Support for families waiting for a pre-school autism assessment

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Services available in all boroughs

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Support with communication

Early Years Speech and Language Therapy Service (CLCH)

The Central London Community Healthcare (CLCH) speech and language therapy team offers assessment and support for children with concerns about communication, language and/or interaction up to 5 years old or until they start school (based on your child’s GP).

The service works with parents, carers and early years settings so they have the skills and knowledge to continue supporting the child. Evidence shows this approach leads to the best outcomes.

The team provides specialist advice and strategies to help you confidently support your child’s needs.

If your child has recently finished a period of speech and language therapy support and you have been practising the strategies at home, you can contact the service again after three months to discuss whether further support is needed.

Speech and Language Therapy Administration Hub
020 7266 8777 (lines open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm)

Resources

While you wait to be seen, you may find these resources helpful:

Support with behaviour and emotional regulation

Cheyne clinical psychology service (EMBRACE group)

The Cheyne clinical psychology team, along with occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, music therapy and specialist nurses, runs the EMBRACE group for parents and carers of children aged 0 to 7. This group focuses on understanding your child and making sense of behaviour.

For more information, email chelwest.ccds.psychology@nhs.net.

National Autistic Society: behaviour guidance

Find evidence-based information and resources on understanding and managing behaviour at the National Autistic Society behaviour guidance pages.

Note: Some parenting programmes and early help offers vary by borough. See your borough section below.

Support with sleep

The Sleep Charity

This charity provides advice and support on sleep. It runs online courses and a telephone helpline (03303 530 541) staffed by specialist trained sleep advisers. Visit The Sleep Charity: children and sleep information.

OT Support Hub: sleep

Find practical advice from the Children and Young People’s Occupational Therapy service at OT Support Hub: sleep.

Cheyne clinical psychology team: sleep workshop

The Cheyne clinical psychology team runs a sleep workshop for parents and carers of children aged 0 to 7, covering common sleep difficulties. Email chelwest.ccds.psychology@nhs.net for more information.

Cerebra: sleep advice service

Cerebra provides information and one-to-one support for families. You can access their sleep advice service at Cerebra: sleep advice service.

Cheyne sleep support

Read more on our Cheyne sleep support page.

Support with feeding

OT Support Hub: eating

Find practical advice on feeding at OT Support Hub: eating.

Cheyne clinical psychology and occupational therapy: feeding group

The Cheyne clinical psychology and occupational therapy teams run a group for parents and carers of children aged 0 to 7 to support common feeding difficulties. Email chelwest.ccds.psychology@nhs.net for more information.

SOS Approach to Feeding: parent workshop video

This video introduces why feeding can be complex, why some children struggle and how to support eating. Watch the parent workshop at SOS Approach to Feeding: when children won’t eat.

National Autistic Society: eating

Read guidance on eating and feeding difficulties at the National Autistic Society eating pages.

Cheyne feeding support

Find more information on the Cheyne support with eating page.

Support with toilet training and self-care skills

Support with sensory processing

Sensory processing information and practical guidance

For more detailed information, visit our sensory processing difficulties page.

OT Support Hub: sensory needs

The OT Support Hub includes information on sensory needs. Visit OT Support Hub: sensory needs.

Trusted sensory resources

Nursery and school support

All nurseries and schools have a Special Educational Needs (SEN) budget to help meet the needs of children with additional needs. Many children’s needs can be met through this level of support. If you have concerns about how your child is coping at nursery or school, speak to your child’s key worker, class teacher or Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo).

Note: Local inclusion services, educational psychology and SENDIASS information vary by borough. See your borough section below.

Parent support and voluntary organisations

Cheyne child development service coffee mornings

The Cheyne team runs monthly coffee mornings for parents and carers of children and young people who are awaiting assessment or have recently been seen. Email chelwest.ccds.psychology@nhs.net for details.

Centre for ADHD and Autism Support (CAAS)

CAAS supports neurodivergent children, young people and families before and after diagnosis. Learn more at the CAAS website.

Note: Local parent forums and family hubs are borough-specific and are listed below.

Support for families in Hammersmith and Fulham

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Parenting support and behaviour

Confident Parent Happy Child

This service supports parents and carers of children aged 0 to 18. It offers evidence-based parenting programmes, information, advice and support. The Stepping Stones Triple P programme is particularly relevant for children with additional needs. Referrals are accepted from parents, carers and professionals. Learn more at Confident Parent Happy Child.

Stephen Wiltshire Centre: Monday CAMHS drop-in service

Mondays, 12.30pm to 2.30pm

This is a weekly session for parents, carers and young people to get support with behavioural concerns and emotional wellbeing. It is an informal opportunity to ask questions and explore available services, including signposting to local resources such as parenting groups and workshops.

Please note: you will need to call the Stephen Wiltshire Centre to request an appointment time.

Stephen Wiltshire Centre, Queensmill Road, London SW6 6JR
Telephone: 020 8753 4443
Email: stephenwiltshirecentre@lbhf.gov.uk

Nursery and school support in Hammersmith and Fulham

INSPIRE: inclusion and specialist intervention outreach service

INSPIRE supports settings and schools to meet the needs of children and young people with hearing or visual impairment, autism, language and communication needs, literacy and numeracy difficulties or significant developmental delay. Support can include specialist interventions, assessment, teaching and advice, training and workforce development.

Schools and families can also access online drop-in advice sessions. More information is available via the INSPIRE hub.

Educational psychology

Further information is available via the Hammersmith and Fulham educational psychology service.

SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

Contact details and further information are available via Hammersmith and Fulham SENDIASS.

Parent support in Hammersmith and Fulham

Stephen Wiltshire Centre family hub

Details of sessions and contact information are available via the Stephen Wiltshire Centre family hub page.

Parents Active (parent carer forum)

Visit Parents Active for more information.

Hammersmith and Fulham SEND Local Offer

The Hammersmith and Fulham SEND Local Offer brings together information about education, health and social care services for children and young people aged 0 to 25.

Support for families in Kensington and Chelsea

In this section

Parenting support and behaviour

Circle of Security Parenting

Circle of Security Parenting is an 8-week programme based on decades of research into secure parent-child relationships. It supports parents and carers to understand their child’s emotional world, support their child’s ability to manage emotions, build self-esteem and strengthen connection, particularly at times when parenting feels most difficult.

(For parents and carers of children aged 4 months to 7 years)

To register or find out more, email familyhub@rbkc.gov.uk or call 020 7938 8400.

RBKC parenting offer

For information about upcoming parenting programmes or workshops, contact Donna Archer (Early Help Parenting Practitioner, RBKC): donna.archer@rbkc.gov.uk.

Nursery and school support in Kensington and Chelsea

Bi-borough inclusion service (joint service with Westminster)

This service includes advisory teachers who specialise in autism, speech, language and communication needs, hearing support, vision impairment, occupational therapy and inclusion. Find out more on the bi-borough inclusion service page.

Bi-borough Early Years Hub

This platform supports early years practitioners and childminders in Kensington and Chelsea. Visit the bi-borough Early Years Hub for more information.

Educational psychology service

Schools can access an educational psychologist through referrals from the school SENCo. The educational psychologist can consult with you and school staff, observe your child and help develop a support plan.

For referral enquiries and upcoming parent training and courses, contact the bi-borough autism team: AEYIT@rbkc.gov.uk.

SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

Find out more via IASS (SEND) from Full of Life.

Parent support in Kensington and Chelsea

Family hubs

Family hubs bring together support from pregnancy through to young people turning 19, or 25 if they have a disability. Each family hub includes a children’s centre with activities for young children and support for families of children of older ages.

If you live in Kensington and Chelsea and would like to register for a family hub or children’s centre, email familyhub@rbkc.gov.uk.

Full of Life (parent carer forum)

Visit Full of Life.

Kensington and Chelsea SEND Local Offer

Visit the Kensington and Chelsea SEND Local Offer.

Support for families in Westminster

In this section

Parenting support and behaviour

Westminster parenting support

Westminster parenting support runs a range of parenting groups and courses across the borough. Courses aim to help parents and carers build positive relationships, grow confidence, learn new skills and strategies and find additional services and support.

South Westminster parenting offer

For information on upcoming parenting programmes or workshops, email earlyhelpparentingteam@westminster.gov.uk.

Nursery and school support in Westminster

Bi-borough inclusion service: autism advisory team

Find out more about the bi-borough autism advisory service.

Educational psychology service

Further details are available via the educational psychology consultation service page.

SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

Visit WIASS.

Parent support in Westminster

Family hubs

Family hubs bring together support for families from pregnancy through to young people turning 19 (or 25 if they have a disability). Find your local family hub via Westminster Family Hubs.

Make It Happen (parent carer forum)

Visit Make It Happen (WPPG).

Westminster SEND Local Offer

Visit the Westminster SEND Local Offer.