Useful Links
Helpful Information and Resources

We’ve gathered a list of useful links, resources, and organisations that our members have found helpful when navigating SEND.

These resources are intended to support families on their SEND journey. Inclusion does not represent an endorsement by Southwark Independent Voice. While we aim to keep everything up to date, we encourage you to check directly with providers to ensure the information meets your needs.

Click on a heading below to explore our collection.

If you spot a broken link, please let us know at info@southwarkive.co.uk

Including SEN Support, EHCPs, Tribunal information and more:

Southwark Local Offer
https://localoffer.southwark.gov.uk/education/

SIAS
https://localoffer.southwark.gov.uk/sias/

Council for Disabled Children
https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/resources/all-resources

IPSEA
https://www.ipsea.org.uk

SOS!SEN
https://sossen.org.uk

Including what is school transport assistance, how to apply and more:

Southwark Local Offer
https://localoffer.southwark.gov.uk/transport/helping-you-get-there/

SENTAS
https://sentas.co.uk

Primary (Ages 4-11)
In this section you will find details of mainstream and specialist primary schools in Southwark and neighbouring boroughs.

Also included is information about provision in primary schools for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and how to apply for schools.

https://localoffer.southwark.gov.uk/education/primary-school/

Secondary (Ages 11-16)
In this section you will find details of mainstream and specialist secondary schools in Southwark and neighbouring boroughs.

Also included is information about provision in secondary schools for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and how to apply for schools.

https://localoffer.southwark.gov.uk/education/secondary-ages-11-16/

Education (16-25)
Post-16 education can include colleges, 6th forms, apprenticeships, supported internships, and more. There are lots of options for education and training for school leavers and young people.

https://localoffer.southwark.gov.uk/youth-offer/education/

Links to support and information

A

Anxiety Disorder in Children

Royal College of Psychiatrists – describes the different types of anxieties that children might feel and some of the reasons behind these.
https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/parents-and-young-people/information-for-parents-andcarers/worries-and-anxieties-for-parents

Young Minds – offering information, advice and support for young people and their families.
https://www.youngminds.org.uk

ARFID

ARFID Awareness UK – information, support and resources for families with children who have ARFID.
https://www.arfidawarenessuk.org

Asthma

Asthma and Lungs UK – vast range of information and support on asthma including asthma and your child.
https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/asthma/child

Beat Asthma – Charity supporting children, young people and families living with asthma
https://www.beatasthma.co.uk

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD Foundation – The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity supports parents and carers so they can understand and meet the needs of their child. With a range of webinars, courses, resources, and our screening service, we help families to know which interventions and adaptations are right for them.
https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

APD Support UK – offers information, advice and resources on living with APD.
https://apdsupportuk.wixsite.com/apd-support-uk

Autism

National Autistic Society (NAS) – providing support, information and practical advice for autistic adults and children in the UK, as well as their family members and carers.
https://www.autism.org.uk

Ambitious About Autism – Providing information support and resources for families of children and young people.
https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk

Autism Central – aims to make it easier for parents and carers to learn more about autism and services available to you.
https://www.autismcentral.org.uk

B

Bipolar

Bipolar UK – dedicated solely to people affected by bipolar
https://www.bipolaruk.org

Blindness and Vision Loss

Royal National Institute of Blindness – The RNIB’s website is specially designed for people with sight loss and provides a wide range of useful information and resources, including an online community.
https://www.rnib.org.uk

Royal Society for Blind Children – supporting blind and partially sighted children, young people and their families.
https://www.rsbc.org.uk

SeeAbility – supporting children and young people who have a learning disability or autism who may have a sight loss.
https://www.seeability.org

Thomas Pocklington Trust – advice, support and information for blind or partially sighted people.
https://www.pocklington.org.uk

Brain Injuries and conditions

Celebra – offer support and information for families of children with brain-related conditions:
https://www.cerebra.org.uk

Child Brain Injury Trust – provides information and support for the effects of ‘traumatic’ injury on a child’s developing brain: https://www.childbraininjurytrust.org.uk/

C

Cerebral Palsy and Hemiplegia

Action Cerebral Palsy – is a consortium of specialist providers for children and young people with cerebral palsy and related challenges.
https://actioncp.org

Cerebal Palsy – provides support by offering impartial information on a broad range of subjects that people affected by CP should find useful.
https://www.cerebralpalsy.org.uk

HemiHelp – Contact for families of disabled children Continuing the work of the charity HemiHelp, provide support to children and young people living with hemiplegia.
https://www.hemihelp.org.uk/

Scope – is the main UK charity for people with cerebral palsy and their families.
https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/cerebral-palsy-introduction

Chromosome disorders
SOFT – UK Is here to support you. Our mission is to provide support and information to all those who are affected by Patau’s syndrome (Trisomy 13) or Edwards’ syndrome (Trisomy 18) and their related disorders. To support families, healthcare professionals and carers.
https://www.soft.org.uk

Unique – can help you find out about your child’s rare chromosome disorder.
https://rarechromo.org/html/home.asp

Genetic Alliance – alliance of charities supporting children and families affected by genetic disorders:
https://www.geneticalliance.org.uk/

Colour vision deficiency (colour Blindness)

Colour Blindness Awareness – providing a range of information and resources for families.
https://www.colourblindawareness.org

Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis Trust – information, advice and support
https://www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk

D

Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD)
Previously known as Dyspraxia

Movement Matters – The UK umbrella organisation representing the major national groups concerned with children and adults with dyspraxia. The website holds documents and videos aimed at parents, teachers and employers of people with DCD.
www.movementmattersuk.org

Diabetes

Children with Diabetes UK – supporting families with newly diagnosed children or any families who wish to discuss raising a child with diabetes.
https://www.childrenwithdiabetesuk.org

Breakthough T1D – Information and support for people and parent carers of children with type 1 diabetes.
https://breakthrought1d.org.uk/knowledge-support/guide-for-parents/

DigiBete – A place to help children, young people and families to help manage Type 1 Diabetes. Digibete is a video platform and app. https://www.digibete.org

DiGeorge syndrome (22q11 deletion)

Max Appeal – information and recourses for families of children and young people with 22q11.
https://www.maxappeal.org.uk

Down’s Syndrome

Down’s Syndrome Association – a national organisation, committed to improving quality of life for people who have Down’s syndrome, promoting their right to be included on a full and equal basis with others.
https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/

Down’s Syndrome UK – supporting families and professionals to improve the lives of those with Down’s Syndrome and their families.
https://downsyndromeuk.co.uk/

Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia Network – offering information and advice on Dyscalculia including how to get diagnosed and what can be done to help at school and at home.
https://www.digibete.org

The Dyscalculia Information Centre – provides information, resource’s and more.
https://www.dyscalculia.me.uk

Dyslexia
British Dyslexia Association – Help, support and advice for families and professionals.
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk

Dyslexia-SpLD Trust (The) – a collaboration of voluntary and community organisations funded by the Department for Education to help children with dyslexia/SpLD succeed in school:
https://www.thedyslexia-spldtrust.org.uk/

E

Epilepsy

Young Epilepsy – offering information, advice and support for children, young people and their families.
https://www.youngepilepsy.org.uk

The Daisy Garland – working exclusively for children with drug-resistant epilepsy and their families.
https://www.thedaisygarland.org.uk

Epilepsy Action – a wide range of information, advice and support for families of children with epilepsy.
https://www.epilepsy.org.uk

F

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

National organisation for FASD – offering information, support and resources for families.
https://nationalfasd.org.uk

Fragile X

National Fragile X Foundation – information, advice and resources on Fragile X.
Click here

Fragile X Society – information and support for families impacted by Fragile X.
https://www.fragilex.org.uk

H

Hearing impairments

British Deaf Association (BDA) – The largest national organisation run by deaf people for deaf people. The BDA represents the views of the deaf community and promotes British Sign Language. It also has a Youth, Children and Families section
https://bda.org.uk

National Deaf Children’s Society – providing information, advice and support for children, young people, their families and professionals.
https://www.ndcs.org.uk

Usher Kids UK – Usher Kids UK is a national charity, which exists to empower children, young people (0-25yrs) and their families living with Usher syndrome. They provide information, support and opportunities to connect, virtually and in-person. For more information
https://www.usherkidsuk.org

J

Joint Hypermobility Syndrome

Hypermobility Syndrome Association – supporting children and families with hypermobility
https://www.hypermobility.org

L

Learning Disability

Learning Disability Network London – supporting children and adults with a Learning Disability and their families across London.
https://www.ldnlondon.org

Mencap – information, advice and resources for those with a learning disability
https://www.mencap.org.uk/learning-disability-explained/communicating-people-learningdisability

M

Muscular dystrophy

Muscular Dystrophy UK – offers a wide range of information, advice and resources for families.
https://www.musculardystrophyuk.org

N

Noonan syndrome

Noonan Syndrome Association – support families and individuals with Noonan Syndrome.
https://www.noonansyndrome.org.uk

P

Physical Disabilities

Newlife – charity offering information and advice for children with a physical disability and their families.
https://newlifecharity.co.uk

Prada – Willi syndrome

PWSA UK – information, advice and resources for families of children with Prada-Willi syndrome.
https://www.pwsa.co.uk

R

Restricted growth (dwarfism)

Little People UK – offers information, resources and advice for families with restricted growth (dwarfism).
https://littlepeopleuk.org

Rett Syndrome

Rett UK – information, advice and support for families of children with Rett Syndrome.
https://www.rettuk.org

S

Scoliosis

Scoliosis support and research – information, advice and support for those with Scoliosis.
https://ssr.org.uk

Selective mutism (SM)

SMIRA (Selective Mutism Information & Research Association) – offers information, advice and resources for families with children with SM.
https://www.selectivemutism.org.uk

Sickle Cell Disorder

Sickle Cell Society – Information, advice and support for families.
https://www.sicklecellsociety.org

Sleep Apnoea

Hope2Sleep – information and advice on sleep apnoea in children.
https://www.hope2sleep.co.uk/sleep-apnoea-in-children.html

Social anxiety (social phobia)

Anxiety UK – Vast information, advice, and support for those wanting to know more and seeking support for anxiety.
https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk

TOP UK (The OCD and phobia charity) – offering information, support and more for those over 16.
https://www.topuk.org

Young Minds – organisation to help and support young people with mental health including anxiety.
https://www.youngminds.org.uk

Spina Bifida

Shine – offering whole life support, information, advice and resources for people with spinal bifida.
https://www.shinecharity.org.uk/find-support/find-support

T

Tay-Sachs Disease

National Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases Association – information, support and research for families.
https://ntsad.org

Tourette’s Syndrome

Tourette’s Action – offering information, support and advice
https://www.tourettes-action.org.uk

Turner Syndrome

Turner Syndrome Support Society – support for women and girls with Turner Syndrome.
https://www.tss.org.uk

ACCESS Card
https://www.accesscard.online
The physical card acts as a photo ID that can be used to easily communicate your access requirements to events and venues, so that the venues can provide accessibility to the needs of their visitors.

AFK (Action for Kids)
https://www.afkcharity.org
Helps children and young people who are disabled or neurodiverse to live more independent, fulfilling lives.

ASD Community Hub
https://www.achievingspecialdreams.co.uk/
Is a community-focused organisation created by and for parents and professionals who support children with complex special educational needs (SEN).

Autism Voice
https://www.autismvoice.org.uk/
Working to enhance the health and well-being of people (children and adults) with autism and/or learning disabilities and their families from mainly Global Majority Communities.

Baked Bean Charity
https://bakedbeancompany.com/
Helping people with learning disabilities get more from their lives. Services include: Dance, Drama, Music, Skills & Training.

Barnardo’s
https://www.barnardos.org.uk
Barnardo’s transforms the lives of vulnerable children across the UK through the work of their projects, our campaigning and our research expertise.

Caudwell Children
https://www.caudwellchildren.com
Caudwell Children provide family support services, equipment, treatment and therapies for disabled children and their families across the UK.

CEA Card
https://www.ceacard.co.uk
The scheme allows a Cardholder to be accompanied by someone, free of charge, when they purchase a ticket to visit a participating cinema with that person.

Challenging Behaviour Foundation
https://www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk
Specifically focussed on the needs of children, young people and adults with severe learning disabilities whose behaviour may be described as challenging, and their families.

Child Bereavement UK
https://www.childbereavementuk.org
Child Bereavement UK helps children and young people (up to the age of 25), parents and families, to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies.

Contact for families of disabled children
https://contact.org.uk
Their website has advice and information about concerns you might have about raising a child with additional needs. They run a free helpline and offer a Listening Ear support service.

Coram Children’s Legal Centre
https://childrenslegalcentre.com
Largest provider of legal advice, assistance and representation on children’s rights in the UK and overseas.

Council for Disabled Children (CDC)
https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk
Umbrella body for the disabled children’s sector in England, aiming to make a difference to the lives of disabled children and children with special educational needs.

CP Teens UK
https://www.cpteensuk.org
Empowering youngsters and adults with physical disabilities.

Dimensions
https://dimensions-uk.org
Supports people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs out of institutions, helping them lead ordinary lives.

Direct Gov.
https://www.gov.uk
Easy access to public information about statutory services of interest to families with disabled children.

Disability Grants
https://www.disability-grants.org
A guide to help you find grants for the disabled.

Disability Matters NHS England
https://www.disabilitymatters.org.uk
A free eLearning resource for the UK workforce.

Disability Rights UK
https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/about-us
The largest national pan-disability organisation led by disabled people.

Dulwich Lawn Tennis Club (inclusive tennis)
https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/SebastienBlanchonCoaching/Coaching/Junior/INCLUSIVETENNIS
Inclusive tennis programme for neurodivergent children and children with SEN (special educational needs), ages 5–11 years.

ERIC
https://eric.org.uk
The UK’s only childhood continence charity.

Family Fund
https://www.familyfund.org.uk
The largest independent grant-giving organisation helping low income families caring for a severely disabled child.

Family Holiday Charity
https://familyholidaycharity.org.uk
Providing holidays for vulnerable families that cannot afford a holiday.

Fledglings
https://www.fledglings.org.uk
A national not-for-profit one-stop shop for aids for children and adults with a disability.

Get Kids Going
https://www.getkidsgoing.com
National charity giving disabled children and young people the opportunity to participate in sport.

Heart n Soul
https://www.heartnsoul.co.uk/
Helps people with learning disabilities and autistic people through art and music.

Information, Advice and Support Services Network (IASS)
https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/about-us-0/networks/information-adviceand-support-services-network
Provides training and support to local IAS Services across England.

IPSEA
https://www.ipsea.org.uk
The leading charity in the field of SEND law in England.

KIDS
https://www.kids.org.uk
Providing a wide range of support from early years into adulthood.

Maypole Project
https://www.themaypoleproject.co.uk
Supporting children and young people with complex medical needs and their families.

Mermaids
https://mermaidsuk.org.uk
Supporting trans, non-binary and gender-diverse children, young people and their families.

National Autistic Society
https://www.autism.org.uk
Charity for autistic people and their families, offering advice, support and training.

NHS Mental Health Crisis Line
https://slam.nhs.uk/crisis
NHS urgent mental health helplines for people of all ages.

Newman Holiday Trust
https://www.newmantrust.org
Voluntary organisation running summer holidays for children with additional needs.

Nip it in the Bud
https://nipinthebud.org
Works with professionals to produce free evidence-based films and resources on child mental health.

Radar Key
https://shop.disabilityrightsuk.org/products/radar-key
The National Key Scheme offers disabled people independent access to locked public toilets.

Rainbows Trust Children’s Charity
https://www.rainbowtrust.org.uk/
Supports seriously ill children and their families at home and in the community.

SeeAbility
https://www.seeability.org/optometrists
Helps children and adults with autism or learning disabilities who have sight problems.

SHARE Community
https://www.sharecommunity.org.uk/
Is a charity providing programmes and activities to empower adults with a learning disability and autistic adults to live happier, healthier, and more independent lives.

Sickle Cell and Young Stroke Survivors
https://www.scyss.org/
Provides advice and support for parents of children and young people living with sickle cell anaemia and childhood stroke.

Southwark Carers
https://www.southwarkcarers.org.uk
Offers support, information and advice for carers living in Southwark.

Southwark Disability Hub
https://www.keyring.org/southwark-disability-hub
A welcoming space for disabled people to access information and guidance as well as explore opportunities to get involved in local groups and activities.

Southwark Wellbeing Hub
https://www.together-uk.org/southwark-wellbeing-hub/
Provides information and support to anyone in Southwark who would like to improve their mental health and wellbeing. The Hub’s services are free and open to anyone who lives in Southwark or is registered with a Southwark GP.

Stephtogether
https://stephtogether.org/
Provides support to children with special needs and their families.

The Nest
https://thenestsouthwark.org.uk/
Provides free mental health and wellbeing support for young people aged 11–25 in Southwark.

The Neurodiversity Family Hub
https://theneurodiversityfamilyhub.org/
Provides specialised clubs for neurodiverse children and young people.

The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC)
https://www.rsbc.org.uk/pages/about
Offers free services for vision impaired children and their families.

Turn2Us
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/about-us/about-turn2us
A national charity providing practical information and support to end financial insecurity.

Unity Works
https://www.thera.co.uk/about/companies/unity-works-social-enterprises/about-us-3/
Supports people with a learning disability to gain skills, achieve qualifications and secure jobs, so they can reach their full potential.

WellChild
https://www.wellchild.org.uk/about-us/
National children’s charity supporting children with complex medical needs.

Whizz Kidz
https://www.whizz-kidz.org.uk
UK’s leading charity for young wheelchair users.

Witherslack Group
https://www.witherslackgroup.co.uk/advice-and-support/
Offers a wide range of resources and webinars for families.

Unsure what to do or who to ask?

If you’re feeling uncertain about what steps to take or who to reach out to for support, don’t worry—help is available. Simply click the button below to connect with a friendly and knowledgeable member of Southwark Independent Voice, who will be happy to assist you.