Blackpool Local Offer for SEND
A Local Offer gives children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities and their families information about what support services the local authority think will be available in their local area.
It is also a resource that individuals, groups or organisations can draw on in the work that they do in supporting children, young people and their families, by highlighting other resources, services or guidance that may be accessed.
To visit the Blackpool Local Offer website please click here
Blackpool Carers Center
Blackpool Carers Centre is an independent, local charity and network partner of Carers Trust. They provide a range of services to support and enhance the lives of unpaid carers of all ages throughout Blackpool and The Fylde Coast.
To visit the Blackpool Carers Centre website please click here
Aiming Higher
Aiming Higher is a unique charity established in 2011 for disabled children and their families, set up to improve the children and families lives and offer them much needed support.
They moved into our current premises in 2013, Aiming Higher Central, Church Street, Blackpool. This fantastic building offers a wide variety of facilities including soft play area, interactive ball pool and sensory room, which were refurbished in late 2016. They also have a beautiful parent’s room and counselling suite. They provide a five session stay and play programme, family support, short breaks and counselling services.
They provide an extensive year-round programme of days out and events for our children and their families.
Blackpool Council Directory
The Blackpool Council Directory provides parents with information and contact details for many public services in your local area including family services, emergency and health contacts and wellbeing services.
To visit the Blackpool Council Directory website please click here
Tea and Talk information drop in sessions
Do you have a child, young person with SEN (Special Educational Needs), or do you feel that your child/young person is struggling with their education?
Do you have questions about how your child should be supported in nursery, school or college?
If so, why not come along to one of our informal SENDIASS teal and talk information sessions to see how we can help.
Blackpool Better Start
“We know that being a parent can be tough and we provide free events, services and programmes that help lighten the load. If you’ve got a baby on the way or a child under 4, Blackpool Better Start is here for you.
All our services have been created with Blackpool parents, for Blackpool parents. They range from antenatal classes at your local Children’s Centre, to services that help with heavier problems like addiction and anger in the home. We also run lots of fun activities in parks, libraries and Children’s Centres, that focus on reading, health and wellbeing. It’s a great chance to help your child’s learning and meet other Blackpool families.”
To visit the Blackpool Better Start website please click here
Blackpool Polar Bears swimming club
The Blackpool Polar Bears is a registered charity and club whose prime aim is to promote swimming for individuals who have a disability.Swimming sessions are held on Sundays at Moor Park Swimming Pool, between 8:55 and 11:30 am. Members are allocated a swimming time according to their ability and in order to make the most of the available pool time.
To visit the Blackpool Polar Bears website please click here
Fylde Sharks Disability swimming club
Fylde Sharks children’s disability swimming club uniquely offers one to one swimming lessons to disabled children and young people up to 18 years old in the Fylde area with varying degrees of disability.
Children with complex physical disabilities to those with social, cognitive and behavioural needs can enjoy swimming lessons with a qualified swimming teacher which provides mental stimulation and improved physical mobility.
Makaton signing
Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate. It supports the development of essential communication skills such as attention and listening, comprehension, memory, recall and organisation of language and expression.
Being able to communicate is one of the most important skills we need in life. Almost everything we do involves communication; everyday tasks such as learning at school, asking for food and drink, sorting out problems, making friends and having fun. These all rely on our ability to communicate with each other.
With Makaton, signs are used, with speech, in spoken word order. This helps provide extra clues about what someone is saying. Using signs can help people who have no speech or whose speech is unclear. Using symbols can help people who have limited speech and those who cannot, or prefer not to sign.
For those who have experienced the frustration of being unable to communicate meaningfully or effectively, Makaton really can help. Makaton takes away that frustration and enables individuals to connect with other people and the world around them. This opens up all kinds of possibilities.
National Autistic Society
This is a society that works for autistic people. They provide information and advice for autistic people, friends and families so more people are able to make informed decisions about their lives. Find out about their helplines, local, volunteer-run branches, membership programme, training for family members, parent to parent service for parents and carers of autistic children and adults, and online community, which can help you get the information and advice you need.
Down's Syndrome Association
Children and adults with Down’s syndrome are all unique individuals with their own personalities, family backgrounds and preferences that make them who they are.
Here you will find answers to questions that are often asked about Down’s syndrome. This information will help you to separate the facts from some common misconceptions. If you do not find what you are looking for you can their ring helpline and speak to a specialist advisor.
You can also learn about the ongoing work of the Down’s Syndrome Association.
Contact; For families with disabled children
Contact is a charity for families with disabled children. They support families with the guidance and information they may need to help themselves and their children. They bring families together to support each other and help families to campaign, volunteer and fundraise to improve life for themselves and others.
British Dyslexia Association
If your child is, or may be, dyslexic then they have information, resources and training available to help you to ensure that your child is able to reach their full potential.
You can also find information in their Empowered Parents pack on how to support your child at home, working with your school to secure a diagnosis and support, and what support the law entitles a young person with dyslexia to and how to access it.
British Sign Language
This website gives access to a sign language dictionary which may be useful for your child.
SIGN LANGUAGE
Sign Language is a visual communication method that comprises of gestures, facial expression, and body language. Sign Language is used mainly by people who are Deaf or have hearing impairments.
BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE (BSL)
The form of sign languages used most commonly within Britain is British Sign Language (BSL). BSL has it’s own grammatical structure and syntax, as a language it is not strongly related to spoken English. BSL is the preferred language of around 145,000 people within the UK (2011).
IS SIGN LANGUAGE INTERNATIONAL?
Many people assume that Sign Language is the same all around the world, but this however is far from the truth. Because of the isolated way in which sign language has evolved there is even significant variation from region to region within the British Isles, this is known as regional variation and can be thought of as being similar to regional accents and colloquialisms found in spoken languages. Other countries have their own sign languages.
Foundation for people with learning disabilities (Mental Health Foundation)
Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities’ work influences government and local authority policies and services so that they better meet the needs of people with learning disabilities, their families and carers.
UKAP, UK ADHD Partnership
This website has useful video links to help you become your child’s coach. These brief ten-minute engaging video’s provide Dr Susan Young’s Top Tips for Parents and Carers to help them to help their children.
UKAP, UK ADHD Partnership
Click here to visit the tips section of the Living with Autism website
Mencap
A message from Mencap;
Whether you are looking to find your first paid job, move into your own place, find leisure activities in your local area, or you need advice on an issue that’s important to you, we can help.
If you have a learning disability and want to know how we can support you, you can find out more about the services we offer by looking through the easy read guides in each area of this section.
If you are a parent, family member or carer to someone with a learning disability, browse our topics to see how we can support your loved one with services that put them first.
Diabetes
Diabetes.co.uk is a community of people with diabetes, family members, friends, supporters and carers, offering their own support and first hand knowledge. The Diabetes Forum is demonstrated in research to be the most actively used social medium for people with diabetes.
I CAN
I CAN’s Talking Point gives parents/carers and practitioners the information they need to help children develop their speech, language and communication skills. If a child has difficulty with speaking, they may need help, or they may struggle in nursery or school. With the right help, they can develop the skills they need.
They offer support for children and young people’s speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) to ensure they get the help they need. You will also find evidence of research into speech, language and communication difficulties.