SEND

If you are a young person or a parent or carer of a child or young person with complex or enhanced needs your School Nurse can support you or help you get the appropriate support you need.

The School Nurse may contribute to your Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) and attend meetings with other professionals that support you so that you can achieve your goals.

Complex or enhanced needs may include any of the following:

You may be ill
You may have a disability
You may have a complex or long-term health need
You may have special educational needs
You may have a mental health problem

Health visitors and Family Health Nurses, sometimes known as School Nurses, continue to help you whether you attend a school or not and will support children and young people from birth up until they are 25 if they have a SEND. You can ask your Health visitor or School Nurse for help and advice on anything to do with or your child’s health – whether you’re worrying about your health and development, beginning school or just need someone to talk to.

Your growing healthy team work very closely with colleagues in the local authority to make sure your child or young person’s needs are met.

Sleep Support Resources (For All Areas)

Support Available Across All Areas

While some services listed below support families within the Tees Valley, we also recognise that many of the children, young people and families we work with live beyond this area. The following national organisations offer practical, evidence‑based guidance on sleep, routines, and safer sleeping for babies and children of all ages.

The Sleep Charity

The Sleep Charity provides trusted information, practical advice, and specialist programmes to help children and young people get better sleep. Their website includes downloadable resources, guides on establishing routines, advice for children with additional needs, and details of national support services.

The Lullaby Trust

The Lullaby Trust offers expert advice on safer sleep for babies, including updated guidance on reducing the risk of SIDS, safe sleep environments, and advice for families, carers and professionals. They also provide emotional support for anyone affected by the sudden death of a baby or young child.

These resources are available to all families, regardless of location, and can be used alongside any local support you may already receive.

Website Links

The Sleep Charity The Lullaby Trust

Local Support in the North East

Does your child experience challenges with sleep?

Are they between the ages of 2½ and 18?

Have they been identified by a professional as having an additional health or development need?

If you answered yes to those questions, then the North East Sleep Alliance is here to support you. Using a tiered approach we can provide telephone support and resources, sleep workshops and bespoke 1:1 sleep assessments.