Children Under Five With Learning Difficulties
Sometimes it is known when a child is born that he / she may have learning difficulties or a disability. Sometimes this is not known until later.
If your child has been identified as having learning difficulties or a disability early on, it is likely that he/she will be seen by a paediatrician (children's doctor), or will have help from support services such as physiotherapy or Portage (Portage is a home-based programme which aims at teaching parents/carers to work effectively with their children who have learning difficulties or disabilities. Referrals are made directly to the service by parents themselves or professionals in health, social services or education.).
You will be able to talk to your health visitor, your child's paediatrician or whoever sees your child about his/her progress.
Who Can Offer Support?
- If it seems likely that your child may need extra help to make progress with learning you may be put in touch with the Portage Service or the Sensory and Communication Support Service. Staff from these services can provide advice and support as well as structured teaching programmes to enhance your child's development.
- Your child may be referred to a Physiotherapist or Speech and Language Therapist who would work closely with the Portage Service or Sensory and Communication Service.
- You may be put in touch with Welfare Rights who can support you and advise you about any benefits you are entitled to.
- You may be entitled to Invalid Care Allowance and/or Disability Living Allowance for your child. You can ask a social worker or the Citizen's Advice Bureau about this, or contact the Benefit Enquiry Line (Freephone 0800 882200).
- You may wish to contact a voluntary organisation that can offer support and may put you in touch with other families (see voluntary organisations booklet).
- You may request Social Services involvement to further assess needs to determine appropriate support.
Nobody has told me my child has a disability or learning difficulty but I am worried about his/her progress. What Can I Do?
If you are worried about your child's progress in any area including walking, talking, understanding what you say, or learning things, do discuss your concerns with your doctor or health visitor.
It may help to write down your concerns before you see the doctor or health visitor. You can ask them to write about your discussion in your child's parent-held record book. If you are not sure what your doctor or health visitor means when they talk about your child's progress, ask for further explanation.
Often your doctor or health visitor can reassure you that your child's development is normal.
If your doctor or health visitor share your concerns they may suggest that your child's development is checked by:
- A community paediatric team.
- A hospital specialist.
- A Child Development Team.
- An Educational Psychologist (professionals who are experienced teachers as well as being qualified in Psychology. They work with Pre-School, Nursery School staff and parents, offering advice and support with any difficulty which might affect a child's development and learning.)
If you continue to be worried about your child's progress in spite of the reassurance of your doctor or health visitor, it is possible to refer your child to a member of the Child Development Team yourself.
What About Pre-School/Nursery?
Many children who have learning difficulties or disabilities attend their local pre-school or nursery. You can approach your local pre-school or nursery and ask for a place for your child. A list of nurseries can be obtained from the Education Department, County Hall, Durham. It will help staff if you let them know:
- What your child needs help with.
- If your child needs to take medication.
- The names of any doctors or other services who have been involved with your child.
Some children do need extra support whilst they are at pre-school or nursery. If this is the case, staff will ask for your permission to request advice from support services such as an Early Years Advisory Teacher (a teacher who is part of the Learning Support Service and who is specialised in the early years of child development). They are able to provide advice and support to pre-schools, nurseries and parents, Educational Psychologist or Speech and Language Therapist.
You can refer your child to the Educational Psychology Service if you feel your child has special educational needs or is likely to need a statutory assessment of their educational needs. A statutory assessment is a detailed assessment of a child's difficulties, strengths and needs to decide whether the child requires more or different educational help and if so, what kind of help and where this could be provided. This may lead to a Statement of Special Educational Needs (a document detailing a child's educational needs and what should be done to help the child make progress).
Remember - You Have the Right To
- Have your concerns about your child taken seriously.
- Refer your child to the Portage Service or Sensory and Communication Service. (This service is part of Durham Learning Support Service. Specialist teachers provide educational advice and support for children who have a visual impairment, hearing impairment or multi-sensory impairment. if you are concerned about his / her development.)
- Refer your child to a Child Development Team. (The service consists of a team of specialists (children's doctor, physiotherapist, speech therapist, educational psychologist) who can be involved in the assessment of babies and young children. Following assessment, therapy and other help can often be arranged for the child and support offered to children and their families. There is an open referral system to the Child Development Centres, so referral can be made by a doctor, health visitor, therapist etc or by the child's parents.
- Refer your child to the Educational Psychology Service if you think your child may have special educational needs.
- Seek advice from a Welfare Rights Worker or Citizen's Advice Bureau if you feel your child may be entitled to benefits such as Disability Living Allowance or contact the Benefit Enquiry Line, Freephone 0800 882200.
You can contact Parent Partnership at:
East Durham Education Centre
York Road
Peterlee
Co Durham
SR8 2DP
Tel: 0191 5873541
