Synergy - Enquiry

Remember that every child develops at their own pace, and differences do not always mean that there is a problem, but trust your instincts as a parent.

If you feel that something is different or if your child's behaviour raises concerns, it's worth looking into so that they can get the help they need.

It doesn't always mean getting them diagnosed with something, it may be simple things you can try at home or at school to make things easier for them. Support is available with or without a diagnosis.

You can speak to a health visitor or school nurse on 01226 774411 to talk about child development if there is anything that you are unsure about.

When you think your child might have additional needs, you may want to find out lots of information and build your knowledge so that you are in a better position to help your child and talk to professionals.

The Local Offer Website is a good place to start, it's designed to help you find the information you need from noticing a concern, through diagnosis, and into adulthood. Make sure to save it to your favourites, and keep checking back.

You can use the 'search a service' option or browse the site from the home page.

Watch this short video all about the Local Offer Website 👇

Getting Information Face-to-Face

In Barnsley, there's a monthly information session called the Local Offer Drop-in. It happens on the first Wednesday of the month from 10 am to 12:30 pm at The Ozone, Barnsley Football Club.

It's a place where you can meet SEND professionals such as the Disabled Children's Team, Community Paediatrics, EHCP Team, SENDIASS, Families Information Service, and more. Parents and carers find it helpful, especially if they're just starting their journey with SEND.

Talking to other parents who understand

Joining a Parent Group is a good way of getting information, it's good to find out from parents what they experienced, and what worked well for them.

Many parent groups have active Facebook pages, including:

The Barnsley SEND Parent Carers Alliance (BSPCA)
Focus4vision (for visually impaired children and their families)
Barnsley Downs Syndrome Group

If your child is at school or nursery they may offer their own SEND parent group or coffee morning, talk to the SENCO to find out if they have one.

Sign up to the Disabled Children's Register

Be the first to know about new support groups, local services, and exciting events, and have your say in public consultations, about SEND.

You don't need a diagnosis to join the voluntary disabled children's register.

Read more about the Disabled Children's Register here

You can talk to a professional who knows you, it could be your GP, Health Visitor or someone at your childcare setting or school and see what they think, together you can request an Early Help Assessment which will get you on the right pathway to support.

Different services have different criteria for getting an assessment. For example, in Barnsley to access the Autism assessment pathway (ASDAT pathway) you must start with an Early Help Assessment. Read more about Early Help for a child with SEND here.

Find out more

You can read more about the ASDAT pathway in Barnsley on the Paediatric Autism Assessment Service webpage

Health Review 2-2.5 yrs

Every child in Barnsley is offered a review when they are about 2 years old it's a golden opportunity to think about how your child is progressing and how to support their future development. It's usually done by a health visitor or a child development practitioner from Barnsley's 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service.

What to expect

📝 You'll get a letter, inviting you to make an appointment, and a questionnaire. You know your child best and the information you share is very important, it can be fun too, having a go at the different activities with your little one!

🎨 If your child goes to an early years setting their key worker will discuss your child's development with you at age 2 and complete a summary of your child’s learning and development. This is called a 2 year progress check.

Sometimes it is beneficial to have an ‘Integrated Review’ meeting, this brings you, your child’s setting and your health professional together making sure that everyone gets the full picture of where your child is at in their development.

🤝 The reviews might highlight the need for some additional support for your child, and together you will come up with a plan of what would help. It could just be simple activities to do together at home.

You do not have to wait for your child’s review to raise any concerns, speak to your childcare provider if you have one, or the 0-19 Public Health Nursing Team on 01226 774411

Portage Service

🏡 Portage is a home visiting educational service for very young children with SEN and disabilities.

Specially trained home visitors will visit you regularly and support you and your child to enjoy play and learning activities.

The home visitors will talk to you about a developmental plan or profile, which will detail your child’s abilities, strengths, support needs and future learning goals.

The Portage Service is free and can be provided soon after the birth of your child, or when their additional needs start emerging.

🔎 Find out more about Barnsley 's Portage Service here

If your child is in an early years setting or school and you start to notice a difference in their development, you should talk to the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO).

If your child goes to a childminder, they will be the SENCO for that setting.

They can help you get support with.

Communication difficulties
Educational Progress and Development
Physical disabilities and adjustments
Behaviour
Emotional or mental health issues

👩‍🏫 It might mean making adjustments to the way they teach your child, trying new strategies to help them or referring to other services for support.

🌻 SEND Support Parent Guide

Barnsley Council and The Parent/Carer EHC Discussion Group have created a Parent Carer and Young People guide to SEND support in school. Download your copy here.

As you start the SEND journey, you'll come across different services depending on what your child needs. The Local Offer has a database of services, where you can find:

Contact details
Any referral criteria
What the service offers

Try it below

Who can help: Find a SEND Service

You may not always know the name of the service you are looking for, so you can also search by keyword eg ‘diabetes’

(just make sure you are adding it to the right box!)

Please note

If you are looking for services which may not be SEND-specific, eg, Family Hubs (these are universal services) you'll find these on the Virtual Family Hub

Virtual Family Hub: Search a Service

Noticing a difference

Information and support for you

Online Support Hub from Community Paediatrics

If you feel an assessment, or review would help your child

Barnsley Specialist Children's Health

Portage

If your child is in an early years setting or school

Finding a SEND service on the Local Offer Website

Contact us

Find us on Facebook!

Help us improve the Local Offer Website

Current ways to have your say

Keeping you up to date with SEND improvements

Take a look at the Local Offer Newsletters’ (Opens in New Window)

BMBC Strategies

Worried about a child?

Barnsley's Virtual Family Hub