Accessing Support

Come and join our informal drop-in coffee club, co-hosted by the Area SENCo Team. Meet other parents, share experiences, access advice and signposting, and learn more about the SCT assessment process and the range of support and resources available for children and families. Our coffee clubs run on regular dates throughout the year in a variety of locations. Refreshments provided.

 

For further information, please click here to view our information leaflet which includes upcoming dates.

These are sessions for children not yet in school who either have a diagnosis of autism or are on the waiting list for assessment with the Social Communication Team. This is a welcoming, inclusive place for children with social communication differences and their parents and carers. Sessions offer an opportunity for you and your child to play together in a relaxed, friendly setting. You will be able to ask questions, get support and meet other parents and carers. Each session is delivered by the Bright Start Team and supported by the Social Communication Team. The Therapy Assistants from the Social Communication Team will be at each session with speech and language therapy and occupational therapy support available alternate weeks.

 

For further information, please click here to view our information leaflet.

These are a range of interactive group sessions aimed at parents/carers of young neurodivergent children (diagnosed autistic or awaiting assessment). Sessions are led by members of the Islington Social Communication Team and cover a range of developmental areas such as communication, behaviour, play, eating, toileting, sensory and co-regulation, behaviour and sleep. Sessions are run both in person and online. Sessions will usually last between 60 and 90 minutes. These sessions offer the opportunity to speak to members of our team who can provide advice, support and signposting. The group format also provides the opportunity for parents to share ideas and experiences with other parents/carers.

 

If attending an online session, these will take place via Microsoft Teams (please download the free App in advance of your session).

 

A list of topics, with details of how to book and a list of upcoming dates are below.

 

To book your place, please complete the form below.

 

Please note, the booking email will be checked once a week and places allocated on a first come first served basis. For this reason, please make sure you send your request at least a week before the session you wish to attend otherwise your request may not be received by the Team in time. If you require an interpreter, we need 4 weeks notice (please see below).

Health Visitors

 

For children under 5, your health visitor is a valuable source of support. If you do not have contact details for your child’s health visitor, you can find out how to contact the Islington team here.

 

 

If your child is not yet in nursery, and you would like to start the application process, The Family Information Service can help you with this. You can find out more about them by clicking here.

 

 

If your child is already in a nursery or school, we encourage you to talk with your child’s teacher and Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). The SENCO is responsible for ensuring children with additional needs are supported appropriately. Any young person with additional needs, with or without a diagnosis, has the right to access support at school. The SENCO can work with you to think about target areas that you would like your child to be supported in, for example, their communication, behaviour or play with other children. You can talk to them about an SEN Support plan, or a Communication Passport. Children do not need an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) or 1-1 support in school to have their needs regularly evaluated, short-term and long-term goals outlined, and support to access the curriculum.

 

If your child’s needs go above and beyond what the nursery or school says they can provide, they will need to evidence this and apply to the council for additional support and funding. If your SENCO is unsure about these processes, they can access support from the Area SENCO Team. If you want further information about this or need help in liaising with your child’s school or nursery you can contact Islington SEND Community Support Service (Islington SENDias) for further advice.

 

 

Bright Start Islington offer a range of services for children aged 0 to 5 and their families. This includes a programme of activities face to face and online, a telephone support surgery and stay and play sessions. Information about their timetable of activities can be found here.

 

Parents/carers are invited to attend an online Parent Workshop on Building Joint Attention and Interaction run by the Bright Start Speech and Language Therapy team. The workshop runs once every half term. To book a place, parents/carers can use this link Building Joint Attention Workshops 2025.2026

 

Through Bright Start you can also request support from a Family Engagement Worker by booking a telephone or face to face appointment. They work in local children’s centres and can advise you which groups or activities may be most useful to you and your child.

 

If you feel your family may need more intensive support, you may be eligible for an Early Help Assessment and support from a Family Support Worker. You can find out more about how to access that here, or you could talk to a Family Engagement Worker, your health visitor or your child’s teacher or SENCO for further information about this. They may be able to make a referral for you.

 

 

This page is for all parents and carers in Islington who are supporting a child or young person with mental health needs, and / or neurodivergence. It is designed to increase your confidence in parenting these needs and help you access additional support.