SSFV services and information
SSFV’s support offer
SSFV have a range of services available to families of children with SEND in Swindon. This leaflet is a summary of all the ways we can help you.
SEND Sharing Service
A lending library of specialist equipment, toys and books that are free to borrow after an initial membership fee of only £3 per year!
EHCNAs and the Graduated Response
The Graduated Response, Sometimes called the EHC – Early Help Conversation and Plan, is the process through which children and young people’s needs are identified and supported.
In collaboration with the Swindon SEND Team, SSFV have produced a leaflet for parents to explain the graduated response and EHCNA process in a step by step guide.
Parent carer support
SIAS
The SEND Information, Advice and Support service (SIAS) provides free, impartial, confidential information, advice and support about education, health and social care for children and young people from 0-25 with SEND, as well as their parents or carers. You do not need to have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan to use the service.
Contact
Contact – for families with disabled children is the only UK-wide charity providing advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children – no matter what their disability or health condition. We also enable parents to get in contact with other families, both on a local and national basis.
Health
Swindon’s Neurodevelopmental Conditions (NDC) pathway
This leaflet has been developed in co-production with Swindon Educational Psychology Service,
Swindon SEND Families Voice, SIAS and a SENCO Champion to debunk some of the common myths around the NDC pathway, which provides a diagnostic service for children who are neurodiverse or who have developmental disabilities.
Avoiding hospital admissions
This booklet outlines some of the key support services and systems in place to help avoid mental health hospital admission for Children and Young people with neurodiversity or a learning disability.
Annual Health Checks
This leaflet contains information for parents and carers on annual health checks for people with a learning disability.
Annual Health Checks – easy read
This is an easy read leaflet about annual health checks for people with a learning disability.
Education
Swindon’s Core Standards for SEND
Our core standards outline the expected provision in education settings for children and young people with SEND.
Community and local services
Swindon’s Local Offer
The Local Offer is an information service for children, young people and families to access information to support their SEND journey
Swindon’s Early Years Centre
Here you can find out about services for Early Years (0-5 year olds). This covers portage, special tots and the Early Bird course.
Libraries and Swindon Stories
Local Libraries/Swindon Stories
SEND News Splash 2025
The Swindon Local Offer team have produced a guide to opportunities available to families with SEND this summer. This guide is full of great opportunities to make the most of throughout the 2025 summer holidays and beyond.
Catalogue of alternative provision in Swindon
This is a catalogue of providers of alternative provision in Swindon. It includes information on how accessible settings are and which needs they can meet, along with how to access their services. This covers AP (alternative provision), SB (short breaks), EI (early intervention) and HAF (holiday activities and food) scheme providers.
Emotional and Social Health
STEP
STEP offers support to children aged 7-18yrs. They can support through social groups, bespoke packages and traded hours services in schools.
Papyrus
Papyrus Prevention of young suicide is the UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people.
Ipsum
A Mental Health and Wellbeing Charity supporting Swindon and the surrounding area. Our aims are to help address issues such as mental, psychological and emotional health: loneliness and isolation: increase self-esteem, encourage an active lifestyle: and to help promote positive change. We offer a range of therapeutic interventions including talking therapies, Music and Art.