Fathers who have children with special needs face daunting challenges. Not only are their families more financially stressed, but the emotional, physical and relational strains of caring for a child will impact the entire family.
But fathers do bring some unique assets and valuable characteristics to the picture, and whether you have a child with a physical challenge, a learning disability or an emotional problem, you might benefit from these six thoughts.
1. Stay positive.
Fathers often set the tone for how the rest of the family copes with the child’s special needs. If you can be positive about the situation, interjecting hope and maybe even humour into your family life, your spouse and the other children will likely follow your lead.
2. Be flexible.
It’s likely you’ll need to find new ways to interact with your child. For many dads, physical play is our primary way of relating, especially with young children. But if what comes naturally to you doesn’t seem to work with your son or daughter, find an alternative. Hugs and playfulness are a good place to start but keep looking for other points of connection and try to grow in verbally affirming your children.
3. Be ready for a lot of meetings with specialists.
And you should know that some health or special services workers view dads as less capable or less tuned in than moms. (Maybe we have earned that stigma, maybe not.) But don’t let it discourage you; stay plugged in and keep learning about how to best meet your child’s needs.
4. If your special-needs child is a firstborn son,
… you can expect your experience to be even more challenging. For whatever reason, we tend to attach more of our identity with firstborn sons.
5. Ask for help.
Fathers in households where there are ongoing daily challenges like this are more likely to withdraw, divorce, and be vulnerable. We all need outlets to talk through the ups and downs and get support and encouragement, but far too few men will seek out the resources and help that’s around them. At the very least, all dads—in any situation—should be meeting regularly with other dads for that kind of support, and it’s more important for dads facing daily challenges.
6. Look for the good,
… even through difficulties. One young girl named Hope was diagnosed with leukaemia at age two, and then tragically died only seven months later. But her father openly said, “My daughter’s cancer and her death have changed me to be more compassionate, to make the most of life, and do more things that really matter.”
Looking after yourself
With the practicalities of day-to-day life, it can be easy to forget to look after your own wellbeing needs, as well as those of your children, which can lead to feelings of stress or being overwhelmed.
Factoring in regular time or activities for yourself will hopefully allow you to enjoy the good moments in life more and to find strength during difficult times.
Give yourself permission
It is very easy, as a parent or carer, to prioritise the needs of your family and others ahead of your own wellbeing. But taking time for yourself is not selfish. Everybody needs space to unwind and relax, and giving yourself permission to take some time to recharge your batteries means that you will hopefully have more energy and patience to meet the needs of your family. Start by trying to give yourself 10 minutes each day where you can just sit down, have a cup of tea and take a breather.‘
Being kind to yourself
If you’re looking at this page there’s a pretty good chance you’re struggling at the moment. It may be that you also feel bad about yourself and feel as if you’re failing. If this is happening it can help to have a think about how you ‘talk’ to yourself. We’re sometimes much harder on ourselves in our own thoughts than we would be to anyone else we speak to. Imagine that it’s a friend who’s in your situation right now instead of you. How would you comfort them? How would you encourage them? Can you speak encouragingly to yourself too?
Getting things done
Make a to-do list- At times you might find that your ‘list of things to do’ can build up. This could be general errands, shopping for vital items, or general admin. If these tasks are weighing on your mind compile a to-do list that you can tick off as you go along prioritising those activities which need to be done that day or week. This includes setting aside quality time with your children and time for yourself. Just seeing everything written down may help make things seem more manageable and identify things which really aren’t urgent. And remember it is fine and healthy to sometimes have a down day.
Ask for help
Asking for help from others can sometimes feel as if we’re failing as a parent or carer but parenting can be tough and reaching out for support is nothing to feel ashamed of. Whether it’s minding your child for a short time to allow you to get things done or running a small errand for you, friends and family will often be happy to help and children and young people can also benefit from knowing there are other trusted adults in their life that your family can turn to. Depending on the age of the child, you can also ask them to complete age-appropriate tasks to help around the house to relieve you of some of the everyday tasks.
Maintaining energy levels
Looking after your physical health can have a positive impact on your mental and emotional wellbeing. A healthy and balanced diet can help how you feel physically and avoiding certain foods can help if you’re feeling low or anxious. Regular exercise doesn’t need to mean running 5ks but may include regular walks,
The importance of sleep
Balanced sleep is really important for good mental health but it can also be a really useful self-care tool for when you need a break to get away from your thoughts or situation for a bit. Trying to establish good sleep routines for your children can be the first step to giving you time at night to relax and allow you to get a good night sleep for yourself. This may be harder with babies and infants but even with older children you may benefit from allowing yourself a power nap in the daytime whilst they are at school.
How well did you sleep last night?
Most parents cope with a certain level of tiredness. But if you’re feeling low, bad tempered and unable to cope or enjoy things, you need to find a way of getting more sleep, or at least more rest.
Try to rest when your child sleeps. It might be tempting to use this time to catch up with housework or other chores, but sometimes getting rest is more important. Set an alarm if you’re worried about sleeping for too long.
Try to go to bed really early for, say, 1 week. If you can’t sleep when you go to bed, do something relaxing for half an hour beforehand, such as soaking in a hot bath.
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/physical-health/sleep/parents
Free time
Time away from social media– Sometimes a 24/7 engagement with instant messaging and social media can feel a bit relentless and stressful. Some people say they stay on devices out of habit. Just as you might limit your children’s time on devices, try to set a time when you will put the phone down and unwind with your family. You can also curate your social media by only following accounts that make you feel good and blocking or ignoring accounts which may make you feel angry, low or depressed. Limiting use of devices can also help you have ‘good sleep’ which in turn can help with your energy levels and mental wellbeing.
Remember your passions– Before you became a parent of carer, you may have had hobbies or passions which have fallen by the wayside. Finding time to engage in activities which you enjoy can boost your self-esteem and have a positive impact on your own wellbeing. Whether its baking, crafting, creative writing, or drawing and painting, there are many activities you can do at home that needn’t cost too much and can give you a sense of pride when the activity is complete. Of course, you may prefer to join a choir or local drama group or even just taking time to listen to music that you like rather than what your children like can prove beneficial.
Additional support- Whilst self-care is important, it is important to recognise that if you are struggling as a parent or carer with your mental health and wellbeing that you know that there is help and support out there for you. Your GP should be able to offer help and support and, if necessary, refer you to an adult mental health service. Where possible, try to talk to a trusted friend or relative so they are also aware of how you’re feeling and can check in on you.
Self-care for parents and carers | Anna Freud
Raising a child with SEND
When parents are told their child has a disability or additional need they undergo much emotional turmoil and can experience a whole range of emotions; upset, feelings of grief and loss, fear for the present and the future, relief, joy and overwhelming love.
Each parent is different and it is the beginning of a new journey for them. A journey that has unique experiences, one which brings parents in contact with many practitioners, one which can have great challenges to the whole family, including siblings and grandparents.
Mental Wellbeing
There’s no denying that parenting can be tough at the best of times (and lately, they haven’t been!). But some small shifts in our thinking and priorities can make a huge difference.
Supporting children with SEND can be hugely rewarding, but we need to have the appropriate support in place – which is where, so often, things fall down. Caring for a child with special educational needs can be all-consuming – and yet we have all the other demands of daily life to juggle too. Often it’s our own mental health and the relationships that matter the most to us that take the hit.
So, what’s the answer? Here are a few checks for optimising your mental health:
Priorities and perspective. Life is busy, and when your to-do list is trailing out the door, it can actually be counterproductive and leave you feeling paralysed.
Prioritise what’s really important each day and focus on getting that done – everything else can wait. Sometimes, the most important thing that day might be taking some time out for yourself.
Look for the positives. There are always some – even if it’s just that your child has taught you patience or empathy or has made you laugh that day!
Be kind to yourself and your children, and don’t compare. One day you might feel you can take on the world and another day, just getting out of bed feels like a mountain to climb. Cut yourself and your child some slack. And resist the temptation to compare. The constant barrage of social media posts full of perfect-looking, high-achieving families is enough to floor even the most self-assured person. But remember, what you see out there is rarely the reality – it’s the airbrushed version that’s presented to the world. Live your own life and stay away from comparisons that eat away at contentment.
Ask for help: if you’re lucky enough to have family and friends who are able to give support, lean on them. Even if it’s just having someone to talk to. It may be that they don’t do things quite the way you would, but don’t let that stop you from utilising their help so that you can have a break. There are also loads of in-person and online support groups out there, as well as resources to help parents with their mental health. If you’re really struggling, make an appointment with your GP – you can best support your child when you’re feeling strong yourself.
Don’t forget the basics: Sleep, exercise, time out, eating well, having your own interests – it all feeds into your wellbeing. Caffeine and alcohol might have their place – especially at Christmas, but don’t let them become your means of survival.
Take care
It’s a well-worn phrase. But, in order to function well and be the best we can be for our children, it’s important to take care of ourselves. Juliann Garey, a journalist and clinical assistant professor at NYU sums up parent wellbeing like this:
‘To avoid burnout, it’s important for parents to take care of their own needs. That includes getting enough sleep and exercise, drinking enough water and spending time away from your child. Parents sometimes feel like they have to do everything by themselves, but getting help from other people is crucial. Support groups, spending time with friends and even just making time for fun activities on your own can all help.’
When relationships break down
Co-parenting when you live apart
If you’d hoped to bring up your child as a couple, you may be feeling angry and hurt.
But as a lone parent, it’s important to hide those feelings from your child and let them build their own relationship with their other parent.
It’s usually better for children to see both parents regularly, even if you start new relationships. Of course, this does not apply if your ex-partner is violent or abusive towards you or your child.
At first, you may find your child behaves badly when they come home after a visit. Playing up is one way they may let you know they’re upset or confused about the situation.
Unless you think something bad may be happening on access visits, the best way to deal with this is to be reassuring and calm. In the end, your child will learn to look forward to visits and coming home.
You’ll almost certainly need to talk about your own feelings. Try to find another adult to talk to.
Single parents with a disabled child
Looking after a disabled child on your own can be exhausting and isolating, but lone parent carers can get support and financial help.
Try to include your child’s other parent in their care, if possible. If your child needs any aids or adaptations around the home, you may be able to get a grant to help with the costs.
There are also a range of benefits and tax credits you may be eligible for as the lone parent of a disabled child.
These include the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children, Universal Credit, and tax credits. If your child is 16 or over, they may be able to claim the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
You can find more information on benefits and tax credits on the Contact website, or you can call the Gingerbread helpline for free on 0808 802 0925.
Some charities and organisations issue grants to parents who have a child with a disability or long-term illness. Call Contact’s free helpline on 0808 808 3555 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm) for a list of these organisations.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/support-and-services/advice-for-single-parents/
Single dads
Dealing with the end of a relationship, however it happened, can be incredibly tough. Becoming a single dad can be life-changing in so many ways. You’ll no doubt have different family arrangements to think about – and may have lots of questions.
Even though single dad families are becoming more and more common, you might feel like you don’t know many others like you.
As a single father, you automatically have parental responsibility if you and your child’s mother were married when they were born, or if you’re named on the birth certificate.
Without parental responsibility, you don’t have any legal rights over your child. This means you don’t have a say over things like where they live, their name, their religion, where they’re educated or their medical treatment.
So it’s a good idea to get parental responsibility so you can be involved in big decisions about your child’s life. If you’re on good terms with the other parent, you can just fill in a parental responsibility agreement and take it to your local family court. If you can’t agree with them that you should have parental responsibility, you can apply to court for an order to get this. Unmarried fathers are usually given parental responsibility unless there’s a good reason not to.
As a single dad, you may need to spend less time at work to be with your children. You do have a right to time off work for certain family responsibilities. You could also think about working more flexibly to fit your family’s needs.
Life as a single dad video
When your child doesn’t live with you
There are any number of reasons why you may be living apart from your children. Your relationship may have broken down, or you may live or work far away, you are in prison or your child is in care. In any of these circumstances it can be hard to maintain communication with your children. Here are some ideas and some organisations to support you.
Ideas for types of contact
- Keeping in touch with your children will change depending on how old they are. You as the parent need to operate on their level, even if that means you doing new things.
- Younger children will like picture postcards through the mail. A young child will enjoy using a wall chart and colouring in the days until they see you again
- Children can chat on the phone from a very young age, perhaps two years old (but be mindful that they don’t always like to)
- You can record some bedtime stories and rhymes for your child to have at their other home
- Once children have a mobile phone, you can text as well as phone
- Young people love using MSN and Facebook to communicate. If you don’t use these, LEARN!
Remember that children are not interested in your housing situation or how depressed you are feeling or how you can’t find a job and have no money. All communication needs to be about them, what they are up to, what is their favourite toy, colour, food etc. Praise everything they say. Don’t put pressure on them to return contact, let them go at their own pace.
If the other parent is restricting contact
Will the other parent come to mediation?
Offer to have your parenting time with another person present, eg a family member, if the other parent has concerns
Try writing a polite letter to the other parent asking for regular news updates
Provide their school with a supply of stamped addressed envelopes; most schools will happily send copies of reports and newsletters.
Attend Parents’ Evenings.
Take some legal advice
If the other parent is blocking ALL contact, start a scrapbook and stick in it pictures of you, letters and cards you would have sent if you had been allowed. What a wonderful gift for a child when they are older!
If your children are in care
You will have to be guided as to contact and parenting time by the rules you are given, depending on the reason your children are in care.
If you live in a different town/country
In addition to the contact methods above, you could consider a Skype phone and/or a webcam. Time spent together will be limited so make a regular ‘date’ for contact rather than “speak to you soon”. Don’t be too upset if a young child does not want to speak to you on the arranged date; just arrange another time. Be flexible as to the child’s routine. This is particularly important where you are in a different time zone: be sensitive as to bedtimes or when a favourite TV programme may be on
Where can I go for support?
https://www.dad.info/article/category/family/divorce-and-separation/
Family Rights Group https://frg.org.uk/
Families need fathers https://fnf.org.uk/
Fatherhood Institute https://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/
Storybook Dads https://www.storybookdads.org.uk/
Dating and new relationships
What to Think About Before You Date a Single parent
If you are getting back into the dating scene, you might be wondering, “Should I date a single parent?” or “Is dating someone with children right for me?” Dating a single parent isn’t suitable for everyone, and it isn’t something to enter into lightly.
No matter how much chemistry you share or how much you both value your relationship, there will be times when the children interrupt, take precedence over your relationship, and require the devoted attention of their parent.
You’ll plan a special outing and—boom—someone gets sick. Or you’ll have a long day and just want to unwind, only to find the children ramped up and rowdy. Dating someone with children has its perks, but it also has its challenges, which require careful consideration, especially for first timers.
Only you can truly know if you’re up for dating a single parent and all that comes with the relationship. While there are a million bonuses that come with dating into a family, there are some challenges that can be hard to overcome.
If this reality gives you pause, it’ll be vital for you to consider whether you’re ready, willing, and able to embrace all that comes with dating into a family. Above all else, be respectful of your partner and the children involved. Be honest about how you feel and what works for you at this stage of your life. If it’s time to say goodbye, do so lovingly, without dragging it out or assuming things will change. The children are here to stay. The question is, are you?
https://www.verywellmind.com/signs-youre-not-ready-to-date-a-single-parent-4046173
The challenges faced in blended families
While no families are straight-forward, mixing children with stepchildren and new partners can be a rocky ride. ‘Children who have been through divorce/bereavement have already been hurt by the people they trust,’ says Nicola Baldwin, Parenting Lead at Spurgeons, ‘so spend time with them individually and get to know one another. Shared activities can help grow a bond. Ask how they are feeling and really listen to them – show them that they are important. Also, give them praise and encouragement.’
Helping children adjust to change is one key way to encourage harmony. You can approach this in a number of ways, including:
A plan for the week pinned up on the fridge- Monday spent at Mum’s, football club on Tuesday etc
Allow children to play a part in decorating their bedrooms at both homes, so they feel included and can make the space their own
Set house rules, which you can sit down and write together. This might include rules about respecting one another and everyone’s space, and having dinner together.
Some children will be excited about having new siblings, while others will find the transition anxiety-inducing and difficult. Ensure you spend lots of time engaging with your children and listening to their feelings about their new family life, and bonding with them 1-1. Try to understand how destabilising this new blended family must feel for them and take the transition slowly.
Bonding with new step children
If you have new stepchildren in your life, bonding with them can seem a daunting task. If you already have your own children, you may also be wondering how to navigate these choppy waters without alienating them.
The key lies in not rushing the process. As with any new relationship in life, while it can be tempting to rush in all guns blazing, taking it slow will yield the best results.
Remember that your new step child won’t have asked for, or wanted, this new situation in their lives. What they will be craving (whether they recognise it or not) is stability. Ensure your actions don’t threaten the existing relationships they have with their parents (i.e. you’re not trying to take the place of their dad).
Spend a little 1-1 time getting to know them. Be yourself- children (particularly teens!) will easily sniff out inauthenticity. Show interest in their day and what they’ve been up to, and approach these interactions gently.
It’s useful to note the power imbalance in your dynamic: they, as the child are likely to feel nervous and even defensive about this new situation. This is why getting to know them gently and without agenda is important. Lastly, don’t beat yourself up if you feel like they don’t love you right away; step relationships are notoriously difficult for children to get their heads around and they can feel threatened.
Get on the same page as your partner
You might be blending your families, but do you have the same approaches to parenting? To avoid clashes and arguments, it can be helpful to discuss the existing house rules you have and what kinds of punishments have been dolled out before- you don’t want one child having their phone taken away while the other one faces no punishment for the same thing.
‘Adults have been parented in different ways and maybe parented their children differently in the past,’ says Nicola. ‘Spend some time working out what your values are in the new relationship. What sort of partners and parents do you want to be together? Be kind to one another as you take time to get to know the individuals within the new family group and take time to bond.’
For all families, blended or nuclear, knowledge of boundaries and consequences is important, and creates a happy, healthy home.
It can be tempting for new step parents to immediately start being the one to tell off or discipline their step children, but during the getting-to-know-you time it’s best to not dive in too heavily. Make sure both you and your partner agree on what is suitable behaviour/ language and that children know they must be respectful, but may also share how they are feeling. Don’t underestimate how hard merging with new step-siblings and step-parents can be for children- even teenagers.
Top Tips for step dads
Step Dad does not necessarily mean disciplinarian
It is not unusual for men to see part of their role as a dad as disciplining. However, it is important to recognise that just because you are taking on a Step Dad role, it does not automatically grant you equal rights to disciplining all the children of your household. Assuming it does can cause resentment and difficulties, not only between yourself and your step children, but also yourself and your partner. A good rule of thumb is to try and fit in with the children and the existing family unit, rather than have them fit in with you.
A good starting point is to discuss this topic with your partner. What behaviours do you both think are acceptable/unacceptable – don’t assume you will have the same views on this! What does your partner feel is an appropriate way of you responding to unwanted behaviour from one of her children? Discuss this in advance.
An alternative option is to work as a family to come up with agreed house rules (including do’s and don’ts, chores, etc) and to agree consequences to rules being broken. Having a shared ownership of creating the rules and consequences can make their enforcement more acceptable to everyone.
Remember that children’s behaviour towards you is not always about you
All the changes and emotional turmoil which can come with becoming part of a step family, can be a lot for anyone to process, and as an adult you will no doubt come across this on a personal level at some point.
For children, it is important to remember, that in many ways it is much harder for them. They may feel subjected to changes which they have no say or control over – such as their parents’ relationships ending, new ones beginning, moving house, so on and so forth. It helps to remember that most children did not want their parents to split up. That it can be difficult for them to live in two different households with two (or even more variations) of families. That feeling split loyalties can be very difficult. That they find it incredibly difficult to witness or cope with the arguments or dislike of one parent/step parent, towards their other parent/step parent. These are all huge pressures for children, and it is not surprising that they can find them too difficult to deal with at times. In addition to this, their emotional resilience and resources are also more immature than yours, and so they may experience feelings of being overwhelmed. Teenagers in even the most ‘stable’ environments can experience these kinds of feelings on a day to day basis as their hormones naturally change anyway, so in an environment which feels more changeable, it is not surprising that these feelings may occur or be emphasised.
One of the ways that children and teens show their difficulties in dealing with a situation is through their behaviour. From the tantrum of a toddler to the talking back of a teenager, it is important to remember that this may just be how they are expressing feeling vulnerable and confused, not necessarily anything to do with you.
Of course, it can be very difficult to not take things personally, and it is normal to experience feelings of hurt or even anger in some of these situations. In these instances, if you can, try to take a mental pause to be mindful of what may be lying behind their actions and words, and only then respond to the situation. Punishing a child for feeling vulnerable will not help remedy the situation and it could even cause damage to your relationship with them.
Don’t expect that dad and step dad will be the same thing
This will depend on your individual family. Some children do grow up and see their Step Dad as their one and only dad, especially in situations where their biological dad doesn’t see them. However, if you expect that will be the role you will fill, you may be disappointed, as not all step relationships are like this.
In many situations, and especially ones where their biological father is still involved in their lives (even sometimes to a minimal extent), your step children might feel that seeing or treating you as a dad is disloyal to their dad. It is not uncommon for children to feel ‘If I like him, then that means I don’t love dad’ and this causes them a profound internal conflict which they are often ill equipped to deal with.
Rather than worry about categorising your relationship – I need to be a dad, so I need to act like this, and this is what I expect will happen… Instead, focus on developing a relationship with your step children. Join in with their interests, support their hobbies, help with their homework. You will find your own relationship with them this way, in a way which is easier (although not always necessarily easy) for them to accept.
This kind of open mindedness in being willing to just see what evolves, is critical to you developing a positive relationship with your step child/children, in their own way, in their own time. You might come to feel more like an uncle than a dad, for example, but there is nothing wrong with this. It’s about finding what best works for each individual relationship – and you might find that you have different approaches and different relationships with different step children too. Try to let go of any expectations of how things ‘should’ be, and find what works for you all.
Be diplomatic
Being a Step Dad is a remarkable role to take on, as without doubt, parenting someone else’s children will certainly be difficult at times.
Do remember to keep talking to your partner, and to look after your relationship together, as well as the relationship you are building as a family. Your role of step dad has developed out of your love for her, and this is an incredible thing, when you think about it.
Do be sensitive when you discuss her children with her, while it may be helpful to discuss your feelings or any difficult situations, it is also important to not overly criticise or blame her children, or indeed, her. It is instinctive that she will be protective of them, and no matter how much she loves you, she may find it very difficult to hear criticism of them.
Don’t expect to feel the same about your step children, as you do your own
It is not unusual as a step parent to find that you do not feel exactly the same way about your partners’ children as you do your own. You may find you don’t love them in the same way, and there might be times when you even really struggle to like one of them. This is not something to feel guilty about, and in some ways, being aware of this is important so that you can make sure it doesn’t subconsciously impact on your behaviour.
Just because you have come together to make a family, does not mean that you will all immediately feel a close connection and affection for each other. Many experts agree that there are actually benefits for step parents when they recognise and understand that it is normal for a child to prefer their own parent, or a parent to feel closer to their own child. Trying to struggle against something which cannot be changed or helped, can create more difficulties.
Further References
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/news/its-parent-mental-health-day
Why Self-Care is Essential to Parenting, Child Mind Institute, https://childmind.org/article/fighting-caregiver-burnout-special-needs-kids/
Parent Mental Health Day, Stem4, https://stem4.org.uk/parentmentalhealthday /
The emotional impact of parenting a disabled child, Special Needs Jungle (2019), https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/the-emotional-impact-of-parenting-a-disabled-child/
Parent Carer Cornwall
All family members are the experts on their children with additional needs; which is why parent participation in service development is so important and why the Parent Carers for Cornwall was formed – to ensure all parents have their voice heard. The collective impact of many individual voices can make long term constructive change in service delivery.
Parent Carer Cornwall gather information from Parent Carers and using these unique shared experiences, we take part in consultations and participation work which helps us to shape the development and delivery of services to our children. We also pass on information to families via a newsletter enabling parent carers to gain greater knowledge and understanding of the services available from health, education, local authority and the voluntary sector.
Parent Carers Cornwall (PCC) is the recognised Parent Carer Forum for Cornwall. Nationally funded to support families with children with SEND, endorsed locally by Health, Education and Social Care.
https://parentcarerscornwall.org.uk/
For Parent Carers on the Isles of Scilly
Contact email: ios-pcf@outlook.com
SENDIASS- Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Cornwall’s Information, Advice and Support Service is a statutory service which is run at ‘arm’s length’ from the Local Authority and provides free, confidential, impartial advice, guidance and support to parents of children with special educational needs and children and young people with SEND from 0-25.
It aims to promote good working relationships between children, young people, parents, education settings and the LA, whilst seeking to empower them to play an active and informed role in their child’s education.
We can support parents, carers, children and young people in a number of ways. We provide a range of flexible services which include training, referral to other statutory and voluntary agencies, access to local and national support groups, telephone support and face to face meetings depending on need.
https://cornwallsendiass.org.uk/
What is an Information, Advice and Support (IAS) service?