Useful Links - Education

Educational Resources & Equipment IT Special Needs & Hardware Education Help & Legal Advice

Educational Resources & Equipment

Autism - out and about A great source of symbols as well as information about Autism.
EQUALS A registered charity who supports teachers of pupils with learning difficulties including production of support materials and workshops.
Anything Left Handed Title says it all!! They sell lots of things for left handed people, including pens and other useful school equipment.
Beyond Autism Another great source of symbols other communication resources and many links.
Bag Books A charity offering age appropriate multi-sensory story packs for those who cannot benefit from mainstream books.
ROMPA Sensory toys, furniture, switches and much more.
Do2Learn "Games, songs, communication cards, print resources, and information for special needs."
One Stop Resource Shop printable curriculum resources
Priorywoods School A lovely site with useful information from a special needs school in Middlesbrough.
Schoolhouse Technologies Very useful for worksheets.
SEN Teacher Teaching and learning resources for special needs
Dyscovery Centre Writing slopes and other cool stuff for low tone and dyspraxia in particular.
Fledglings "Fledglings is a not-for-profit organisation which helps parents and carers of a child with special needs of any kind to find simple, affordable solutions to practical problems. We offer a free product search service to locate toys, clothing, developmental aids and other items which may stimulate the child's development or give relief to the carer. Many such products are kept in stock and we can obtain many more from the wide range of manufacturers and suppliers we deal with. "
Tocki "At Tocki, we have 15 years experience designing and manufacturing specialist educational equipment, toys and accessories for those people who have special needs. Our range is suitable for both children and adults alike, who have cerebral palsy, downes syndrome, autism or problem motor skills."
Barrington Stoke Books aimed at a childs reading level with age appropriate stories.
PECS - Pyramid Educational Consultants "We are the UK branch of Pyramid Educational Consultants. The parent organization was established in the United States over 8 years ago by Andrew Bondy PhD (Clinical Psychologist), and Lori Frost MS.CCC/SLP (Speech & Language Therapist) to develop services that focus on the design of effective educational environments and emphasize the initiation of communication."
Littlesheep Learning "Littlesheep Learning sells teaching and learning resources. In our online shop, we stock a range of Usborne books, games and jigsaws, our own brand educational resources and specially selected teaching materials. Items stocked in our shop are ideal for children with special educational needs (SEN), home educators and anyone who wants to support and encourage their child's learning from pre-school throughout their primary education."
Yoro Pen A pen invented by the father of twins with CP. The pen is inovative and can be used by people who struggle to use other pens. Also suitable for left handed writers.
P Scales Information on P Scales

IT Special Needs & Hardware

Adapt-IT Assessments and advice on computer hardware and software
Alphasmart AlphaSmart,Inc. is a leading provider of technology solutions for education and productivity, focused on reducing the cost and complexity of computing.
Assistive Technology Computers, software and accessories and lots of links to information.
Crick Software Award-winning, easy-to-use reading and writing software for children and people with special needs.
Educational Software Directory Guide to software and hardware online. US site.
Inclusive Technology SEN IT company.
Maltron Keyboards Maltron adaptive keyboards are designed to enable people with special needs to enter computer data much more easily and quickly than with conventional keyboards.
Max and Friends A multimedia educational program for children primarily designed for children with autism and related developmental disabilities but all children can benefit.
Mayer-Johnson Products for special needs and education.
Resource Education Educational software for kids with special needs.
Semerc SEMERC is the UK's leading publisher of ICT resources for learners of all ages with special educational needs. We also provide a wide range of practical and inspiring services to support SENCOs, classroom teachers and LEAs. This unique combination means that we can offer our customers real solutions for inclusion that are tailored to their needs.
Sherston Software supplier, although not specifically SEN it is widely used in schools.
Simply Software Again, not SEN software but good basic and cheap childrens software.
Special Need
SENIT Special needs IT centre - Useful links and info.
R-E-M Educational software suppliers.
Widgit Special needs software company.
Portset Portable document reader, braille keyboards and several other useful products.
Scanning Pens Reading aids, scanning pens and other useful hardware.
Liberator A wide range of IT equipment and software, including switches and communication aids.
Evesham Technology Supplier of IT equipment and software including special needs.

Education Advice and Legal Help and Advice

Advice Guide Online Citizens Advice Bureau service providing independent advice on your right
Advisory Centre for Education The Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) is an independent advice centre for parents, offering information about state education in England and Wales for 5-16 year olds.
Education (Additional Support for Learning)(Scotland) Act 2004 Gives procedures and rights and advice for special education in Scotland.
Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education CSIE is the Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education. It is an independent centre working in the UK and overseas to promote inclusion and end segregation. It is funded by donations from trusts, foundations and grants.
Department for Children, Schools and Families Government site with information and resources
National Association of Specialist Colleges Provide information regarding choosing a specialist college
DfEE Green Paper on SEN Excellence for all Children Meeting Special Educational Needs. Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment by Command of Her Majesty October 1997.
Every Child Matters Every Child Matters: Change for Children is a shared programme of change to improve outcomes for all children and young people. It takes forward the Government's vision of radical reform for children, young people and families.
Gabbitas The Independent Schools Guide - The Independent Schools Guide draws on the established titles - the Independent Schools Guide and Schools for Special Needs - A Complete Guide, to create a complete on-line directory of over 2300 schools and colleges.
H E Special Families who home educate children with special education needs
Home Education Provides support and advice
Inclusion Lots of information and advice on inclusion.
IPSEA Independent Panel for Special Education Advice - Defending children's right to special education provision.
Mencap Mencap is the UK's leading learning disability charity working with people with a learning disability and their families and carers.
NASEN The National Association for Special Educational Needs - With over fifty branches across the country the National Association for Special Educational Needs (NASEN) is the leading organisation in the UK which aims to promote the education, training, advancement and development of all those with special educational needs.
Network 81 Network 81 is a national network of parents working towards properly resourced inclusive education for children with special needs.
Ofsted Ofsted is a non-ministerial government department established under the Education (Schools) Act 1992 to take responsibility for the inspection of all schools in England. Reports on schools around the UK available on this site.
Pi - Parents for Inclusion Parents for Inclusion is a network of parents of disabled children and children with 'special needs'. In our families and as an organisation we have worked together with disabled people to build inclusive communities in ordinary life, where all people are truly welcome.
SEN Code of Practice PDF needed to read this full online version of the SEN code of practice.
Trans-active teens Interactive site for teenagers regards transition, interests, games etc
Transition Information Network (TIN) For young people, their parents and carers, offering information covering transition to adulthood.
Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001
Teachernet Lots of useful information here.
Parents Centre Parentscentre is for all parents and carers who want to help their child or children to learn. It is here to offer you support, information and advice about your child's learning and the English education system.
Parent Partnership "The National Parent Partnership Network (NPPN) supports all parent partnership services across England. NPPN works under the aegis of the Council for Disabled Children and is funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES)."
Allfie Alliance for inclusive education - "We are a national network of individuals families and groups who work together to help change our education system. The changes we wish to bring about are based on our conviction that all young people need to educated in a single mainstream education system which can support all young people to learn, play and live with each other."
DEE Disability equality in education -DEE supports the inclusion of disabled people in mainstream education through the provision of training, consultancy and resources.
Levenes Solicitors A firm of solicitors with offices around the UK who specialise in education law.
Early Support "Early Support (previously known as the Early Support Pilot Programme or ESPP) is a UK government programme involving the Department for Education and Skills, Sure Start and the Department of Health. Its purpose is to improve the delivery of services to disabled children under three and their families. Early Support promotes service development in partnership with education, health and social services, voluntary organisations and service users themselves. "
Education Otherwise "Education Otherwise is a UK-based membership organisation which provides support and information for families whose children are being educated outside school, and for those who wish to uphold the freedom of families to take proper responsibility for the education of their children"
SEN Legal Solicitors who specialise in education law.
SENDIST Special Educational Needs & Disability Tribunal's website. Parents whose children have special educational needs can appeal to the Special Educational Needs & Disability Tribunal against decisions made by local education authorities (LEAs) in England and Wales about their children's education.
Nathhan A Christian home schooling site based in the US.
Rathbone a Charity dedicated to working with young people who very often have not been successful in their secondary education
Portage "Portage is a home-visiting educational service for pre-school children with additional support needs and their families. "
Education and Disability - a parents guide produced by Contact a Family.