Click below to jump to the relevant sections.

 

 

 

 

Key resources

Click below to download these useful documents.

Autism Alert Card Application From (SYP)

Early Help: A Parent’s Guide

The Anxious Child

The Good-Night Guide For Children

Barnsley ASDAT : Understanding the assessment process

Click the image to visit the Barnsley FIS website

 

 

Anxiety

It is not uncommon for children/young people to feel anxious and worried at times, especially those with autism. There are several types of anxiety which are normally seen in children/young people such as separation anxiety, general anxiety, social anxiety and phobias. The degree to which these anxieties may affect a young person will differ as will the way in which they present. More information on childhood anxiety can be found below:

Useful websites and resources

Services

  • HEY!
    Hey! Offers a range of mental health services for young people aged 5 to 25. They can offer counselling, play therapy and wellbeing sessions. The may be able to offer support to young people facing anxiety, depression, stress bereavement or PTSD.
    (Click here for more details)
  • CAMHS Barnsley
    Barnsley child and adolescent mental health services (CAMS) is a NHS service that offers support and treatment for children and young people, aged up to 18 years old, who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health and wellbeing.
    (Click here for more details)

If you have concerns around a child/young person’s emotional wellbeing, please contact your GP for advice. In some cases, they may consider a referral to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) for further assessment and support. More details can be found at www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk/services/camhs-barnsley or calling 01226 644829.

If your feel your child/young person is at immediate risk of harm or they have physically harmed themselves, then you should always seek immediate support by attending the hospital’s emergency department (ED) or contact 999.

Autism

If you would like more information about autism including what autism is, how it may present and what strategies may help, please take a look at the following websites:

Useful websites and resources

Courses

Parents are able to access workshops and courses to develop their own knowledge and understanding of autism such as:

  • The Cygnet Programme: A parenting support programme for parents and carers of children with autism. This is currently offered by:
      • Barnardo’s at Priory Campus, Lundwood (Under 11s only)
        T: (01226) 770619 -or- Visit website for more details
  • ‘First Steps’ autism parent and carer workshops: The workshops give parents of newly diagnosed children an introductory look at autism and some of the simple strategies which can be used to support them – this is accessible through the local Community & Interaction Team by contacting melaniebooth@barnsley.gov.uk.

Behaviours

It is natural to worry if your child displays unusual behaviour, or behaviour you find difficult (often known as ‘challenging behaviour’). Parent carers can feel under a lot of pressure, especially in public, when their child behaves in a way that is considered inappropriate.

Many of you will be familiar with the ‘supermarket tantrum’ when it can feel like everyone is staring and making judgments. This might make you dread going out with your child, which can impact on the freedom of the whole family.

If your child has additional needs, you may find that you need different rules and techniques to help your child.

Useful websites and resources

Courses

Some school offer courses such as Webster-Stratton: Incredible Years and Solihull Programme – Please check with your school SENDCo.

For autism related behaviours, we recommend access course such as:

  • The Cygnet Programme: A parenting support programme for parents and carers of children with autism. This is currently offered by:
      • Barnardo’s at Priory Campus, Lundwood (Under 11s only)
        T: (01226) 770619 -or- Visit website for more details
  • ‘First Steps’ autism parent and carer workshops: The workshops give parents of newly diagnosed children an introductory look at autism and some of the simple strategies which can be used to support them – this is accessible through the local Community & Interaction Team by contacting melaniebooth@barnsley.gov.uk.

Downloads

Education

If you have any concerns around your child’s education, their ability to access education or looking for extra support from their setting, we recommend contacting your schools Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) first. All settings are required to have an appointed SENCO who is responsible for coordinating the people, processes and plans needed to support children’s needs in school.

If you need further support, you may wish to consider contacting The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS).  They offer free, confidential and impartial information, guidance, advice and support. More information about what support or services are offered, please visit the SENDIASS website at:

Genetic Conditions

Useful websites and resources

  • Unique
    www.rarechromo.org/families
    Discovering that you or your child has a rare chromosome disorder, copy number variant or single gene disorder causing your child’s learning disability, developmental delay and maybe other symptoms can come as a great shock. You might be feeling a mixture of emotions; sadness, confusion, numbness, anger, guilt, “why me?”, isolation, bewilderment and very often a sense of grief for the child you had anticipated. You might despair at the lack of information about your own or your child’s disorder or that the disorder hasn’t even got a ‘proper’ name. Whatever your feelings and emotions, Unique knows how much it can help to talk to people who understand what you are going through and who even know what you are talking about.

Downloads

Online Safety

Without a doubt we now live in a digital world where we rely more and more on our mobile devices. Due to the portability of these devices, it becomes hard to monitor what our children and young people are accessing, who they are making contact with and what they are being exposed to and this is a common worry for most parents. Children and young people can often be exposed to images of an adult nature, videos that contain violence or swearing and general things which they don’t truly understand.

Below, we have listed a few links that will help parents understand what apps/sites/games are currently trending amongst our your people, help to identify any risks that are associated with these and give you ways of protecting them online.

Useful websites and resources

  • NetAware
    http://www.net-aware.org.uk
    NetAware brings together the  NSPCC’s expertise in protecting children and with O2’s tech know-how they’ve got everything you need to help you keep your kids safe online. Packed full of information, advice and resources this is a recommended read for all parents.
  • CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection command)
    www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre
    Lead by the National Crime Agency, CEOP is a law enforcement agency who help to keep children and young people safe from sexual abuse and grooming online. They help thousands of children and young people every year who have been in a similar situation. CEOP are unable to respond to reports about bullying, fake accounts or account hacking. They can help and give you advice, and you can make a report directly to them if something has happened online which has made you feel unsafe, scared or worried. This might be from someone you know in real life, or someone you have only ever met online.
  • UK Safer Internet Centre
    www.saferinternet.org.uk
    UK Safer Internet Centre is a partnership of three leading charities with a mission to make the internet a better place for children and young people. The UK Safer Internet Centre, where you can find online safety tips, advice and resources to help children and young people stay safe online.

Downloads

Sensory

The local Children’s Occupational Therapy service provide advice regarding sensory concerns via a sensory workshop.  The workshop has been developed by the team to provide information on sensory processing along with advice & strategies for families (& schools) to  implement. Access to the sensory workshop and supporting leaflets can be found on the Barnsley Children’s Health website:

Sleep

It is common for children to have difficulties around sleep. These could be difficulties falling to sleep (delayed sleep onset), difficulties staying asleep (sleep maintenance) or in some cases, both. These difficulties may have been present since early childhood or may have started suddenly.

We do know that some children/young people’s sleep difficulties are related to medical conditions but more often than not, they are behaviours (habits) that a child has got into often contributed to by environmental, domestic routines.

We do know that exposure to screen time such as TVs, phones and iPads can have a significant impacts on a child’s ability to fall to sleep, especially when used around bedtime. A good, clear and predictable routine is crucial to support sleep.

Prolonged sleep difficulties can have a negative impact on a child’s mood, emotions, behaviours and their ability to concentrate, therefore seeking support and putting strategies in place can benefit children/young people’s behaviours and learning.

More information is available via:

Useful websites and resources

Downloads

Support and advice

If you would like further support around sleep, we would suggest contacting:

Toileting

Mastering the use of a toilet (or potty) is a developmental milestone that every child has to face during their early years. We know that all children develop differently meaning that some may be ahead of their peers and siblings whilst others may be slightly delayed – this is normal.

It is important that we don’t push children into this too early as this could have an impact on their emotions, confidence and in some cases could delay the securing of this mile stone. We should wait until a child starts showing a readiness, interest or awareness of needing to use the toilet.

More information on potty training is available on the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/potty-training-tips

Should you have any concerns or require further support around toileting, then contact your health visitor via the 0-19 team on 01226 774 411.

Useful websites and resources

Downloads

App Library

A range of apps are available on the NHS Apps Library which support child & adult’s health and wellbeing.

Recommended reading list

  • Aspergirls: Empowering Females with Asperger Syndrome
    By: Rudy Simone and Liane Holliday Willey – ISBN: 9781849058261
  • Everybody Poos
    By: Taro Gomi – ISBN: 9781849058339
  • I am an Aspie Girl: A book for young girls with autism spectrum conditions
    By: Danuta Bulhak-Paterson – ISBN: 9781849056342
  • My Hidden Chimp
    By: Professor Steve Peters – ISBN: 9781787413719
  • Ready, Set, Potty!: Toilet Training for Children with Autism and Other Developmental Disorders
    By Brenda Batts – ISBN:9781849058339
  • Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders
    By: Elizabeth Verdick – ISBN: 9781575423852
  • Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew:
    by Ellen Notbohm – ISBN: 9781941765883
  • The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods
    by Robyn Steward – ISBN: 9781785923241
  • The New Social Story Book: Over 150 Social Stories That Teach Everyday Social Skills to Children and Adults with Autism and Their Peers
    By: Carol Gray – ISBN: 9781941765166
  • Thriving with Autism: 90 Activities to Encourage Your Child’s Communication, Engagement, and Play
    By Katie Cook – ISBN: 9781646114801

USEFUL CONTACTS

0-19 Team Public Health Nursing Team 01226 774411
Autism Assessment Team Barnsley (Under 18s) 01226 644876
CAMHS 01226 644829
Disabled Children’s Team – Children Social Care 01226 774050
Children’s Therapy Team (Occupational & Physio) 01226 644396
Children’s Epilepsy Team 01226 644396
Children’s Speech & Language Therapy Team 01226 644331
Family Information Service 0800 0345 340