As a local authority, we are committed to providing support for preschool children who have additional needs. We recognise that early intervention is crucial for ensuring that these children have the best possible start in life. To this end, we discuss the support needs of a child at the Early Years Additional Needs Support Panel. The panel includes a range of professionals such as health visitors, educational psychologists, local authority experts, and advisory teachers.

 

The support agreed for children may consist of some additional staffing support for 2-3 year old's to promote school readiness (and for 3-4 year old's if the child receives Childcare Offer), equipment/resources to support their physical and developmental needs or training for staff. Staffing support is provided by skilled childcare practitioners who work with children on an individual or small group basis, for a few hours a week, with the aim of improving their individual needs and reducing the amount of support they may need in school.

 

We tailor our support in accordance with the Additional Learning Needs Bill in Wales, and we develop individualised support plans called person centered plans, or PCPs that contain SMART targets, which are reviewed regularly. Our AN Support Officer also offers home and setting visits to offer guidance and advice to ensure that each child receives the best possible support. Find more information here.

 

Additional Support Services

ERIC

ERIC is a national charity who are dedicated to improving children’s bowel and bladder health. They provide advice on a range of different topics surrounding children’s bowel and bladder health and aim to reduce the impact of continence problems on families across the UK. For more information, please visit: https://eric.org.uk/

 

Hope GB

Hope GB is a voluntary support group which provides practical help and encouragement for people affected by autism, in Torfaen and further afield. Support is available via their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HelloHopeGB. You can also email: Admin@HopeGB.co.uk or call: 07595455067.

For more information, please visit: https://hopegb.co.uk/

 

Snap Cymru

SNAP Cymru offers free and independent information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs (SEN)/additional learning needs(ALN)and disabilities.  They give advice and support on a range of issues including assessments, individual education plans, statements of special educational needs, bullying, school attendance, exclusion, health and social care provision and discrimination.

For more information, please visit: www.SnapCymru.org or call their helpline on: 08088010608

 

New Life

New live provides life-changing and life-saving specialist equipment when and where it’s needed.

For more information, please visit: www.Newlifecharity.co.uk or call their helpline on: 08009020095.

 

NYAS

NYAS offer an extensive range of support services for children, young people and adults in vulnerable situations across England and Wales. Alongside our core issue-based advocacy service, we offer a selection of additional support services. This includes our mental health advocacy support offering, as well as NYAS Legal Services.

For more information, please visit: www.Nyas.net or call their helpline on: 08088081001

 

Sparrows ALN

Sparrows is a joint Additional Needs Community Group with Bike Buddies Disability Cycling. They are a new group and want to bring fun & supportive events to families.

For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/SparrowsAln

 

Sparkle

Sparkle is a Gwent based charity who support children and young people with disabilities and development difficulties. As part of their mission, they also aim to support families and ensure that the children and young people are able to engage with valuable childhood experiences as well as access the same range of activities, experiences and opportunities as other families.

For support, contact the Family Liaison officer for Blaenau Gwent. You can contact Sarah on 01873 733176. Alternatively, you can email her at: abb.familyliaisonnorth@wales.nhs.uk. 

 

Cerebra

Cerebra is the national charity dedicated to helping children with brain conditions and their families discover a better life together.

For more information, please visit: www.Cerebra.org.uk or call their helpline on: 08003281159

 

21 Plus

21 Plus provides support for family members, carers, friends, and professionals, supporting children and young people with Down’s syndrome. They aim to provide a full support network for the families within the Down’s syndrome community across South-East Wales, southern Powys, western Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.

For more information, please visit: www.21plus.org.uk

 

Helping Hands

The helping hands team offers a range of workshops to support families of children with additional needs. For more information, please email: ABB.HelpingHandsTeam@wales.nhs.uk

 

ADHD plus Newport

ADHD plus Newport is a Facebook support group for parents, carers and family members of children with Additional Needs.

For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1702750479793895k or email: ADHDplusNewport@gmail.com

 

APCymru

AP Cymru are striving to create a neuro-inclusive world  

For more information, please visit: www.APCymru.org.uk or call: 02920 810786

 

Family Fund

Family Fund are the UK's largest grant-making charity for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child, on a low income.

For more information, please visit: www.familyfund.org.uk or call: 01904 550055

 

Disability Advice Project Cwmbran

The DAP provides Independent specialist advice and can support you with:
- Help with completing forms

- Assess your full entitlement to services and benefits

- Attend appeals with you

- Help build the evidence you need

- Put you in touch with support agencies

For more information, please visit: https://www.dapwales.org.uk/; call: 01633485865; or email: info@DAPWales.org.uk

 

National Autistic Society

The National Autistic Society provide a wide range of services to support autistic children and young people.

For more information, please visit: https://www.autism.org.uk/

 

Coect

The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma (CoECT) offers trauma-aware learning, therapeutic support, and a supportive community to help parents and professionals care for children with trauma and neurodiverse needs. For more information, please visit: www.coect.co.uk