Support for Parents
We want you to know that we are always here to support you and your children, and we hope the information on this page will provide you with some support.
We also have a dedicated Student Wellbeing page here.
Reading IASS - Autumn Online Training
Reading Information, Advice and Support Service for SEND (IASS) are offering online training on 'SEND Support in School and Beyond' for parents/carers who live in the Reading Borough.
These three sessions will cover:
- The legal framework
- SEND support in schools – what to expect
- EHCPs – what they are and when they are needed
For more information, download their flyer here: Autumn Online Training Information 2025
For more information about the Reading IASS, view their flyer here: Reading IASS flyer or visit their website: Reading IASS website
Support Groups for Parents/Carers of Neurodivergent Learners
See the flyer below for information about a new EVENING support group beginning in Newbury, exclusively for parents and carers of neurodivergent learners.
The group is an informal drop-in session open to all parent-carers of neurodivergent children. It is run in association with the Newbury SEND Parent Carer Café and co-hosted by West Berkshire parents, who between them have a lot of experience of parenting autism, ADHD, PDA and more. Find us in the bar area from 7.30pm. The venue has a large car park and is wheelchair accessible (via the side door and restaurant area).
The Newbury SEND Parent Carer Café dates for the remainder of this term, which is a similar, daytime support group, can be found in the flyer here:
West Berkshire SEND Parent Carer Forum - online Parent Carer Meet-Up
The West Berkshire SEND Parent Carer Forum is hosting their first online Parent Carer Meet-Up of this academic year on:
Date: Tuesday 30 September 2025
Time: 7:00–9:00pm
Venue: Online - Microsoft Teams register using this link >>>https://bit.ly/WBPCF
More information on West Berkshire SEND Parent/Carer Forum: West Berkshire Parent Carer Forum | West Berkshire Directory
West Berkshire SEND Information, Advice & Support
SENDIASS aims to empower parents/carers, children, and young people to play an active and informed role in making decisions about their education, health, and social care.
Please have a look at the attached flyer for more information: West Berkshire SEND Information, Advice & Support or visit their website: Welcome – West Berkshire SENDIASS
ASD Family Help - September Newsletter
ASD Family Help is a group of individuals and families who come together to build a supportive community. Are you feeling lost or lonely on your autistic or neurodiverse journey? You are not alone. ASD Family Help is here for you! The charity is open to all autistic individuals or those with associated conditions (for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, OCD, anxiety, PDA, ADHD). No diagnosis is required.
You can read their latest newsletter here: ASD Family Help - Newsletter September 2025
Or find out more from their website: www.asdfamilyhelp.org
Or their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ASDFamily
Supporting Children Going Back To School
CEOP Website from the National Crime Agency
The CEOP website offers advice from the National Crime Agency covering online safety and relationships.
They have pages dedicated to each age group. Under 18s can also use it to safely report online sexual abuse to one of their Child Protection Advisors at the CEOP Safety Centre.
View the CEOP Flyer for Parents/Carers here: CEOP Information flyer
Visit the website for 11-18 year old here: CEOP Education Website for 11-18s
Visit the website for parents/carers here: CEOP Education Website for Parents and carers
LHS Safeguarding Newsletter for Parents and Carers - Winter 2024
Read the latest edition of our Safeguarding newsletter here.
With an increase in children receiving new tech over Christmas, this edition has lots of tips to keep them safe online.
LHS Wellbeing Newsletter for Parents and Carers - October 2024
Read the latest version of our Wellbeing newsletter here.
This issue talks about World Mental Health Day, which took place on 10 October. There are tips for talking to young people about mental health, the LHS Wellbeing Bag and the tellmi app.
Supporting Young People with their Mental Health - Information Evening
On World Mental Health Day in October, we invited parents and carers in for a session on how to support young people with their mental health. We were lucky enough to have Kate Adams, Deputy Climical Lead, from Time to Talk come and to speak with us. Together we were able to draw upon our collective knowledge and experience, sharing information we have found most useful as both practitioners and parents ourselves.
If you were unable to make it, you can view the presentation here: Supporting Young People with their Mental Health presentation - Time to Talk
Workshops for children living with early life trauma
Please find some workshops signposted by West Berkshire for families supporting children with early life trauma:
Attachment Focused Parenting and Caregiving - 3 Oct – 21 Nov 2024
Attachment Focused Re-Parenting for families of children affected by early life trauma - 2 Oct – 20 Nov 2024
Sleep Well workshop - Friday 27 September 2024
Autism Support through West Berkshire
Kelly Evans is the Family Autism Advisor for West Berkshire.
The West Berkshire Autism Team regularly contacts families and practitioners to keep them up to date with what is happening in and around the local area. This will include information on workshops, events and activities along with additional information on supporting your Autistic young person.
If you would like to receive information from Kelly Evans and the Autism Team, please use this form to sign up to their mailing list.
Meet the rest of the West Berkshire Autism Advisory Team here.
View the calendar of Autism Training for Parents here.
For more information on support for autism through the West Berkshire Autism Team, visit our Inclusion and SEND page.
School Nursing Newsletter
Read the latest information in the School Nursing Newsletter
A Dose of Health & Wellbeing - School Nursing Newsletter for Parents/Carers
Get tips for...
- summer safety
- dealing with feelings of anxiety or anger
- moving to further education
- eczema
- healthy eating and exercise
- and vaccinations
Handling Anger in the Family - from 18 June
Time to Talk - Exam Stress session slides
On Thursday 7 March, Time to Talk came to talk about coping with exam stress. The slides from the presentation can be found here.
Group Chat advice
YoungMinds support
If the child in your care has been denied support from CAMHS, or you are still waiting to be seen, YoungMinds are available to support you. You can call their Parents Helpline on 0808 802 5544 from 9:30am - 4pm, Monday - Friday.
You will be able to directly speak to one of their trained advisors, who will listen to your concerns, and ask key questions to understand your situation as best as they can. They will tailor advice to your situation and suggest practical steps you can take and ways to support your child whilst waiting to access help from services. This could include contact details for relevant support services, practical tips you can implement at home or giving you advice around alternative options for support.
It can feel very lovely to be left without access to the professional support your family needs – but YoungMinds are here for you!
Staying safe online
For advice on how to keep your child safe online, take a look at the online guide below. You can also find more information on our internet safety page.
ChatHealth
The ChatHealth service is run by local community school nurses, and allows parents of children aged 5-19 to text a community school nurse for advice and support on a variety of common childhood health issues. The text line is staffed Monday to Friday.
For more information about the service, visit their website here.
Vaping
Due to the increase of young people taking up vamping, the Public Protection Partnership have issued guidance to education professionals. If you are concerned about the child in your care, you can download information and advice here with this information guide.
Mental Health
