SEN Space at Moving Up

““I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.””

— Christopher Reeve

Transitions and SEN

Transitions can be particularly difficult for children with an additional need. The Moving Up team aim to accommodate and support children with this transition through understanding and providing resources designed with children with SEN in mind. Have a look below to see what we’re doing and to find an extensive list or services and contacts available with other organisations in Belfast and surrounding areas!

School Sessions

We provide a SEN friendly version of all of the resources we use in schools that work with our session plan, meaning that every child can take part in the classroom sessions. We also provide additional support to children that may need it during the sessions to ensure they are included in group work and are getting the most out of the session to best support this transition period. These worksheets are all available below. As part of the Moving Up programme, Mini Explorers deliver mindfulness sessions in schools, which are a great chance for children to learn self-regulation, breathing techniques and helpful tips and tricks to ease anxiety and help them stay calm when things get tough!

Parent Support

We are available to deliver one-to-one parent advice and support sessions, helping you best support your child through this transition. These sessions can be designed to best accommodate the parents areas of concern, with resources and tools to best support you and your child shared with you during the session. We have created SEN directories with a list of SEN schools, support services and useful contact details. These can be found on our school directories page or down below.

Department of Education Resources

Click here to access a range of different resources provided by the Department of Education for parents of children of varying ages with SEN.

SEN Directories

Click here to access our SEN directory for nursery and primary school aged children

Click here to access our SEN directory for post-primary school aged children

SEN Resources

Click here for some seasonal activities you can print to support the development of fine motor skills

Click here for lots of apps recommended by Autism NI for self-regulation and to promote mindfulness in children

Click here to access a range of educational support tools that can help with recognising anxiety triggers, school transitions, scheduling homework and general education related self-help skills

Click here to access a range of downloadable social stories that can support your child through understanding changes in the world and in understanding appropriate behaviours

Click here to access information on visual schedules and for free downloadable resources to create visual schedules

Click here to access a guide to online safety created by the NSPCC for families and children with SEN

SEN Services

Autism Advisory and Intervention Service

The Autism Advisory and Intervention Service (AAIS) is a regional service that provides advice and support for pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorder. For more information click here to access the AAIS website

SEN Transition Support Services

Resources provided by the EA to help prepare your child or pupil with SEN to go back to school or to move to a new school or setting. For more information click here to access the SEN Transition Support Services website

Click here to access the SEN Transition Support Services transition pack for children with ASD moving up to post-primary school

The Special Educational Needs Inclusion Service

The EA SEN Inclusion Service supports the effective inclusion of children and young people with learning and medical needs. See the website link below for further contact information depending on your child’s need. For more information click here to access the SEN Inclusion Services web page

Autism NI

Autism NI is a parent led partnership organisation formed to promote positive collaboration between parents, professionals and autistic individuals and address the need for appropriate services. This partnership ethos extends to the Charity’s promotion of a multi-disciplinary, cross agency response to issues such as assessment, diagnosis, and early intervention. The Charity's mission to support parents and autistic individuals is core to its work and is based on individualised assessed need. The Charity is committed to promoting best practice, accessible to all irrespective of family circumstances

Address: Donard, Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Saintfield Road, Belfast, BT8 8BH

Tel: 028 9040 1729

Click here to access the Autism NI website for more information

Kids Together

Kids together, designs, plans and delivers a wide range of tailored services for families with children and young people who have complex needs. At the same time we always aim to be inclusive with our service delivery and, where and when possible, promote understanding and greater interaction between siblings irrespective of ability/disability.

Address: 134 Stewartstown Road, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT11 9JQ

Tel: 028 9061 1034 or 077 4385 9738

Sólás

Sólás is a special needs charity which supports children and young people with a broad range of additional needs including autism and ASD. We are based in South Belfast, however our work extends across Northern Ireland. We have a number of social development, educational support and parent support programmes. As part of our social development programme we facilitate a range of after-schools, weekend and summer scheme initiatives for children and young people with ASD.

Sólás also facilitate a number of weekly home support and respite initiatives, as well as parent support groups.

Address: 284a Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 2GB

Tel: 028 90 247600

Email contacts available at web link: https://www.solasbt7.com/contact

SEN Support Contacts

SEN Helpline Team

If you wish to speak to someone about Special Educational Needs or ask for general advice and information, the SEN Helpline team are available from Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

They can be contacted on 028 9598 5960.

Education Authority Northern Ireland

Address: Grahams Bridge Road, Belfast, BT16 2HS

T: 02890564000

E: info@eani.org.uk

Click here to access a list of all the EA key contacts

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) - Belfast and South Eastern Trust areas

Address: Young Peoples Centre, 10 College Gardens, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT9 6BQ

T: 028 9504 0365

Click here for a Young Persons Guide to CAMHS

Action for Children

Address: Loughshore House, 10 Heron Road, Belfast, BT3 9LE

T: 028 9046 0500

E: nioffice@actionforchildren.org.uk

Web: actionforchildren.org.uk

Barnardo’s

Address: 542 - 544 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3HE

T: 028 9067 2366

E: ReceptionNI@barnardos.org.uk

Web: https://www.barnardos.org.uk/northern-ireland

Mencap

Address: Mencap Centre, 5 School Road, Newtownbreda, Belfast, BT8 6BT

T: 028 9069 1351

Web: https://northernireland.mencap.org.uk/

Belfast South Community Resources

Address: 127-145 Sandy Row, Belfast, BT12 5ET

T: 028 9024 4449

E: enquiries@bscr.co.uk