Best Bear Childcare
Provides information about childcare and childcare agencies
Tel: 0870 7201 277
bestbear.co.uk
Childcare Link
Provides information about early education and childcare
Tel: 0800 096 0296
childcarelink.gov.uk
Childminders R Us
Independent online childcare database for parents and childcare professionals offering advice, information, competitions, downloads and childcare search facility
Tel: 0845 803 5536
childmindersrus.co.uk
National Childminding Association (NCMA)
Will help you to find a registered childminder in your area
Tel: 0800 169 4486
ncma.org.uk Back To Top
Parenting
Dad's Haven
Advice and information for Dad's
dads-haven.co.uk
Directgov
A wide range of government information and services
direct.gov.uk
For Parents by Parents
Provides information and advice to parents
forparentsbyparents.co.uk
Mumsonline
Website giving information and advice to parents
mumsonline.net
Mumszone
Information for parents and their families
mumszone.co.uk
National Children's Bureau
Will assist with a variety of issues: child development, parenting, nursery care and special educational needs
Tel: 020 7843 6000
ncb.org.uk
National Family and Parenting Institute (NFPI)
Offers support for people bringing up children
Tel: 020 7424 3460
nfpi.org.uk
One Parent Families
Addresses issues and problems facing single parent families
Helpline 0800 018 5026
oneparentfamilies.org.uk
Parentline Plus
Offers support to anyone parenting a child
Tel: 0808 800 2222
parentlineplus.org.uk
The Parent Coaching Company
Advice and support for parents
parentcoaching.co.uk
Sure Start
Government programme offering education, childcare, health and family support
Tel: 0870 000 2288
surestart.gov.uk Back To Top
Crafts4Kids
Children's Creative Products and Materials
Tel: 01252 715646
Crafts4Kids.co.uk
The Dyslexia Shop
Products for children with dyslexia
Tel: 0131 672 1552
thedyslexiashop.co.uk
National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER)
Europe's largest independent educational research organisation with a dedicated page for parents that pulls together research with a parental perspective:
nfer.ac.uk/what-we-offer/audiences/parents/
The Parent's Directories
Local directories of useful services
Tel: 01243 527605
parentsdirectories.com
Redhouse
Children's books and reading advice
Tel: 0870 607 7720
redhouse.co.uk
Back To Top Contact a family
Support for families with disabled children
Helpline 0808 808 3555
cafamily.org.uk
ICAN
Helping children experiencing speech and language difficulties
Freephone 0845 225 4071
ican.org.uk
Home-Start
For parents finding it hard to cope with children under five
Freephone 0800 068 6368
home-start.org.uk Back To Top
Education
Advisory Centre for Education (ACE)
Charity giving advice on state education for parents of school-age children
Tel: 0808 800 5793
ace-ed.org.uk
Department for Education and Skills (DfES)
For information on the curriculum
Tel: 0870 000 2288
dfes.gov.uk
The National Association for Special Educational Needs (NASEN)
NASEN promotes the education, development and training of all who work with those with special educational needs and can assist parents with getting further help on or assessment of particular disabilities or learning needs
Tel: 01827 311500
welcome@nasen.org.uk
nasen.org.uk
National Grid for Learning
Online educational resources
Tel: 02467 416 994
ngfl.gov.uk
Parentscentre
For parents who want to help their children learn
Tel: 0870 000 2288
parentscentre.gov.uk
Pre-school Learning Alliance
To find a pre-school in your area
Tel: 0207 833 0991
pre-school.org.uk Back To Top
Health and Safety
British Dental Health Foundation
Will answer any question regarding oral health
Helpline 0845 063 1188
dentalhealth.org.uk
NHS Direct
Immediate medical advice available on the phone or online
Tel: 0845 4647
nhsdirect.nhs.uk
WellChild
Funds research and care for sick children, and a helpline and occupational health support service for families
Tel: 01242 548761
wellchild.org.uk
ADDiSS
Provides information, training and support on ADHD and related learning and behavioural difficulties.
Tel: 020 8906 9068
addiss.co.uk
Autism Independent UK
Exists to increase awareness of autism, its treatment and assessment.
Tel: 01536 523 274
autismuk.con
Food and Behaviour Research (FAB Research)
Works to improve knowledge and awareness of a nutrition and diet-focused approach to behaviour, learning and mood.
Tel: 0870 756 5960
fabresearch.org
Hyperactive Children's Support Group (HACSG)
Britain's leading proponent of a dietary approach to managing hyperactivity and ADHD.
Tel: 01234 539 966
hacsg.org.uk
The National Autistic Society
Champions the rights and needs of people with autism and Asperger syndrome and also runs six schools for children with autism
Tel: 020 7833 2299
autism.org.uk
SEBDA - The Social, Emotional and Behavioural Disorder Association
Informs, supports and campaigns for those who work with children and young people identified as disaffected, disruptive or with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Tel: 01768 210 510
sebda.org
TreeHouse
A national charity for autism education set up by parents. It runs a school for children with autism, provides a range of innovative services, and offers consultancy to groups looking to set up provision for children and seeking advice on campaigning.
Tel: 020 8815 5444
treehouse.org.uk
ACE Centre Advisory Trust
Information, support and training for parents and professionals in the use of technology for young people with communication difficulties, both speaking and writing. Offers assessments, information, research and development, and specialist training.
Tel: 01865 759800
ace-centre.org.uk
AFASIC - Association for All Speech and Language Impaired Children
Afasic was founded in 1968 as a parent-led organisation to help children and young people with speech and language impairments and their families. They provide information and training for parents and produce a range of publications.
Tel: 020 7490 9410
afasic.org.uk
ARCOSS - the Association for Rehabilitation of Communication and Oral Skills
Provides therapy and support to children and young people who have difficulty in developing communication because of impaired language or problems in learning to read and write.
Tel: 01684 576 795
arcos.org.uk
British Dyslexia Association
Offers a range of services such as advice and support through training, networks, a helpline, website and membership structure.
Tel: 0118 966 2677
bdadyslexia.org.uk
BILD - British Institute of Learning Disabilities
Aims to improve the lives of people by influencing policy and decision makers, and encouraging good practice among practitioners from a wide range of disciplines.
Tel: 01562 723010
bild.org.uk
The British Stammering Association
For children and adults who stammer, run by people who stammer, with a mission to support and carry out research, identify and promote effective therapy, offer support and promote awareness and good practice.
Tel: 020 8983 8983
stammering.org
DELTA - Deaf Education through Listening and Talking
Works with parents, family members and professionals to help deaf children to listen and talk so they can reach their full potential educationally.
Tel: 0845 108 1437
deafeducation.org.uk
Down Syndrome Educational Trust
World-leader in research into the cognitive development and education of children with Down syndrome. Publishes information, practical guidance, organises conferences and workshops, and provides advocacy and consultancy services.
Tel: 023 9285 5330
downsed.org
Dyslexia Action
Leading provider of support and services for people with dyslexia and literacy difficulties. Specialises in assessment, teaching and training, and also develops and distributes materials and undertakes research.
Tel: 01784 222300
dyslexiaaction.org.uk
Dyspraxia Foundation
Founded by two mothers dismayed at the lack of facilities and help for children with dyspraxia and their parents. Works to increase understanding of dyspraxia particularly among professionals in health and education.
Tel: 01462 454986
dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk
Foundation for People with Learning Difficulties
Works to promote social inclusion, provide help services and to undertake research on behalf of people with learning disabilities
Tel: 0207803 1100
learningdisabilities.org.uk
Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre
The oldest-established dyslexia centre offering expert assessment and special tuition to anyone with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties.
Tel: 01252 792400
arkellcentre.org.uk
Makaton Vocabulary Development Project
A unique language programme offering a structured, multi-modal approach for the teaching of communication, language and literacy skills. The programme is used in more than 50 countries worldwide.
Tel: 01276 681390
makaton.org
MENCAP
The leading charity for children and adults with learning difficulties and their families. Fights for their rights, campaigns for greater opportunities and challenges attitudes and prejudice.
Tel: 020 7454 0454
mencap.org.uk
The Williams Syndrome Foundation
First point of contact for affected individuals and their families needing support. Also leads on research and publications on the educational, behavioural, social, scientific and medical aspects of the syndrome.
Tel: 01732 365152
williams-syndrome.org.uk
Young Minds Trust
Promotes the mental and emotional wellbeing of children and young people and brings together an alliance of those in health, education, social services, and youth justice.
Tel: 020 7336 8445
youngminds.org.uk
British Deaf Association - Sign Community
The only charity in the UK run by deaf people and represents the sign language community, united by shared experiences, history and British Sign Language (BSL), now officially recognised as a British language and spoken by 250,000 people in the UK
Tel: 020 7588 3520
signcommunity.org.uk
The Ear Foundation
The only national charity providing support, education and research for deaf children and young people with cochlear implants, their families and local professionals. These are implants that are surgically implanted and bring new potential for communication, speech and education and social and employment opportunities
Tel: 0115 9421985
earfoundation.org.uk
National Blind Children's Society
Objective is to enable blind and partially sighted children and young people to achieve their educational and recreational goals. Offers help and support from diagnosis through each key stage of their education to the age of 25.
Tel: 01278 764764
nbcs.org.uk
National Deaf Children's Society
Dedicated to providing support, information and advice through a free helpline, regional family support workers, information on welfare rights, benefits, education, health, audiology and technology.
Tel: 020 7490 8656
ndcs.org.uk
Sense
A pioneering and innovative charity that works with deaf-blind and multi-sensory impaired children of all ages, their families and the professionals who support them. Services include assessment, tailor-made support, curriculum advice, adaptations that promote inclusion and a wide range of training courses and activities.
Tel: 020 7272 7774
sense.org.uk
AbilityNet
Comprehensive range of services in the use of information technology for people with all types of disabling conditions. Provides individual assessment of technology needs.
Tel: 01926 312847
abilitynet.org.uk
Barnardo's
Through education Barnardo's offer learning opportunities and life-skill experiences to improve children's lives. Also runs day and residential special schools for young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties
Tel: 020 8550 8822
.
British Society for Music Therapy
An advisory body and information centre for the dissemination of services, training, bibliography and research. Music therapists work with children and adults with a wide range of needs, including learning disabilities, physical, emotional and psychological disorders and sensory impairments.
Tel: 020 8441 6226
bsmt.org
The Children's Society
Works with disabled children, as well as children at risk on the streets, in trouble with the law, and young refugees. Particular expertise in communicating with and understanding the needs of children and young people
Tel: 020 7841 4400
The Children's Trust
Provides care, education and therapy to children with multiple disabilities and complex health needs through a unique combination of skills and experience in education, care and therapy.
Tel: 01737 365000
thechildrenstrust.org.uk
Contact a Family
Support, advice and information for families with disabled children through a freephone helpline and free factsheets. Also offers one to one linking of families affected by particular conditions.
Tel: 020 7608 8700
cafamily.org.uk
Back To Top Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
Tel: 0207 215 5000
dti.gov.uk
Working Families
Aims to get the home and work balance right
Helpline 0800 013 0313
workingfamilies.org.uk Back To Top
