Rainbows Group at Family Hubs a place for children with SEND to thrive
Family life is rewarding but it also has challenges. For parents and carers of young children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), this can often come with a whole new set of obstacles to navigate. Dedicated stay and play sessions at Wirral’s Family Hubs are opening the door to support for SEND families in a friendly, no-pressure, welcoming way.
Brassey Gardens Family Hub in Birkenhead is one of the centres that offers the ‘Rainbow Group’. Supported by Autism Together, these stay and play sessions are for children aged 0 to 5 with autism or social and communication difficulties and provide a safe and secure environment for children to play their own way and be themselves. Parents and carers can relax and get to know each other, sharing advice and tips, such as different tactics to use at home.
During a session, parents commented on how important the support is at the Hub, with a parent stating that it “kickstarted our journey”. She had been signposted to Brassey Gardens by local charity, Koala North West, and “couldn’t believe what was available”.
It was difficult for this mum to go to regular toddler groups as her daughter doesn’t like to wear shoes and socks. Being able to play safely at Rainbows without them means that “it’s relaxing for her and me”.
Another mum described the best part of coming to the Hub is being able to gather information, describing it as “a fountain of knowledge.”
What are Family Hubs?
Family Hubs offer a huge range of activities, advice, support and services all under one roof for young children with SEND.
They are open to all families with children aged 0-19 (or up to 25 for those with special educational needs) and bring together a wide network of professionals from different organisations, including health services, local charities, education providers, and community groups. There’s no need for referrals or complicated processes, just walk in and access the support you need from friendly staff who are there to help.
Family Hubs are about creating communities. Each Hub has a timetable of activities designed to support children’s development through play, including dedicated SEND sessions. This gives parents a chance to meet other families on similar journeys, to exchange experiences and form friendships.
The Family Hubs are a crucial part of early intervention. The knowledgeable staff can spot any developmental delays during universal sessions and help parents explore the options and support available to them. This could be financial support, a coffee morning, parent carer groups, drop-in sessions from other organisations or a specialist SEND session. Citizen’s Advice Wirral holds a drop-in service alongside the Rainbows Group at Brassey Gardens, enabling parents to get help with applying for Disability Living Allowance.
Having the help and advice in one place means that families and young children with SEND get the right support at the right time, enabling them to have the best start in life.
You can find out more about Family Hubs and the services that they offer on the Family Toolbox website.
