If your child is disabled you may have contact and/or appointments with people from many different agencies.  You will find it useful to keep records of appointments, correspondence, documents received, etc.

Keep a record book for appointments, which could be set out with headings such as:

Date and time of appointment       Meeting place     Contact person(tel no.)    Notes

Keep another book in which telephone calls and correspondence can be recorded, with headings such as:

Date of letter/call        Details        Reply date        Notes

It may seem obvious but don't forget to rule a line beneath each entry so that the information relating to each entry is kept seperate from the next.  Keep copies of correspondence, forms filled in, etc. (often you can refer back to these when other forms need to be filled in).

The Doncaster Children's Information Service provides help and advice when you are choosing childcare.  the Service has a database of childminders, pre-school play groups, nurseries, 'Out of School' and holiday playschemes.  Advisors can also provide information and advice to anyone who wants to work with children.

A family support organisation offering support, friendship and practical help to families at home with children under 5 who are under stress.  For lonely or isolated parents and families where there is ill health or disability/special needs.

For further information contact:

The Keyworker Service is based with the Portage Service and is a specialised teaching programme delivered in the home to pre-school children with additional needs and/or disabilities.  The Keyworker provides support to the family and acts as a central link between the family and other services.

For further information contact:

This service aims to support Private, Voluntary and Independent Daycare settings in receipt of Nursery Education Funding to enable children with learning difficulties and disabilities to be fully included.  The service offers:

• A programme of training delivered through the Early Years Professional Development Programme

• Toy and equipment loans to pre-school settings

• Additional staffing support to enhance ratios to ensure children with learning difficulties and disabiltiies are fully included in all aspects of the curriculum

• Home visits to discuss needs and priorities

• Support, information and practical help to pre-school settings

• Help to children with learning difficulties and disabilities to enable attendance at local pre-school groups

• Close liaison with Doncaster Portage Service

• Close liaison with staff in daycare settings to ensure children with learning difficulties and disabilities have appropriate and effective Individual Education Plans

Enquiries are welcome from parents or carers of children with learning difficulties and disabilities or from pre-school settings.

Little Rainbows Autism Group is a group for families of young children with autism and their siblings.  It provides a safe environment for children to play while parents and carers can meet and chat.  Currently holds sessions at Wheatley Children's Centre and organises activities during school holidays.

For further information contact:

The Friday Opportunity Group (FROG) is a group run by the Early Years Service.  It meets every first Friday of the month (ter-time only) at the Intake & Belle Vue children's centre, Ardeen Road, Intake, Doncaster.  It is open to all families of children with disabilities, however, they would need to be referred to the Pre-school Inclusion team by a professional (paediatrician, social worker, etc) in the first instance.

Acorn Educational provides books, equipment and resources for pre-school, early years and special needs children.

The Child Development Centre run multi-agency groups, offering therapy and support for pre-school children with disabilities and their families.  The children are referred to us from consultants or members of the multi-disciplinary team.  We introduce children with differing needs and abilities ranging from physical disabilities, to complex disabilities including learning difficulties, epilepsy and visual impairment, to structured group activities and through play and social interaction help to encourage them in all areas of their development.  We have a toy library available to lend out a variety of specialist toys, and we can offer advice on equipment to the families attending the early skills groups.

Supports parents of children under 5 years of age.  The aim is to provide support in the time between diagnosis and school placement for children with a diagnosis of autism.

The EarlyBird Programme is a three month parent programme combining group training sessions for parents with individual home visits.  Video feedback is used to help parents apply what they learn in group sessions when working with their child.  The programme helps you to understand your child, use strategies that enable you to cope and be back in control.