Related Advice

• Transition - Becoming an adult and preparing for the future
  This section is designed to provide information for young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disability (SEND) on support and services available to help them make informed choices about their futures. This sections includes information on a wide range of subjects, including the following: Post-16…
• SEND Employment
  Employment Leaving school and moving into adult life can be an exciting and challenging time for young people and their parents, with lots of changes and choices to be made about the future. If your son or daughter has a special educational need and/or disability,…
• Deputy's Office (Reading Borough Council)
  The Deputy's Office manages the finances of social care clients who are unable to do so themselves. Clients, who are already getting services from Adult Social Care Services, are referred to the Deputy's Office when they are deemed to have lost the mental capacity to…
• Housing options for people with a learning disability
  Help at home If the person you care for needs support with personal care or carrying out daily tasks they may be eligible for some support from social care services to help them continue living at home or to move to independent living. Supported living…
• Help with housing costs
  If you are on low income and struggling to meet your housing costs, you may be eligible for help with your rent, council tax and mortgage or loan interest. The Council  also offers a variety of grants for people on low income to help ensure…
• Requesting an EHC Needs Assessment, Identifying and Assessing SEND
  Special Educational Needs/Disabilities If you are concerned your child is finding school work difficult or not making progress, it is always best to talk to their teacher. Some children may need extra help with their education, and schools have responsibility for meeting children’s needs, ensuring…
• EHC Needs Assessment - Timeline - Reading Guide for Parents & Carers
  Reading’s Criteria for Starting an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment for a Child or Young Person  Introduction: These criteria, which are used when considering a request to start an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment, should be seen as a guide as each child/young…
• Reading Information, Advice & Support Service for SEND (SENDIASS)
  Reading Information, Advice & Support Service for SEND (Reading IASS)- The service was formerly called the Parent Partnership Service. It offers free confidential and impartial advice and support to Reading parents and carers who have children (up to the age of 25) with special educational needs or disability.…
• Reading Families' Forum (RFF)
  Reading Families’ Forum are the local parent carer forum. Our board of trustees and steering group are all volunteers and have children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities ourselves. We understand what it is like to care for a child with additional…
• Disagreements, Mediation, Tribunals & Appeals
  Updated March 2021
• Independent Living
  Independent Living  Leaving Home Are you ready to leave home? As you leave school and become an adult you might start thinking about leaving home. It is important to think about how independent you are before you leave home. You will need to think about…
• SEND - Family Finance
  Family Finance aims to inform and educate families, leading to their greater financial well being and consequent improvements in lifestyle. At a time of huge change to the benefit system, the organisations listed below will help provide a much needed source of free, confidential, high…
• Personal Independence Payment
  From April 2013 a new benefit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people with disabillities aged 16 to 64. PIP is a non-means tested, tax-free payment that can be spent as the recipient chooses.PIP is for disabled people aged 16 to 64 (known…
• Universal Credit
  Universal Credit is a new single payment for people who are looking for work or on a low income.  It replaces means-tested benefits and tax credits for working-age people up to pension credit age. For further information available on the Reading Borough Council's website, please…
• Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BHFT)
  Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BHFT) Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BHFT) is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. BHFT operate from more than 100 sites across the county including community hospitals clinics and GP practices. Across Berkshire the main locations can be…
• Transition from Paediatric to Adult Health Services - Ready Steady Go!
  Transition at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust At the Royal Berkshire Hospital, young people transition to adult services at different times, depending on their medical condition(s) and and their individual needs, but most young people transition between the ages of 16-19.   There is currently (July…
• Transition from Children to Adult Health Services - Ready Steady Go!
  Ready Steady Go! Project Transition Nurse We are pleased to announce that from Dec 2014 we have appointed a transition nurse from Royal Berkshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She will be based at the Royal Berkshire Hospital but will facilitate transition across the Thames Valley…
• Personal Budgets (Children)
  A personal budget is an amount of money identified by the local authority to deliver provision set out in an EHC plan.  It is Brighter Futures for Children's commitment to ensure that parents or the young person is involved in securing that provision. The child’s parent or…
• Personal budgets and direct payments - or Adults
  If you are not able to fund your own care and support needs, you will need to complete a self assessment form and submit it to the Adult Care team at Reading Borough Council. Find out more about direct payments  A Personal Budget can be…
• Children & Young People’s Disabilities Team (CYPDT) - COVID-19 (update)
  COVID-19 Update from CYPDT - With regards pay for PA’s employed through Direct Payments during this covid-19 pandemic. It has been agreed that BFFC and ACS will adopt a unified approach, detailed below. • If the PA has been asked not to work by the Employer…
• Children's Action Teams (CATs)
  Children’s Action Teams (CATs) in Reading are local teams providing help, guidance and support, working together with families and communities to create and achieve positive change for Reading’s children and young people. CATs work closely with schools and other services to provide family-centred support that…
• Special Needs Activities in Reading and Surrounding areas
  Special Needs Activities in Reading and Surrounding areas. You can also sign up for the SEND Local Offer Newsletter, published three times a year which is full of information on short breaks, activities, support , news and much more…. Please email to register localoffer@reading.gov.uk  Links…
• Disabled Students' Allowance
  If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty and are studying in higher education, you may be eligible for Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs). These allowances cover extra disability-related costs or expenses you have while studying. There are four allowances to cover different areas of need. Specialist…
• Young People with SEND who are in Custody
  This protocol briefly outlines the key requirements and sets out roles and responsibilities locally. The SEND code of practice should be used for detailed guidance on the application of these duties in each case. SEND Code Of Practice - January 2015 Full protocol can be…
• SEND Process Transitioning Through School Years & Beyond
  Transition from pre-school through to adulthood Updated October 2020   
• Substance Misuse
  This advice and guidance page looks at substance abuse and the organisations that are available nationwide and locally to support individuals and families. Page reviewed April 2020.
• Drug and Alcohol Support
  There are a number of organisations offering support to people who misuse drugs and/or alcohol and those who are affected by this addiction. Click here for further information about local drug and alcohol services. Click on the services listed on this page to find out about…