.

You can contact your Health Visitor who will be able to help or if appropriate they can make a referral to the Child and Adult Mental Health Service or Service Perinatal Parent Infant Mental Health for support.

Waltham Forest’s Early Help Service are able to allocate a named worker to work with your family when you need more support. The aim is to address problems at the earliest opportunity before they escalate and to enable families to support their children to reach their full potential. You can self-refer or agree with a professional who is working with your family to make a referral.

Waltham Forests Adult Health and Wellbeing Service are also able to provide a link worker to support with issues around marriage break up, low mood, anxiety and relationship conflict.

Find out more about national organisations that can help with family relationships.

Our Best Start in Life Programme provides a range of support and information support for parents/carers of under 5’s as well as access to a range of early childhood services.

You can contact your Health Visitor who will be able to help or if appropriate they can make a referral to the Child and Adult Mental Health Service or Service Perinatal Parent Infant Mental Health for support.

Waltham Forest’s Early Help Service are able to allocate a named worker to work with your family when you need more support. The aim is to address problems at the earliest opportunity before they can escalate and to enable families to support their children to reach their full potential. You can self-refer or agree with a professional who is working with your family to make a referral.

Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest are also able to provide a range of support around wellbeing, anxiety and depression

Find out more about national organisations that can help with family relationships.

All children and families can access a range of free inclusive activities for children of all abilities as part of our Best Start in Life Offer. Some sessions are specifically for children with learning and development delay or SEND. Attending these sessions provide parents/carers an opportunity to make new friends, meet existing friends and support each other through their child’s development journey.

Waltham Forest Parent’s Forum is a friendly, voluntary group of parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and or disabilities aged 0 to 25 in Waltham Forest. You can join the forum through their website and find out more about their regular support groups.

Waltham Forest Carers First offers a weekly borough-wide Parent's Talk Time group where parents get the chance to talk, share useful information, and support each other in a safe environment.

Citizens Advice Waltham Forest provides free, confidential, and impartial advice. Their aim is to help everyone find a way forward, whatever problem they face. They will advise on the benefits available to you as a parent or carer of a child with SEND. Also, they can advise on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children and help with filling in the DLA form for your child.

SENDIASS Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) for children, young people, parents, and carers within the Waltham Forest area. They are able to provide a range of support around benefits and schemes that parents/carers of children with SEND can access. These schemes can provide financial assistance as well information, advice, and guidance around services available as part of the Early Years Inclusion Pathway,  education, health and social care and EHC plans based on local and national law and guidance.

Find out more about other organisations that can provide money and debt advice.

Haven House supports local children and families, from birth, who are seriously ill and have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.

You can ask a health professional who is working with your child to make a referral to access respite, yoga, music therapy, and play sessions.