Ashford District - Support for children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities
Teacher and TA Training Services
Across Ashford, Folkestone and Hythe
Following feedback from SENCO forums and headteachers requesting more training for Teaching Assistants, this directory has been developed to draw together training currently available through the education support services in your area (Kent Education Psychology Service, Specialist Teaching and Learning Service, Therapies team, The Education People) and other resources found online. It has indicators suggesting suitability for early years, primary and secondary phases. It also includes evidence-based guidance on the most effective use of teaching assistants (based on the Education Endowment Foundation report by Peter Blatchford, Jonathan Sharples and Rob Webster), individual CPD plans and mentoring.
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The local area team hope that you find this useful. Please do feedback how you find this directory to help us improve our service.
Partner Services
Below are a list of the local offer services STLS work alongside to ensure the health and wellbeing of children and young adults in the Ashford District.
Speech and Language Therapists work with children and young people with a wide range of communication needs, as well as supporting with eating and drinking.
The SEN IA team will receive any referrals from our SEN area teams or any direct contacts.
The SMILE Centre supports multi-inclusive learning and education. The centre provides a facility to provide support, advice and resources for colleagues in mainstream schools, Wyvern staff and parents.
Children and young people with disabilities can get help from everyday healthcare services, but sometimes they need extra help. Parents or carers can ask for additional or complex support in order to receive the extra assistance involving paediatrics.
PIAS adopts a new approach to support or enforce children’s maximum access to education.
The Autism Education Trust (AET) provides training and support to professionals working with children and young people with autism. Their aim is to improve the quality of education for children with autism ensuring that they receive the same opportunities as their peers.
A fully integrated service building greater resilience in families. Improving the outcomes for children and young adults with high ambitions for what they can achieve with right right support.
The Education People's Early Years and Childcare Service is committed to supporting excellence across the whole range of Early Years, school and out of school childcare provision, including early education.
Other Services
These are services that are useful to be aware of or contact to assist in the support of children and adults when dealing with SEND and Mental Health in education.
Providing support to the education sector by offering services and expertise across all age groups.
​Providing people with support for the EHCP process and applying for Disability Living Allowance. They also offer support groups, resources, emotional and mental wellbeing check-ins and subsidised outings for disabled children, young adults and their families.​​
Promotes the progress and educational attainment of children and young people who are or who have been in care so that they achieve educational outcomes comparable to their peers. They also provide advice, support and training to professionals schools and colleges.
21 Together provides support and resources for families and individuals with Down syndrome. They aim to empower individuals with Down syndrome to reach their full potential and lead fulfilling lives. They offer a variety of programs and services, educational workshops, social events, and advocacy initiatives.
Dads Unlimited provides a supportive and inclusive space for dads to connect, learn, and grow together.