SEND news and updates
Wigan Children’s SEND Local Offer Newsletter
We’re thrilled to share something new with you! We hope it will be your go-to source for the latest updates, events, and information to support children, young people and their families with special educational needs and disabilities.
- Get regular updates straight to your inbox
- Discover local services and opportunities
- Stay informed about important SEND news and events
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Area SEND inspection explained - information for parents and carers
We have developed information for parents around what this is, and how to be involved.
SEND Reforms
We have developed a webpage to provide information and updates relating to the SEND Reforms. Within this page there are resources designed for parent/carers, professionals and settings to outline the expected changes produced by the Department of Education. You can view the information shared about the reforms from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
During this time existing SEND law remains unchanged.
Guided & Personalised Support
Delivered by Embrace with guest Lisa Lloyd, who will introduce the new Guided & Personalised Support (GPS) needs-led service meaning families won’t need to have a diagnosis to access support. It will offer practical guidance, useful information, training workshops, support sessions and events and connect families directly with other support on offer in the borough. Want to be part of sharing your views and shaping this new service from the very beginning? Book for place here today.
Where - St Peters Pavillion, Hurst Street, Hindley, WN2 3DN
Date - Friday 25th September 2026
Time - 10am - 1pm.
Neurodivergent peer support
Embrace Wigan and Leigh offer regular drop-in sessions for parent/carers and Kinship carers at a range of venues across the Borough. These Behaviour Support Sessions are informal and in-person empowering parent/carers to explore and share different strategies, approaches, ideas and information and benefit from emotional support. For more information you can visit the Behavioural Support Groups webpages or visit the Family Hub locations webpages to find your nearest hub and what is on offer.
They also offer Behaviour Support Workshops (external link) are open to parents and carers across the Wigan borough.
Embrace behaviour support sessions
Embrace offer Behaviour support sessions via either a workshop or an informal group held monthly covering topics like understanding autism, sleep issues, understanding ADHD and responding to behaviour.
Embrace Adventure Group
Embrace have up to 15 places to support young people aged 14 to 18 years old build friendships, learn skills and be challenged! Each group lasts 1 year and a new cohort will start again in September 2024.
- Where - The majority of the weekly sessions will run from: Hidden Gem Café,
Platt Bridge Community Zone, 81 Ribble Road, Platt Bridge, Wigan, WN2 5EG. However, this will vary depending on the weekly activities.
- When - Tuesdays from 6pm - 8pm
For more information please visit the Embrace website (external link).
Greater Manchester (GM) Travel - New travel training resources for young people
A Greater Manchester initiative has been developed to help young people build confidence and skills to travel independently, which includes the following travel guides:
Feedback
We are always looking for feedback on the content on the Local Offer. We are required by The Children and Families Act 2014 to report on any feedback that we receive and what we have done in response to it. To view previous reports or to get involved, view our give us your feedback and comments and be part of the improvements to these pages and offer.
Greater Manchester Integrated Health Care - Neurodevelopmental Services, support and pathways
NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) is making changes to the way children and young people aged 0 to 18 are reviewed and assessed for suspected autism and ADHD. This is to make sure support is offered earlier based on a child or young person’s individual need. It also means that those with highest need can be seen sooner. These changes are an important step to help manage unsustainable demand for autism and ADHD assessments. Further information about who may be affected can be found here: ADHD and Autism Assessments for children and young people | Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership.
Are you a young person who is experiencing ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) or autism related differences? Are you a parent or carer wondering how best to help your child? Support is available in your local area.
Professionals Training Opportunities
A brand-new e-learning is available to professionals’ surrounding neurodiversity with a focus on autism. The best part is it is completely free and the course aims to
- Increase your understanding of neurodivergence and autism
- Build your knowledge of the increased mental health risks experiences by neurodivergent young people
- Learn more about neuro-affirmative practice
You can book on here!
Family Hubs
Family Hubs are a new way of bringing together all the support a family may need, from pregnancy through to young people turning 19 (or 25 if they have a Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND)). Family hubs will operate as a network of services within your neighbourhood to provide accessible and connected services and support to all families. These services will work together to provide high quality support for the whole family, so that children, young people, and families will get the right help at the right time.
What’s New
The Can-Do speech therapy support
What is Can-Do?
Can-Do is a free online resource for children, young people and families, designed to provide practical support and strategies for speech, language and communication needs.
The programme can be accessed directly by parents and carers via a QR code and is intended to provide support before a referral to speech and language therapy services is made, helping families access advice and intervention at the earliest opportunity.
As part of our balanced system approach to supporting speech, language and communication needs, families should be encouraged to engage with the Can-Do Parent Pathway before a referral into speech and language therapy services is submitted and reviewed after 3 months to see if family have been using Can-Do and if there are still concerns about the child’s communication skills.
The programme is suitable for:
- Parents/carers and children registered with a Wigan GP
- Children typically aged 0-11 years who may:
- Be late talkers
- Be non-conversational
- Not yet be using sentences
- Experience communication-related frustration
Want to find out more?
You can access more information by checking out the Can-Do website (external link).
A Team on the Road
A Team on the Road is hosted weekly at Clifton Street, find out more at Family Hub at Clifton Street Community Centre. There are two sessions running:
- 4:30pm to 5:15pm for ages 4 to 7
- 5:15pm to 6pm for ages 8 to 11.
To book a place, visit the A-Team Hub webpages (external link).
Riding the Rapids Teenage course
Riding the Rapids is a free course for parents and carers of children who have a diagnosis of Autism, severe learning disabilities or complex physical disabilities. The course aims to help parents to understand and manage challenging behaviour shown by their child.
Research shows that parents and carers who attend Riding the Rapids can:
- Make effective changes to their child’s behaviour
- Increase their coping skills and confidence in dealing with behaviour.
The course takes place for two hours and runs for twelve weeks. Each weekly session covers a different aspect of understanding and managing the behaviour of children with Autism or another disability. There are primary age and teenage courses available.
Contact [email protected] for more information.
Understanding your child – Solihull Approach course
This is a free nine-week course to help:
- Understand your child’s behaviour and how they communicate
- Recognise how your child is feeling
- Reduce the difficulties you face in everyday life
- Improve how you communicate with your child
- Understand the importance of play
- Develop good routines and boundaries
- Improve relationships between you and child for a happier and calmer home.
Contact [email protected] for more information.
Parental Relationship Drop In
For parents together or separated experiencing issues in their relationship which could impact on family life.
This session is open to parents and professionals and can be accessed face to face or via Microsoft Teams.
Contact [email protected] for more information.
Free webinar: Spotlight on supported internships
This free recorded webinar is particularly designed for parent/carers of young people with additional support needs, and/or SEND, and for young people who are moving into adult life and are interested in employment.
It was organised by the national Internships Work programme, funded by the Department of Education, in partnership with the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) and Family Fund. families and want to know your thoughts on services.
SEND 2024 Thematic Visit Surveys
Following the Thematic Review that has taken place
ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity - A Teenager’s Guide to ADHD
In partnership with NHS London and young people, ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity have produced a strength-based guide to living successfully with ADHD for teenagers. It discusses staying well, achieving in education, managing relationships and more.
A Team Voices
A Team voices will support young adults aged 11-18 living with Autism/ADHD to build participation skills, develop their voice and feel empowered to participate in decision making at a local level.
The group will work together to share views and experiences to create positive change for members and other young adults like themselves living with autism, allowing them a voice and opportunity to potentially change the way people and services view them. A Team Voices will provide a space for young people living with Neurodevelopmental conditions to support one another, plan and lead their own projects, events and campaigns.
- Where - Leigh Youth Hub, Leigh Sports Village, Sale Way, Leigh, WN7 4JY
- When - Every Friday
- What time - 5pm – 6pm.
If you would like to get involved, you can call 01942 316072 or email [email protected] with any questions or enquiries.
Leigh Youth Hub
Leigh Youth Hub now offer a monthly session for young people aged 11-18 with additional needs and disabilities. The session is full of variety for young people who may find our open access sessions overstimulating. We offer gaming, arts & crafts, Lego, messy play, the use of our immersive room & more. Our session runs one Friday per month and are advertised via our social media channels at the beginning of each month. The session is delivered in partnership with A-Team Hub Booking is essential and on a first come first serve basis so get in touch via DM on social media or email [email protected].
All young people will need to complete an All About Me form prior to booking being accepted and young people in need of 1:1 support must attend sessions with a PA.
Healthy Start Scheme - Help to buy food and milk
If you’re at least 10 weeks pregnant or you have at least one child that’s under 4 as well as receiving benefits then you may be eligible for the NHS Healthy Start Scheme.
Embrace behaviour support sessions
Embrace offer Behaviour support sessions via either a workshop or an informal group held monthly.
The Behaviour Support Workshops (external link) are open to parents and carers across the Wigan borough.
The Behaviour Support Circles (external link) are informal sessions for parent/carers to explore and share different strategies, approaches, ideas and information.
Embrace Adventure Group
Embrace have up to 15 places to support young people aged 14 to 18 years old build friendships, learn skills and be challenged! Each group lasts 1 year and a new cohort will start again in September 2024.
- Where - The majority of the weekly sessions will run from: Hidden Gem Café,
Platt Bridge Community Zone, 81 Ribble Road, Platt Bridge, Wigan, WN2 5EG. However, this will vary depending on the weekly activities.
- When - Tuesdays from 6pm - 8pm
For more information please visit the Embrace website (external link).
Autism awareness and workshops
A full programme of online training for parents and carers of children and young people with autism is available.
Neurodevelopmental Pathway drop-in sessions are held in various venues across the borough, giving parents and carers the opportunity to speak to professionals.
SEND Network
This is a partnership of local, regional and national organisations and groups supporting children and young people with SEND and their families.