Take part in the Digital Family Support study (DAISY)
Are you a parent carer of a child with additional developmental needs? This might mean your child has a learning disability, developmental delay or has developmental delays but does not yet have a diagnosis.
If you live in England and your child is between 2 and 11 years old, you are invited to take part in the Digital Family Support study (DAISY). Researchers are exploring whether a digital parent support program called Stepping Stones Online can help improve behaviour and emotional difficulties in children with a learning disability or developmental delay and support the wellbeing of parent carers.
Stepping Stones Online covers:
Learning strategies to make everyday life easier
Supporting communication and everyday skills for children
Positive ways to support behaviours that challenge
Building your confidence in parenting
Find out how to take part in this study.
If you have any questions call Dr Emma Scripps on 07483123993 or Rovan Bahnassy on 07483656342, or email daisy-online@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
Have your say: Wandsworth's Co-Production Charter
The Wandsworth Parent Carer Forum (SEND Parent Carers in Wandsworth) is working in partnership with Wandsworth Council and Wandsworth Health Services to develop a new Co-Production Charter for health, education, and social care services.
This charter will be used once finalised to enhance cooperation between families and professionals, thereby influencing the development of the Wandsworth SEND strategy.
Complete the consultation to share your views.
The consultation closes on Friday 13 November 2026.
Wandsworth Autism Advisory Service (WAAS)
The Wandsworth Autism Advisory Service (WAAS) service is a multi-agency team with professionals from education, teaching, SEND, speech and language therapy, multi therapy team, occupational therapy and psychology service.
Find out what's coming up by viewing the WAAS Autumn Timetable.
New statutory guidance on mobile phones in schools
The Department for Education (DfE) has published new statutory guidance on the use of mobile phones in schools in England. Effective from 1 September 2026, the guidance expects schools to be mobile phone-free environments throughout the school day, including lessons, breaktimes and lunchtime, while allowing for reasonable adjustments and exceptional circumstances where required.
Read the full mobile phones in schools guidance to understand what this means for schools, pupils and parents.
Government publishes SEND reforms white paper
The government published its long awaited schools white paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, on 23 February 2026. It sets out proposed future reforms to the SEND system.
These proposals aim to improve earlier identification of needs, strengthen support in mainstream settings, and create greater consistency for children and young people with SEND across the country.
At this stage, SEND law has not changed and all the current SEND legal framework remains.
The white paper represents proposals only, and these will now go through a national consultation process.
Parents, carers and professionals can read the official information and take part in the consultation.
Family Hubs
Family Hubs are a great place to go to get a wide range of range of services and support for you and your family – all in one place. Services are offered to parents and children aged 0-19 years (25 years for young people with special educational needs and disabilities).
Find out what's coming up by viewing the Family Hub timetables: