SEND Information for Families
SEN Information Report
External Support and Referral Forms
Speech and Language Concerns
- If you have concerns about your child's speech and language development, help is available.
- Contact the Speech and Language Therapy Enquiries Line: 0118 904 3700
- Available: Tuesday and Thursday, 9am – 3:30pm
You can also speak to your child's key person or contact the SENDCo to discuss your concerns and the support available at nursery
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has a speech and language therapy team supporting children and young people with speech and communication diff
Neurodiversity Pathway for Autism
Berkshire Healthcare's Neurodiversity Service emphasise putting support in place early, based on your child's needs, rather than waiting for a diagnosis.
The most important thing is support – this happens immediately, without needing a diagnosis.
Your child's needs are the same before and after an assessment. At Norcot, we provide support straight away through Individual Support Plans (ISPs), working in partnership with you.
When We Consider a Referral
After 6 months of ISP support, if we feel an assessment would help, we'll work together with you to complete the referral to Berkshire Healthcare.
Please note: A diagnosis is not required for your child to access education provision or an EHCP assessment.
Additional Information Documents
If a referral is made, we will complete additional information alongside the online referral form: https://cypf.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/adhd-and-autism-neurodiversity/additional-information-documents/
Support Available Now
Autism Berkshire (for Reading, Wokingham, West Berkshire):
https://www.autismberkshire.org.uk/berkshire-west-autism-adhd-support-service/
Berkshire Healthcare information:
https://cypf.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/adhd-and-autism-neurodiversity/autism/
Need More Information?
For Frequently Asked Questions and more guidance, visit: https://cypf.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/adhd-and-autism-neurodiversity/request-for-help-guidance/
Portage
The Reading Portage Service is a Home Teaching Programme for Reading families who have pre-school children with additional support needs.
Portage families are visited in their own home by a trained Portage Home Visitor who offers support, encouragement and advice. Together with parents the Portage visitor will design and record stimulating activities to help the child achieve their individual goals.
For information more about Portage click here
Disability Access Fund (DAF)
The Disability Access Fund is additional funding available for three- and four-year olds who are accessing their free early years funding entitlement and are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance.
For more information about DAF Click here
Early Years Inclusion Funding | Reading Services Guide
The EYIF is for 2, 3 and 4-year-old children in private, voluntary and independent settings, childminders and nurseries who are accessing the early education entitlement.
EYIF will focus on emerging and lower level SEN i.e. where a child requires some provision in addition to or different from the settings usual graduated approach to help children learn. Children with more complex SEND will receive support from the High Needs Block (HNB) funding; it is not a requirement for early years children to have or be in the process of having an EHCP to access the HNB funding. For more information on Early Years Inclusion Funding Click here.
Reading Information, Advice & Support Service for SEND (Reading IASS) offers free confidential and impartial information, advice and support about education, health and social care to Reading parents and carers who have children (up to the age of 25) with special educational needs or disability.
A local charity providing specialist support, events, training and workshops for Berkshire Families who have children and young people with special needs.
Special Schools
A child will need an EHCP to access specialist provision. Talk to the SENDCo if you are thinking about sending your child to a special school. Change word to SENDCo for consistency
Addington School is a special school for pupils aged 2 – 19 years. Addington School is located in Woodley next door to The Bulmershe School and the leisure centre.
Addington caters for up to 205 pupils with severe or profound learning needs, many of whom have associated sensory, communication, motor and / or behaviour difficulties including Autism.
All pupils at Addington have a Statement of Special Educational Need or an Education Health and Care Plan related to their learning difficulties and additional needs.
The Avenue School-Special Needs Academy is a day, special school for boys and girls from the age of 2 – 19 with complex Special Educational Needs. It is situated close to the centre of Reading and is the only school of this type within the borough.
Bishopswood provides specialist education for children aged between 2 and 16 years with severe or profound learning difficulties, including those with complex needs and/or ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder).
Brookfields School is a large, thriving and dynamic special school in Tilehurst, Reading in West Berkshire offering an outstanding and personalised education for pupils aged from 3 to 19 all of whom have a learning difficulty and some of whom have additional needs.
Dingley's Promise provide a place where children - from birth to five years - with special needs and disabilities come to develop skills through play. More than this, it is a place where their parents and carers are welcome, where they can make friends and share experiences.
Dingley's Promise offers play scheme sessions across the year for children aged 0-5 years with SEND, this service offers much needed respite for parents and carers.
A primary day school for statemented pupils with Behavioural, Emotional and Social difficulties (BESD).
Thames Valley School is a free school sponsored by The National Autistic Society (NAS).
Special Educational Needs (SEN) Team
The Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) Team supports children and young people aged 0–25 who have special educational needs that require the support of an Education, Health & Care (EHC) Plan. The Team co-ordinates statutory Needs Assessments and works closely with families, schools and practitioners from across education, health and social care, to help put support in place through EHC Plans. You can email them SEN@reading.gov.uk