Useful websites for Parents/Carers

Useful websites by clinical needs for parents/carers

Site

Description

Age range

Link

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust - Speech, Language and Communication

Information pages to help understand children’s speech, language and communication needs and how you can help your child.

Early Years (0-3 years)

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust - Speech, language, communication needs

Talk to your baby

Talk to Your Baby helps parents navigate the early years and support their child's language development.

0 – Early Years

Talk to Your Baby: Home

BBC Tiny Happy People

To support children’s communication development – with ideas of play and other activities to do with your child. Lots of tips, play ideas to help parents develop their children’s communication skills.

Early Years/ School aged

www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people

Afasic

Information about SLCN for parents of teenagers. Includes links to videos of young people and parents and further information e.g. what to look for, planning for life after 16, support for parents.

11-18

https://afasic.org.uk/help-for-your-child/teenagers-and-beyond/

Afasic

Website with support, resources, and information about communication needs.

All

Afasic – Voice for Life

ICAN

I CAN website provides support on FAQs, good practice checklists and strategies to support speech, language and communication.

All

https://ican.org.uk/

 

Site

Description

Age range

Link

The Children's Trust

General information, signposting and training information for CYP, families and therapists about living with an acquired brain injury.

0-17

https://www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/

 

Site

Description

Age range

Link

Communication Matters

Communication Matters is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.
The website has lots of accessible information about AAC and they hold AAC conferences and study days.

All

https://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/what-is-aac/

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust - Speech, Language and Communication

Information pages to help understand children’s speech, language and communication needs and how you can help your child.

Early Years (0-3 years)

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust - Speech, language, communication needs

 

Site

Description

Age range

Link

Autism West Midlands 

Autism West Midlands offer a regional helpline, information downloads, and Shropshire-based Family Support Service that delivers support as part of the Telford Children Autism Hub.

Pre-school

Autism West Midlands | Supporting the Autistic Community

Telford Autism Hub

Telford Children's Autism Hub is open to all children and young people aged 0-18, and their families, who have a diagnosis of Autism and live in Telford and Wrekin.

All

About Children's Autism Hub | Telford Autism Hub

Makaton

The Makaton website contains information about the Makaton language programme and lots of sign and symbol resources.  This includes some free resources and downloads. You can find out about Makaton training and sign up for a ‘sign of the week’ email.

The website and free downloads are available for free.  There are three levels of paid access, which buys access to more of the signs and symbols.

All

www.makaton.org

National Autistic Society

Support, advice, and information about autism.

Useful for parents/carers of children on the autistic spectrum.

All

www.autism.org.uk

Widgit Health

Widgit symbols are used across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin to support children and young people with a wide range of communication difficulties. Widgit Health provides symbol resources to support children, young people and adults when accessing healthcare.

There are lots of free downloads, but some you have to pay for. 

All

https://widgit-health.com/

 

Site

Description

Age range

Link

National Deaf Children's Society

A charity that provides a wide range of support including – providing online events, workshops and have an online forum. The society also provides publications, a magazine, some one-to- one support, advice and a facility for lending equipment.

0-25

www.ndcs.org.uk

 

Site

Description

Age range

Link

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust - Speech, Language and Communication

Information pages to help understand children’s speech, language and communication needs and how you can help your child.

Early Years (0-3 years)

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust - Speech, language, communication needs

Look say sing play

Easy tips to incorporate language activities and bonding into everyday activities.

0-pre-schools

Look, Say, Sing, Play early years resources to use and share with parents | NSPCC Learning

BBC Tiny Happy People

To support children’s communication development – with ideas of play and other activities to do with your child. Lots of tips, and play ideas to help parents develop their children’s communication skills.

EY & School-aged children

www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people

Contact

Charity supporting families of children with disabilities. Free information about the referral process for Speech and Language Therapy.

All

https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/health-medical-information/common-concerns/speech-learning-and-movement/

Makaton

The Makaton website contains information about the Makaton language programme and lots of sign and symbol resources.  This includes some free resources and downloads. You can find out about Makaton training and sign up for a ‘sign of the week’ email.

The website and free downloads are available for free.  There are three levels of paid access, which buys access to more of the signs and symbols.

All

www.makaton.org

Widgit Health

Widgit symbols are used across Sheffield to support children and young people with a wide range of communication difficulties.  Widgit Health provides symbol resources to support children, young people and adults when accessing healthcare.

There are lots of free downloads.

All

https://widgit-health.com/

Site

Description

Age range

Link

Look say sing play

Easy tips to incorporate language activities and bonding into everyday activities.

Birth to pre-school

Look, Say, Sing, Play early years resources to use and share with parents | NSPCC Learning

Talk to Your Baby

Talk to Your Baby helps parents navigate the early years and support their child's language development.

Birth – Early Years

Talk to Your Baby: Home

Down’s Syndrome Association UK

Information sheets about drinking and chewing for children with Down Syndrome.

Birth to Primary age

https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/about-downs-syndrome/lifes-journey/speech-language-and-communication/

Teach Me Too

Teach Me Too is an online library of short educational video resources, designed around the specific learning profile of children with Down’s syndrome.

You will need to create an account to access the resources but it is all free.

EY & Primary-aged children

www.teachmetoo.org.uk

BBC Tiny Happy People

To support children’s communication development – with ideas of play and other activities to do with your child. Lots of tips and play ideas to help parents develop their children’s communication skills

EY & School-aged children

www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people

Down Syndrome Education

Provides research, information and resources and advice, support and training.

EY & School-aged children

www.down-syndrome.org

Contact

Charity supporting families of children with disabilities. Free information about the referral process.

All

https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/health-medical-information/common-concerns/speech-learning-and-movement/

Down’s Syndrome Association UK

The Down’s Syndrome Association is a national organisation and a great source of information and support for people with Down Syndrome and their families and professionals.  

All

https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/

ICAN (with The Communication Trust Resources)

I CAN's Talking Point gives parents/carers and practitioners the information they need to help children develop their speaking and understanding skills. If a child has difficulty with speaking, they may need help, or they may struggle in nursery or school. With the right help, they can develop the skills they need. 

All

https://ican.org.uk/

Makaton

The Makaton website contains information about the Makaton language programme and lots of sign and symbol resources.  This includes some free resources and downloads. You can find out about Makaton training and sign up for a ‘sign of the week’ email.

The website and free downloads are available for free.  There are three levels of paid access, which buys access to more of the signs and symbols.

All

www.makaton.org

Widgit Health

Widgit symbols are used across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin to support children and young people with a wide range of communication difficulties. Widgit Health provides symbol resources to support children, young people and adults when accessing healthcare.

There are lots of free downloads but some you will need to pay for. 

All

https://widgit-health.com/

Site

Description

Age range

Link

Bliss

Advice for families about all aspects of feeding premature babies from expressing to weaning.

Premature babies

https://www.bliss.org.uk/parents/about-your-baby/feeding

Weaning for life

Government weaning advice.

6 months

https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/weaning/

Baby Friendly - Unicef

Breastfeeding advice and signposting.

0-2

https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/

Down’s Syndrome Association UK

Information sheets about drinking and chewing for children with Down Syndrome.

0 to Primary age

https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/about-downs-syndrome/lifes-journey/speech-language-and-communication/

ARFID Awareness

Charity to support CYP and their families with ARFID.

0-17

https://www.arfidawarenessuk.org/

International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative

Texture guidance, advice and patient handouts.

0-17

https://iddsi.org

Infant Dysphagia Factsheet

A general fact sheet for parents about how Speech and Language Therapists can support CYP with eating and swallowing difficulties.

0-17

https://www.rcslt.org/.../RCSLT/rcslt-infant-dysphagia-factsheet.pdf

NAS

Advice for families of children with ASD and eating difficulties/restricted diet.

0-17

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/behaviour/eating

 

Site

Description

Age range

Link

Selective Mutism 

UK charity with information regarding support for children and young people with Selective Mutism.

Nursery-secondary

http://www.selectivemutism.org.uk/

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust - Speech, Language and Communication

Information pages to help understand children’s speech, language and communication needs and how you can help your child.

Early Years (0-3 years)

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust - Speech, language, communication needs

 

Site

Description

Age range

Link

Young Minds

Mental health support for young people, parents and professionals.

11-18

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

BEAM Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin

An emotional health and wellbeing drop-in service for young people under 25 years old who are registered with a GP in Shropshire, Telford or Wrekin.

 

BEAM Shropshire, Telford, Wrekin | The Children's Society (childrenssociety.org.uk)

Kooth

Mental health support for young people with access to counsellors online. All are done via written messaging, no face-to-face required.

11-18

www.kooth.com

Widgit Health

Widgit symbols are used across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin to support children and young people with a wide range of communication difficulties.  Widgit Health provides symbol resources to support children, young people and adults when accessing healthcare.

There are lots of free downloads, but some you will need to pay for.

All

https://widgit-health.com/

Autism West Midlands

Autism West Midlands offer a regional helpline, information downloads, and Shropshire-based Family Support Service that delivers support as part of the Telford Children Autism Hub.

 

Autism West Midlands | Supporting the Autistic Community

 

Site

Description

Age range

Link

Stamma (prev British Stammering Association)

Charity with lots of resources on website.

All

https://stamma.org/

Action for Stammering Children

Charity with lots of resources on website.

All

https://actionforstammeringchildren.org/

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust - Speech, Language and Communication

Information pages to help understand children’s speech, language and communication needs and how you can help your child.

Early Years (0-3 years)

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust - Speech, language, communication needs

 

Site

Description

Age range

Link

TOFS

Charity to support CYP and their families born with TOF/OA.

0-17

https://tofs.org.uk/

 

 

Please note: The information on this web page is for reference purposes only. It is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications or abilities of any individual or organisation listed. Inclusion in this article does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB; nor does omission imply disapproval.