Referrals for SEND services

For parent carers

If you need to refer your child for SEND support services, please email us at cspoa@brighterfuturesforchildren.org (please do not change the subject matter in the email that is generated when you click on the email link).

Or you can call us on 0118 937 3641 (Option 1).

If you’d like to request a Parent Carer Needs Assessment (PCNA), please visit this page for details.

If you’re a parent or carer of a child with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and you would like to know what support is available for your child in Reading, we have a comprehensive page of information to help you – click the button on the right.

For information about local services, support, activities and events for children and young people aged 0 – 25 years who have SEND, visit the Reading SEND Local Offer. You can also contact our SEND teams for advice – you can find the contact details on this page. You can also use the boxes below to access all these main pages.

For professionals

If you are a professional making a referral on behalf of a parent carer or a young person with SEND, please send your completed referral form to CSPoA@brighterfuturesforchildren.org. Please do not alter the subject matter on the email generated by this link as emails sent to the secure inbox are filtered by this.

Use this button to access information about all our SEND services.

Learn More

If you do wish to report a concern about a child (pre-birth to 18 years old) in Reading, please go to our Children’s Single Point of Access (CSPoA) page for more guidance.

Got a question?

Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers. These include details of organisations that can help you.

My child has a disability and I'd like financial support/carers assessment

Contact the Children and Young People’s Disability Team (CYPDT) who can explore carers assessment and discuss options and the CYPDT threshold with you. See here for more information on the CYPDT.

In Reading, Parent Carer Needs Assessments are carried out by the Reading & West Berkshire Carers Partnership. Find out more here.

Also see Reading’s SEND Local Offer. The Local Offer aims to provide you with clear, comprehensive and accessible information about all support and services available.

Here is the webpage to the Local Offer, email localoffer@reading.gov.uk or call 0118 937 3777 (option 2).

Stepping Forward can also help families to apply for DLA. See more here.

I am a parent/carer and want to access financial support/personal carers budget

Explore the options and support at Reading & West Berkshire Carers Partnership. Visit https://carerspartnership.org.uk/ email carers@readingmencap.org.uk or call 0118 966 2618.

See here for more information on financial support.

I want to know about early help support and services for children with complex needs

For children and families whose needs or circumstances make them more vulnerable, a co-ordinated approach with different agencies is usually best. This is based on an early help assessment to make sure everyone in the family receives the support needed.

Please email OneReading@brighterfuturesforchildren.org and someone will contact you to explore support that is available from the One Reading Hub or to discuss the early help assessment.

To understand more about the threshold levels that assessments will be based on, read this guide.

Where can I access information about special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) support for my child?

Please speak to the special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) at your school.

Our SEND team can also support you and your child. Contact 0118 937 2674, email sen@brighterfuturesforchildren.org or visit the Local Offer website here