COMMUNITY LINKS
Updates from Reading SEND Local Offer
Reading Directory | The Berkshire West Autism & ADHD Support Service, Preparing for Adulthood workshop, 10th December 2026 - Free Preparing for Adulthood workshop about supported internships for young people.
Reading Directory | Reading Borough Council’s Educational Psychology Service Parent/Carers Workshops 2026-2027 – spaces available for February , March, and June 2027
Reading Directory | Parenting Special Children, Community Support Groups - Parenting Special Children has three Community Support Groups for families of children & young people with additional needs. The groups provide a safe space to establish support, connect with others in similar circumstances, learn new skills & to feel less isolated.
Reading Directory | Funded Early Learning for 2-year-olds - Families Receiving Additional Support (FRAS) – Families with a 2-year-old may be eligible for a funding at a childcare setting. Find out more.
Stay & Play sessions at The Treehouse
The Treehouse are running Stay and Play Sessions on Monday 21st December, 10am–12pm and Wednesday 30th December, 10am–12pm. Please book via their website - there’s no age limit, although the sessions are best suited to children aged 12 and under.
Information from Reading SEND Local Offer
Reading Directory | Fairytale Farm - Illuminated Evenings - 23rd Oct 2026 - 15th Nov 2026 - Our Illuminated Evenings take place every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 23 October to 15 November, as well as every evening during October Half Term from 24 October to 1 November.
Reading Directory | Free Respite Breaks for Unpaid Carers - The Unpaid Carers Respite Service Pilot, launched by Reading Borough Council, aims to provide flexible respite opportunities that enable carers to take a meaningful break from their caring responsibilities, helping to maintain their health and wellbeing and support them to continue in their caring role.
Reading Directory | Grants - The Family Information Service/SEND Local Offer have put together information on organisations that can offer grants to support families.
Reading Directory | Reading Local Area - Ordinarily Available Provision & Graduated Response - This guide is to help everyone better understand what is available in Reading for children and young people (CYP) with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) who do not need an Education, Health and Care (ECH) plan but still need specialist support.
Updates from Reading SEND Local Offer
Reading Directory | Newlife, changing lives of disabled children. We help disabled children and their families with support, equipment, and play opportunities they need to thrive.
Reading Directory | University of Reading, Wellbeing Hub Monthly Talks – use the link to find out more
Reading Directory | Reading Families Forum, Parenting special Children Anxiety Workshop, 2026 – Sessions held at the Family Hubs
Reading Directory | Reading Families Forum, Peer Support On-Line Sessions Online sessions
ASD Family Help October newsletter
Please click here to view the ASD Family Help newsletter.
Wokingham CAN Network News - October 26
Please click here to read the Wokingham CAN Network news.
Make Sense Community Brochure
Please click here to view a brochure from Make Sense Theatre Company.
Please click here to view free events being offered by the Wokingham Family Hubs team in October and November 26.
Promise Inclusion September Newsletter
Please click here to view the Promise Inclusion September Newsletter.
Information from Reading SEND Local Offer
Reading Directory | Reading Borough Council’s Educational Psychology Service Parent/Carers Workshops 2026-2027 - RBC Educational Psychology Service are offering the above workshops every half term (12 workshops in total). Use the link so that you can decide which is most appropriate for you and your child.
- Helping your child with fears and worries - Child is aged 5-12 years
- Autism and anxiety - Child is aged 6 – 16 years
- Little People Big Feelings - Child is aged 3-5 years
Reading Directory | ACRE Family Support Team (Alafia) - Supporting black and minority ethnic families with a child (0-25) with additional needs or disabilities.
FACE
Please click here to view information from FACE Family Advice website. Some of their sessions are free but others have fees chargeable.
Wokingham Borough Adult Education Courses
Please follow this link to view all the courses available.
Autism Eye Magazine
Please click here to view the Autumn edition of the Autism Eye Magazine.
Wokingham Repair Cafe
Please click here to see information about the Wokingham Repair Cafe where volunteers attempt to mend broken items.
Wokingham and Reading Family Hubs
Please see attached flyer giving contact details and information about the Wokingham Family Hubs Team.
The link to the Reading Family Hubs Team is below:
Reading Directory | Best Start in Life Reading Family Hubs
Information from Reading SEND Local Offer
Reading Directory | Fathers Forum: Because Dads Matter - Whether you're a dad-to-be, a new father, a stepdad, grandfather, or experienced parent, you'll find a supportive environment with no pressure, no judgement, just real conversations
Reading Directory | Young People & Mental Health – find out about local and national support for young people
Reading Directory | tellmi - Tellmi is a safe, anonymous app where you can talk about absolutely anything. From anxiety to autism, depression to divorce, or self-harm to self-esteem, sharing your experiences with our awesome community helps you to feel better. Our moderators check everything to keep you safe and our in-house counsellors are always on hand if you need extra support. For ages 11 to 17.
Reading Directory | Best Start in Life Reading Family Hubs
Learning disabilities - Annual health checks - NHS Learning Disability Annual Health Checks help children and young people with a Learning Disability to access health services effectively, understand what support their local GP practice can provide, and develop confidence in using healthcare services. Everyone with a Learning Disability should be registered on their GP's Learning Disability Register. Annual Health Checks are available for all individuals with a Learning Disability from the age of 14.
Reading Directory | Education Health & Care Plans (EHCP) - Annual Review Process – information has been updated by the SEND team. You can now view the forms, guides etc on the link provided.
Wokingham Library Events
Code Club - Wokingham’s Code Club is for children aged 9 to 13 years. No experience required. Please see attached poster.
Charlotte's Tandems
Please click here to go to the Charlotte's Tandems website. They lend, throughout the UK, at no cost (i.e. for free), tandems and tag-alongs (trailer bikes) to (and only to) people with disabilities or additional needs, who are unable to ride a bike safely on their own, so that they can enjoy the wonders of cycling.
In other words we provide all-ability, adapted, inclusive cycling for adults and children who are disabled, have special needs, SEN, SEND or impairments, such as Autism, Down's Syndrome, visual impairments, learning or physical difficulties etc.
FACE Parent Support App and Smartphone Guidance for parents and staff
FACE has released a parent support app called ADHD and so much more!
The app is FREE to download and the Smartphone Guidance talk is completely FREE.
No subscription is needed to watch this talk. Please click here and here for further information.
It is currently available for iPhones; the Android version is coming soon.
Please click here to view information about sessions for parents being run by FACE; some of these sessions are free but others have fees chargeable.
Wokingham SEND Holiday Activities and Food Programme
Please click here to view information about the Wokingham SEND Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) for families who are eligible for free school meals.
Reading Local Offer 16+ Guide
Please click here to read the Reading Local Offer 16+ Guide for families who have young people/adults with SEND aged 16-25.
Small Wins - Cards and Resources for Young People with SEND
Please click here to view a flyer for Small Wins Studio UK, a small business offering greetings cards and other resources for people with SEND.
Family Fund Grants for eligible families
Family Fund can provide grants to eligible families. To decide if a family is eligible for a grant, Family Fund looks at household income and the impact of disability on the child/ young person.
For more information on eligibility and how to apply use the following link Grants - Family Fund
Information also available on the Reading SEND Local Offer Reading Directory | Family Fund
Pumpkin Pantos
Pumpkin Pantos Theatre Company are bringing professional pantomime to the Alan Cornish Theatre at the Oakwood Centre in Woodley for the first time. They will be performing Cinderella (flyer attached) in January 2027.
Nurture Therapy Hub
Nurture Hub Therapy Service are a not-for-profit mental health support service offering counselling and support to parents/carers with children or young people with SEND, regardless of whether they have a formal diagnosis. They have various services, including telephone or Zoom counselling (charges apply), and free/donation-based online therapeutic groups, including a monthly creative therapy group. Please see attached flyers for online creative therapy group and counselling services.
Yellow Days Holiday Camps
Use Yellow Days to find local activity camps
Rivertime Boat Trust
Please click here to view a leaflet advertising Rivertime Boat Trust who run river trips in Henley and have an adapted boat suitable for people with special needs.
Reading Family Hub Parenting Courses
Best Start in Life Family Hubs are friendly and safe spaces for babies, children, young people, and their parents/carers to go meet new people, join in activities, or get the support you need. The Family Hubs help you find and access help from different services in the local area. Supporting families with children 0-19 or up to 25 years old if they have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Best Start in Life Family Hubs deliver a range of services, by connecting families with the community and services available to them, helping address their needs and enable them to build positive relationships with their children and their community.
There are four Best Start in Life Family Hubs in Reading. Find out more and view the annual timetable for 2026 – 2027. www.reading.gov.uk/beststartinlifefamilyhubs
South Reading Family Hub
Ranikhet Family Hub
Southcote Family Hub
East & North Family Hub
Please view Annual Parenting Programme 2026-2027 to see information about parenting courses running at the Family Hubs or to find out about other activities at the Family Hubs visit Best Start in Life Reading Family Hubs
Information also available on the Family Information Service website Reading Family Hubs - Annual Parenting Programme 2026-2027
Autism Family Support - You Are Not Alone - Free Monthly Parent Online Drop-Ins
Please click here to view a flyer about monthly parent online drop-ins. This is the link to the You are not Alone website.
Brazilian/Portuguese Cultural Group for Children
Please click here to view a poster from Clubinho Verde Amarelo, a cultural group focused on Brazilian heritage and Portuguese language for children in the community.
They provide a space for kids to develop their Portuguese language skills and explore Brazilian traditions in a fun, educational environment
Parents and carers are invited to register with My Family Coach using the below registration link:
https://www.myfamilycoach.com/register/ - Enrolment Key: EF07FD86
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