Services
Search services for SEND, filtered by need, age, local authority, and how to connect.
Showing 1–50 of 214 services
Appeal a decision about your child's EHC needs assessment or plan
SEND Tribunal (HM Courts and Tribunals Service)
Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) if you disagree with a local authority's decision on your child's EHC needs assessment, the contents of their EHC plan, or the school/placement named in it. Free to use; you can represent yourself or bring support.
Appeal your child's EHC plan to the SEND Tribunal
SEND Tribunal (First-tier Tribunal)
If you disagree with a decision about your child's EHC plan, you can appeal to the SEND Tribunal. Its extended powers mean it can also make recommendations about the health and social care parts of the plan, not just education, in the same appeal.
Apply for a Blue Badge parking permit
GOV.UK · Wakefield North
A Blue Badge gives parking concessions if a disability affects your (or your child's) ability to walk.
Apply for a disabled or blind person's bus and train pass
West Yorkshire Metro
Free travel on West Yorkshire buses and trains for people who are blind, plus free off-peak bus travel and half-fare off-peak rail for people with a qualifying disability.
Apply for a Disabled Persons Railcard
Disabled Person's Railcard
A third off rail fares for you and an adult companion. Children aged 5-15 who qualify don't get a discount themselves, but their accompanying adult does.
Apply for a grant to help raise your disabled child
Family Fund
Grants for practical items and services, parent/carer workshops on digital and financial skills, creative workshops for children and siblings, and a Discover More Support tool covering 180+ support organisations.
Apply for a grant to help with accessible transport
Motability Foundation
Grants to help disabled people access transport and make the journeys they choose - Motability Scheme-related grants, Access to Mobility grants, and grants to charities and organisations.
Apply for a grant to help you stay in work with a health condition or disability
Access to Work
A grant for practical support at work, help managing your mental health at work, or money towards communication support at job interviews.
Apply for Disability Living Allowance for your child
GOV.UK
Weekly payments (£26.90-£172.50) to help with the extra costs of looking after a child under 16 who has difficulty walking or needs much more looking after than other children their age.
Apply for Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) at university
Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)
DSA funding helps cover the extra costs of higher education for students with a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty - for example specialist equipment, a non-medical helper, or travel costs.
Apply for Disabled Students' Allowances
GOV.UK
Financial help for students whose disability, mental health condition or long-term illness affects their studies.
Apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
GOV.UK
Help with extra living costs if you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and difficulty doing everyday tasks or getting around.
Ask the NHS to fund a treatment that isn't routinely available (Individual Funding Request)
West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board
An Individual Funding Request (IFR) asks the NHS to pay for a treatment that isn't routinely commissioned - made through your GP, who has to evidence how the child or young person would benefit, against national and West Yorkshire ICB policies.
Book an adventure activity weekend for a blind or partially sighted child
The Outlook Trust
Activity weekend breaks (sailing, rock climbing, tandem cycling, zip lining, kayaking and more) for blind and partially sighted children and young people, from £60 including accommodation, food and transport.
Borrow a Reading Well book on your child's condition from the library
Reading Well
Free, recommended books available through public libraries to help children, young people and families understand and manage mental health, wellbeing and specific health conditions.
Buy a Radar key for independent access to locked public toilets
Disability Rights UK
Toilets fitted with National Key Scheme (NKS) locks can be found in shopping centres, pubs, cafes, department stores, and bus and train stations in most parts of the country - the key is VAT-free for individuals.
Call the National Sleep Helpline for practical advice
National Sleep Helpline (The Sleep Charity)
A free helpline for practical guidance on sleep problems, including children's sleep issues, bedtime anxiety and sleep hygiene. Calls at standard rates; not a crisis or medical advice service.
Check if a school or college is on the Section 41 approved list
Independent Specialist Schools & Colleges (Section 41 list)
Search the government's official register of independent special schools and specialist colleges approved for naming in an EHC plan, to check whether a setting you're considering is on the list.
Check if your child qualifies for free school meals
Wakefield Council · Wakefield North · WF1 2EB
Free meals for all children in reception, year 1 and year 2 at state-funded infant schools, regardless of family income.
Choose your own autism or ADHD assessment provider (Right to Choose)
West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership
Once a GP or professional refers your child for an Autism and/or ADHD assessment, you have a right to choose which assessment provider carries it out rather than using the default local service - this page explains how that choice works across West Yorkshire.
Claim back travel costs to your child's NHS appointments
Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)
If you or your child get a qualifying low-income benefit, you can claim back reasonable standard-class travel costs to and from NHS appointments through the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme.
Claim back your travel costs for a hospital or NHS appointment
GOV.UK
Refund of reasonable travel costs to a hospital or other NHS premises for specialist treatment or tests, if you or your child are on certain benefits or a low income (the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme). Ask NHS staff for a claim form at your appointment.
Claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for your child
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for Children
DLA is a tax-free benefit for children under 16 who need extra looking after or have walking difficulties because of a disability. Call the helpline to request a claim form - phoning first means it's date-stamped, which can help backdate your payment.
Claim the mobility part of PIP for your young person
Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment
Extra money for young people aged 16+ who need help getting around due to a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability - paid at a standard or enhanced rate depending on assessed need, and can be used towards a Motability vehicle.
Connect with other families affected by Down syndrome in Wakefield
Wakefield and District Down's Syndrome Support Group
A support network, local information and fun activities for people with Down syndrome and their families and friends, run entirely by volunteer parents and carers.
Find a Changing Places accessible toilet near you
Changing Places
Search the national Changing Places map to find fully accessible toilets - with a hoist, adult-sized changing bench and space for carers - before you travel.
Find a charitable grant for disability-related costs
Disability Grants
Search a free directory of charitable trusts and organisations that give grants to disabled people and their families, for things like equipment, mobility costs and holidays.
Find a driving instructor experienced with disabled learners
Disability Driving Instructors
Search a free national directory of independent driving instructors experienced in specialist tuition and adapted vehicles, for disabled people learning to drive for the first time or returning after an accident or illness.
Find a job with an inclusive employer through Evenbreak
Evenbreak
A free job board for disabled jobseekers, listing vacancies from vetted, inclusive employers, plus career resources and training to support your job search.
Find childcare for your child with SEND
Wakefield Council · Wakefield North · WF1 2EB
The Family Information Service helps parents/carers of all children aged 0-20, including those with SEND, find suitable childcare.
Find financial help available if you're disabled
GOV.UK
An overview of disability and sickness benefits, vehicle and transport support, housing help, TV licence discount, VAT relief and compensation for work-related illness or injury.
Find help and support for your disabled child through Sky Badger
Sky Badger
A free 24/7 helpdesk and online platform connecting disabled children and their families - and the professionals supporting them - to relevant charities, grants, activities and services across the UK.
Find SEND policy resources from the Council for Disabled Children
Council for Disabled Children
The Council for Disabled Children publishes guidance, resources and best-practice information for professionals, and works with government to influence policy affecting disabled children and young people across England.
Get 10-week family support for self-harm (FLASH)
KIDS · Airedale and Ferry Fryston · WF10 3UA
Changing Our Direction runs the FLASH programme (Families Learning About Self Harm) - a 10-week workshop helping parents/carers build communication skills and strategies to manage self-harm within the family.
Get a coach in your pocket to manage anxiety and daily planning
Brain in Hand
Practical, personalised planning tools through an app plus human coaching support, for people 14+ with neurodivergent needs - helps with accessing education, work or leisure. Can be funded through Personal Budgets, PIP, Access to Work or Disabled Students' Allowance.
Get a free cinema companion ticket (CEA Card)
Cinema Exhibitors' Association (CEA) Card
A card that lets a disabled cinema-goer bring a companion free of charge when they buy a full-price ticket, at around 90% of UK cinemas. Costs £6.50, valid for one year.
Get a full autism assessment through Caudwell Children
Caudwell Children
A NICE-aligned, multi-disciplinary autism assessment for children aged 4-11, accepted by schools and the NHS. Referral must come from a professional who knows the child (GP, paediatrician, school, SENCo, social worker) - families cannot self-refer.
Get a health and care passport for your child's appointments
NHS Health and Care Passport
A personalised document giving healthcare staff key information about your child's needs, communication style and reasonable adjustments - especially helpful for children with a learning disability or autism. Take it to every health appointment.
Get a hearing dog or advice on managing hearing loss
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Information, signposting and support on managing hearing loss, plus trained Hearing Dogs, Sound Support Dogs and Companion Dogs.
Get a place at a specialist online school (TCES National Online School)
TCES National Online School · SW19 4EE
A fully-online specialist school for pupils with an EHC plan, reached via referral rather than direct family contact.
Get a place at a specialist school (Hall Cliffe School)
Hall Cliffe School · WF4 6BB
A specialist SEND day school run by Witherslack Group, reached via EHCP placement rather than direct family contact.
Get a place at a specialist school (Meadowcroft School)
Meadowcroft School · WF1 4AD
A specialist SEND school run by Acorn Education and Care Group, reached via EHCP placement rather than direct family contact.
Get a psychiatry appointment for your child's mental health medication
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust - CAMHS Wakefield
The Psychiatry Pathway provides specialist support for children and young people with mental health needs where medication may be considered as part of their care - usually accessed following involvement from other CAMHS teams when further assessment is needed.
Get a residential short break for your child with complex needs (Star House)
Wakefield Council · Featherstone · WF7 5LU
CQC Outstanding-rated residential short breaks (respite) for children aged 8-17 (occasionally 5-8 in exceptional circumstances) with learning disabilities and complex health care needs and/or challenging behaviour - qualified nurses and residential workers on site.
Get a short break at home with care and companionship
Lotus Home Care
Short breaks (respite) care, support and companionship at home and in the community, for children and young people aged 0-25 with additional needs - an Approved Provider List (APL) member.
Get a short break for your child away from home
Trevikam Health Care
Safe, nurturing, child-centred short breaks giving families essential respite - structured routines, positive experiences, and support for a child's independence, emotional wellbeing and social development.
Get a short break for your child with a physical disability or complex needs
Destiny Medical Ltd
Safe, personalised short break (respite) services for children with physical disabilities and complex needs, giving families trusted support and respite.
Get a short break with respite care at home or in the community
Pearl Home Care Ltd
Respite care in your own home, plus attending local recreational parks - care tailored to each individual young person or adult, giving families a genuine short break.
Get a specialist short break for your child with complex medical needs
Tapera Healthcare Ltd
Safe, enjoyable, person-centred short breaks for children and young people in Wakefield with complex medical needs, disabilities, autism, and additional support needs.
Get a trained volunteer to support your family at home
Home-Start Wakefield & District · Wakefield East · WF1 4RW
Home-visiting volunteer support for families with children under 12, plus Stay and Play family groups, behaviour support workers, perinatal mental health workers and dad-specific support.