Useful websites for Parents / Carers
Useful websites by clinical needs for parents/carers
General websites
| Site | Description | Age range | Link |
| Developmental milestones | Resources to help understand children’s developmental milestones for speech, language and communication, this will help you to understand what you might expect at different ages and provide strategies to support development. | Early Years (0-3 years) |
Communicating kids - Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk) |
| Talk to your baby | Talk to Your Baby helps parents navigate the early years and support their child's language development. | 0 – Early Years | |
| BBC Tiny Happy People | To support children’s communication development – with ideas of play and other activities to do with your child. Lots of tips, play ideas to help parents develop their children’s communication skills | Early Years/ School aged | |
| Afasic | Information about SLCN for parents of teenagers. Includes links to videos of young people and parents and further information e.g. what to look for, planning for life after 16, support for parents. | 11-18 | https://afasic.org.uk/help-for-your-child/teenagers-and-beyond/ |
| Afasic | Website with support, resources, and information about communication needs. | All | |
| ICAN | I CAN website provides support on FAQs, good practice checklists and strategies to support speech, language and communication | All | |
| Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust | The Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust website provides information about the service and access to resources and useful links. | All age | Sheffield Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service - Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust |
Acquired Brain Injury (acute)
| Site | Description | Age range | Link |
| The Children's Trust | General information, signposting and training information for CYP, families and therapists about living with an acquired brain injury | 0-17 | https://www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/ |
Alternative and Augmentative Communication
| Site | Description | Age range | Link |
| Communication Matters | Communication Matters is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. The website has lots of accessible information about AAC and they hold AAC conferences and study days |
All | https://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/what-is-aac/ |
| Barnsley Assistive Technology |
Barnsley Assistive Technology is the regional AAC NHS Hub for Yorkshire and Humber. Their team support children and adults with powered communication devices and provide education and support to local teams, families and professionals. The website has information, resources and training available. |
All | Barnsley AT Team - Assistive Technology Team (barnsleyhospital.nhs.uk) |
Autism
| Site | Description | Age range | Link |
| Autism Support SCFT | As part of the preschool autism workshop videos there are two relevant videos for Speech, Language and Communication: one on communication in general and one on language and communication strategies. | Pre-school | http://www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/asdsupport |
| Makaton |
The Makaton website contains information about the Makaton language programme and lots of sign and symbol resources. This includes some free resources and downloads. You can find out about Makaton training and sign up for a ‘sign of the week’ email. The website and free downloads are available for free. There are three levels of paid access, which buys access to more of the signs and symbols. |
All | www.makaton.org |
| National Autistic Society |
Support, advice, information about autism. Useful for parents/carers of children on the autistic spectrum |
All | www.autism.org.uk |
| Widgit Health |
Widgit symbols are used across Sheffield to support children and young people with a wide range of communication difficulties. Widgit Health provides symbol resources to support children, young people and adults when accessing healthcare. There are lots of free downloads, but some you have to pay for. |
All | https://widgit-health.com/ |
Deafness
| Site | Description | Age range | Link |
| National Deaf Children's Society | A charity that provides a wide range of support including – providing online events, workshops and have an online forum. The society also provides publications, a magazine, some one-to- one support, advice and a facility for lending equipment. | 0-25 |
Developmental Language Disorder
| Site | Description | Age range | Link |
| Look say sing play | Easy tips to incorporate language activities and bonding into every day activities | 0-pre-schools | Look, Say, Sing, Play early years resources to use and share with parents | NSPCC Learning |
| BBC Tiny Happy People | To support children’s communication development – with ideas of play and other activities to do with your child. Lots of tips, play ideas to help parents develop their children’s communication skills | EY & School-aged children | www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people |
| Contact | Charity supporting families of children with disabilities. Free information about referral process for Speech and Language Therapy. | All | https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/health-medical-information/common-concerns/speech-learning-and-movement/ |
| Makaton |
The Makaton website contains information about the Makaton language programme and lots of sign and symbol resources. This includes some free resources and downloads. You can find out about Makaton training and sign up for a ‘sign of the week’ email. The website and free downloads are available for free. There are three levels of paid access, which buys access to more of the signs and symbols. |
All | www.makaton.org |
| Parent Carer Forum |
Support, training available for parents with children with additional needs Anyone can access website but you can pay to join the forum |
All (0-25) | www.sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk |
| Widgit Health |
Widgit symbols are used across Sheffield to support children and young people with a wide range of communication difficulties. Widgit Health provides symbol resources to support children, young people and adults when accessing healthcare. There are lots of free downloads, but some you will need to pay for |
All | https://widgit-health.com/ |
Down’s Syndrome
| Site | Description | Age range | Link |
| Look say sing play | Easy tips to incorporate language activities and bonding into every day activities | Birth to pre-school | Look, Say, Sing, Play early years resources to use and share with parents | NSPCC Learning |
| Talk to Your Baby | Talk to Your Baby helps parents navigate the early years and support their child's language development. | Birth – Early Years | Talk to Your Baby: Home |
| Down’s Syndrome Association UK | Information sheets about drinking and chewing for children with Down Syndrome | Birth to Primary age | https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/about-downs-syndrome/lifes-journey/speech-language-and-communication/ |
| Teach Me Too |
Teach Me Too is an online library of short educational videos resources, designed around the specific learning profile of children with Down’s syndrome You will need to create an account to access the resources but it is all free |
EY & Primary-aged children | www.teachmetoo.org.uk |
| BBC Tiny Happy People | To support children’s communication development – with ideas of play and other activities to do with your child. Lots of tips, play ideas to help parents develop their children’s communication skills | EY & School-aged children | www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people |
| Down Syndrome Education | Provides research, information and resources and advice, support and training | EY & School-aged children | www.down-syndrome.org |
| Parent Carer Forum |
Support, training available for parents with children with additional needs Anyone can access website but you can pay to join the forum |
0-25 | www.sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk |
| Contact | Charity supporting families of children with disabilities. Free information about referral process for S<. | All | https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/health-medical-information/common-concerns/speech-learning-and-movement/ |
| Down’s Syndrome Association UK | The Down’s Syndrome Association is a national organisation and a great source of information and support for people with Down Syndrome and their families and professionals. | All | https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/ |
| ICAN (with The Communication Trust Resources) | I CAN's Talking Point gives parents/carers and practitioners the information they need to help children develop their speaking and understanding skills. If a child has difficulty with speaking, they may need help, or they may struggle in nursery or school. With the right help, they can develop the skills they need. | All | https://ican.org.uk/ |
| Makaton |
The Makaton website contains information about the Makaton language programme and lots of sign and symbol resources. This includes some free resources and downloads. You can find out about Makaton training and sign up for a ‘sign of the week’ email. The website and free downloads are available for free. There are three levels of paid access, which buys access to more of the signs and symbols. |
All | www.makaton.org |
| Widgit Health |
Widgit symbols are used across Sheffield to support children and young people with a wide range of communication difficulties. Widgit Health provides symbol resources to support children, young people and adults when accessing healthcare. There are lots of free download but some you will need to pay for. |
All | https://widgit-health.com/ |
Dysphagia
| Site | Description | Age range | Link |
| Bliss | Advice for families about all aspects of feeding premature babies from expressing to weaning. | Premature babies | https://www.bliss.org.uk/parents/about-your-baby/feeding |
| Weaning for life | Government weaning advice | 6 months | https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/weaning/ |
| Baby Friendly - Unicef |
Breast feeding advice and signposting |
0-2 | https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/ |
| Down’s Syndrome Association UK | Information sheets about drinking and chewing for children with Down Syndrome | 0 to Primary age | https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/about-downs-syndrome/lifes-journey/speech-language-and-communication/ |
| ARFID Awareness | Charity to support CYP and their families with ARFID | 0-17 | https://www.arfidawarenessuk.org/ |
| International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative | Texture guidance, advice and patient handouts | 0-17 | https://iddsi.org |
| Infant Dysphagia Factsheet | A general fact sheet for parents about how Speech and Language Therapists can support CYP with eating and swallowing difficulties. | 0-17 | https://www.rcslt.org/.../RCSLT/rcslt-infant-dysphagia-factsheet.pdf |
| NAS | Advice for families for children with ASD and eating difficulties/restricted diet. | 0-17 | https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/behaviour/eating |
Selective mutism
| Site | Description | Age range | Link |
| Selective Mutism | UK charity with information regarding support for children and young people with Selective Mutism. | Nursery-secondary | http://www.selectivemutism.org.uk/ |
Social, emotional and mental health
| Site | Description | Age range | Link |
| Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust Weekend Words: Emotion Coaching | Sheffield Speech and Language Therapist YouTube video about emotion coaching. | Primary and Secondary | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9F2edosY74 |
| Young Minds | Mental health support for young people, parents and professionals. | 11-18 | https://www.youngminds.org.uk/ |
| Kooth | Mental health support for young people with access to counsellors online. All done via written messaging, no face to face required. | 11-18 | www.kooth.com |
| Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust |
Useful advice sheets include: · Comic strip conversations · How to develop comprehension monitoring in secondary school · Supporting communication in emotionally dysregulated children & young people Talking about behaviour with a young person with communication difficulties |
11-18 | https://library.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/?sfid=199&_sft_service=speech-and-language-therapy |
| Widgit Health |
Widgit symbols are used across Sheffield to support children and young people with a wide range of communication difficulties. Widgit Health provides symbol resources to support children, young people and adults when accessing healthcare. There are lots of free downloads, but some you will need to pay for. |
All | https://widgit-health.com/ |
Stammering
| Site | Description | Age range | Link |
| Stamma (prev British Stammering Association) | Charity with lots of resources on website | All | https://stamma.org/ |
| Action for Stammering Children | Charity with lots of resources on website | All | https://actionforstammeringchildren.org/ |
Trache oesophageal fistula/oesophageal atresia (acute)
| Site | Description | Age range | Link |
| TOFS | Charity to support CYP and their families born with TOF/OA | 0-17 | https://tofs.org.uk/ |
Please note: The information on this web page is for reference purposes only. It is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications or abilities of any individual or organisation listed. Inclusion in this article does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Sheffield Place South Yorkshire ICB; nor does omission imply disapproval.