Download our new B&NES Child and Family Health app!
Our new family-focused app gives lots of information and advice.
Our new family-focused app gives lots of information and advice.
The term special educational needs (SEN) has a legal definition which is set out in the Education Act 1996. It applies to children who have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it significantly harder for them to learn or access education than most other children of their age.
The Equality Act, 2010, defines a child with a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial or long term effect on their ability to carry out normal day to day activities. The definition of disability includes a broad range of needs, and research suggests that about 6-7% of children are disabled
Our aim is to accurately identify all SEND children across B&NES, working with families, the local authority and schools to offer an appropriate level of support. Any child identified with SEND will be guided through a bespoke pathway of interventions focused on preparing them for the next stage of life.
Bath and North East Somerset’s SEND Local Offer provides children and young people (aged up to 25) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families with information to help them find the right help and support. To find out more click here.
Supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their parents and carers. Click here.
The Rainbow Resource card may entitle you to access an existing concession on offer at venues across B&NES and the wider area (often designated carer goes free, but please check with individual venues for full details prior to your visit), and access to specific SEND sessions. Click here.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who:
Please contact The Carers Centre or the Citizens Advice Bureau for further support with this.
For further financial information please see – benefits and funding
Additional funding support for your child with additional needs within an early years setting. Please discuss with your nursery, pre school or childminder.
Information about the Early Years SEND Inclusion Panel (SENDIP)
An EHC plan is a legally binding document outlining a child special educational, health, and social care needs.
Here you can find out more information about statutory support, including how to request a statutory Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment and information about SEND Personal Budgets.
Bath Opportunity Pre School (BOP) is a specialist setting providing Early Years Education and therapeutic services to children with additional needs from Bath and North East Somerset.
Children’s Centre’s offer lots of support for families and children with additional needs. Please contact your Health Visiting team or early years setting for more information.
A 5- to 6-week course promoting communication, speech and language through songs, stories and fun activities.
A 6- to 7-week programme designed to support parents or carers of a child with emerging or recognised additional needs. Spaces may be available within nurturing ‘Children’s Group’, running alongside the course.
A 4-week course for parents or carers of a child with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) and is due to start mainstream school. We explore ‘school readiness’ and what this means, how to prepare your child for school and other available services and support. Parents and carers of children without a diagnosis can still access this course.
A one-to-one home-based educational programme supporting parents and children with additional learning and support needs to further develop their play, communication, relationships and learning. Particularly useful where there are concerns surrounding your child’s development.
A 6-week one-to-one programme in your own home using play activities to help you and your child enjoy the time you have together. This programme will help parents or carers find out more about what their child is good at and how they can support their child’s learning and development. It can help children to have a positive start to their life-long learning.
A 10 to 12-week, one-to-one play-based therapeutic programme designed to support a child and carer to form positive and healthy attachments and relationships. This home-based programme is a structured form of nurturing play which is led and organised by the adult whilst being responsive to the child. The carer and child are supported to further develop their relationship and trust in one another and other future relationships. The child’s social and emotional confidence is also developed.
This programme is particularly useful for:
A 6 week course, based on the Theraplay approach, which supports parents to consider their relationship with their child: discussing current challenges, enhancing understanding of emotional responses and different ways to respond to them.
Information to support children and young people and their parent/carers throughout their autism journey. This includes pre-diagnosis, information around EHCP’s and ongoing support for autistic children and young people. Click here.
Useful resources-
Fosse Way School Specialist Autism Support Service – following diagnosis
Live well– Autism services for adults
FACES–Supporting families with children on the autism spectrum in and around Bath
Parent support Padlet- Signposting services, groups, courses and support for parents and carers of those with a diagnosis of Autism.
Emotional Regulation– How to support young people who struggle to recognise bodily signals or relate them to emotional states.
Autistic Females– Exploring the different, typically female presentation of Autism.
Early Years and Primary Champions -Advocates
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEN)
Autism Central Autism Central for Parents and Carers | Autism Central
If you have concerns about your child’s speech and language development please contact your health visitor and see the resources below.
The Disabled Children’s Team provides support to children and their families where a child has diagnosed substantial and long lasting/permanent impairment. The team also works with children who have life limiting conditions. In order to establish whether the team will be able to provide you a service it would be best to make contact with the duty worker either directly yourself or through another key professional.
This service is for children and young people up to the age of 19 with moderate to severe learning disabilities who have registered with a GP in the Bath and North East Somerset area.
We offer assessment, support and advice in relation to:
Children with additional needs may require specialist dental provision, please contact your Health Visiting Team for further support.
NHS-advice for people with additional needs
NHS – Childrens teeth
British Society of Paediatric Dentistry-sources and advice in different languages
Please contact your Health Visiting Team for support with toileting.
Almost all children can learn to be clean and dry. Children with special needs including delayed development and physical disabilities may take a little longer and need more support. However, the process you need to follow is the same. Click here for further information and support.
Dingles Promise – Helpful resources for families to use at home.
RUH Passports– We recommend that every person with a learning disability and/or autism complete a hospital passport. This is to help staff provide the best possible care.
Bristol Childrens Hospital Passport.
The aim of the Hospital Passport is to provide our staff with information about your child during a hospital visit. This information will help us work in partnership with you in meeting your child’s needs when using our hospital services.
