Frequently Asked Questions

Talk to your Health Visitor or Lead Professional/Key Worker if you have one and they will be able to help you.  Alternatively, contact the Integrated Service for Children with Disabilities and ask for support.

Many children with additional needs attend their local school or Early Years Setting, where with adjustments and careful planning their needs can be met.  Where the child has been identified as having significant additional needs parents will be supported by the professional involved.  These may include the family's Health Visitor, Key Worker/Lead Professional, Portage Worker, Early Years Setting Special Needs Coordinator, Area Special Needs Coordinator, Educational Psychologist.

For some children with significant additional needs the Local Authority may offer an assesment place at Acorn Integrated Nursery.  The decision to offer a place would be made on a case by case basis by a panel using evidence describing the child's additional needs and details of progress over time.  You wil be fully involved in any decision about the school your child will attend.

If you have a lead professional, Key Worker or Social Worker talk to them.   Otherwise contact the Integrated Services for Children with Disabilities.  Following this an assessment of needs will take place and options around short breaks will be discussed with you.

There is a list of services in the local contact sections.  If you need help to access services contact your Health Visitor or visit your local Children's Centre and ask for help. (children's centre listing).

There are a number of local parent support groups.  Sunshine Parent Group meets regularly in Hyde and Dukinfield.   Phone 07794 311954 for further details or see our local support groups.

Either phone yourself to request one is changed or talk to your lead professional or key worker and they will help you to rearrange one of the appointments.

All local settings should welcome children with additional needs.  However, in some instances it may be necessary to make some adjustments and it would be approrpriate to discuss these in advance so that appropriate arrangements can be made.  The Families Information Service can provide help with contacting nurseries.

There are a number of services whch can help with transport to hospital appointments. 

The staff at Tameside Carer's Centre are very helpful,  Contact them to make an appointment or visit the  Direct Gov website to find out about financial support.    The Local Welfare Rights Service can assist you in completing any forms.

This is dependent upon the type of equipment.  It is usually the service that has assessed for the equipment in the first instance.   As a guide, wheelchairs and pushchairs are cared for by the Wheelchair Centre at Tameside General Hospital (tel: 0161 355 2801) or the repair contactor Rosscare (tel: 0161 344 0482), seating, bathing, toileting, sleep systems and beds (if provided for other reasons than for pressure care) by the Occupational Therapists. (tel: 0161 366 2052), sleep systems, standing and walking equipment by the Physiotherapists (tel: 0161 366 2052) and any nursing equipment through the Complex Needs Nursing Team (also on 0161 366 2052).  Adaptations carried out in the home such as ramps or tracking hoists are usually dealt with via the community Occupational Therapists (0161 370 2060).  If you are in doubt who to contact, telephone one of the teams who will be hopefully 'be able to signpost you in the right direction.