Neurodevelopmental Pathway – North East Essex
Have you found it difficult to navigate different services and access the right support for you and your child?
Are you tired of repeating your story to different professionals?
Have you been waiting for an assessment and do not know where to get support in the meantime?
The term Neurodevelopment describes the growth and development of the nervous system including the brain. Autism, ADHD and learning disabilities are examples of neurodevelopmental disorders. While each child/young person is unique, neurodevelopmental disorders may mean that you or your child/young person requires more support with their development, behaviour, emotion, learning ability or self control.
Who are we?
We are a team of coordinators who provide a single point of access ensuring that you have access to quality information and resources. We will ensure consistency of individualised support until your needs have been fully met at any point of your pathway journey.
Who is our service for?
Our service is for children and young people up to the age of 25, and families within North East Essex who are living with a neurodevelopmental disorder.
We are here to ensure that you can access the appropriate support.
- Have restricted or intense interests?
- Don’t like or manage changes to routine?
- Delayed speech / language development?
- Difficulties concentrating: restless or hyperactive?
- Struggle to regulate emotions?
- Has trouble navigating social situations?
More Information
Start Well – A guide to to early help and support in Colchester and Tendring
(East Anglia)
Supporting families with autistic children to navigate clinical and non-clinical services, including diagnosis, health, educational, social, and financial support.
Telephone Number: 01206 577678
Email Address: advocacy@autism-anglia.org.uk
Website: Autism Anglia
Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service
(Essex)
Neurodevelopmental Pathway Coordinators support ages 0-25 with neurodevelopmental conditions, such as Autism, ADHD, and Dyspraxia, providing consistent individualised information, resources, and support.
Telephone Number: 0300 247 0013 (Monday-Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm)
Website: Essex Family Wellbeing
(Essex)
Providing advice, support, and information to families with SEND children on education, disability benefits and other areas of support.
Delivering weekend activity clubs in Colchester and Chelmsford for SEND children and their siblings.
Telephone Number: 01245 353575 (Monday – Friday 10:00am – 4:00pm, with 24-hour answerphone)
Email Address: helpline@fifessex.org.uk
Website: Families in Focus
(North East Essex)
The Maze Group have a unique approach to SEND which offers insights into how children with additional needs experience the world. They have free monthly coffee mornings in Colchester, Clacton-on-Sea, Mistley and Harwich and a specialist weekly programme available online through a video series and face-to-face in Colchester, Clacton, and Harwich.
The Maze Group also offer a course on navigating the SEND system.
They also provide specialist support for parents who have additional needs. Their aim is to guide, advise and support you for as long as you need.
Telephone Numbers: 07809 900161 or 07708 873023
Email Addresses: amanda.towns@themazegroup.co.uk and sue.anderton@themazegroup.co.uk
Website: The Maze Group
(Essex)
A Parent Carer Forum (PCF) which ensures services in their area meet their needs and improve outcomes of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families.
Share your experiences via the online Graffiti Wall on the website or send an email.
Email Address: hello@essexfamilyforum.org
Website: Essex Family Forum
Graffiti Wall: Essex Family Forum – Have Your Say Feedback Wall
Supporting Your Neurodiverse Child – Resource Pack
(Essex Family Forum)
Supporting Your Neurodiverse Child is a pack that is available to all parents and carers and includes information about Neurodiversity, the diagnostic process, information on support for your child at school, sensory needs, emotional regulation, health, and wellbeing and much more.
The pack is available to download, or you can request a hard copy to be delivered to you via the website.
Email Address: hello@essexfamilyforum.org
Website: Essex Family Forum Resource Pack
Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Early Support in Colchester and Tendring
SNEE ICB and the Start Well Domain have provided grants to 17 local projects, to help deliver support between 2023-2025. For information about these projects or the organisations’ other services, please view their websites.
Bridgeway Mission (Colchester)
A safe and supportive network for children refugees and their families, improving wellbeing and confidence.
Website: Bridgeway Mission
Changing Lives (Colchester)
A combination of free physical activity and mental health sessions, including the use of gym, nature, and animals.
Website: Changing Lives Community Services
Kids Inspire (Colchester)
Talk Together provides tailored support from early intervention to complex and extremely complex needs for 0-18, up to 25 with SEND and their families.
Website: Kids Inspire
Underdog Crew (Colchester)
Free training for young adults with lived experiences of mental health issues, autism and neurodiversity through film making and employability skills.
Website: Mega London Studios
Active Essex Foundation (NEE)
A sport and physical activity project for children and young people aged 5-18 years.
Website: Active Essex Foundation
Connect Without Limits (NEE)
A safe and supportive network, including counselling, mental health support and autism friendly activities.
Website: Connect Without Limits
Essex Wildlife Trust (NEE)
A Wild Wellbeing programme, with mental health support through positive wellbeing activities outdoors.
Website: Essex Wildlife Trust
InterAct (NEE)
Early intervention and personalised support service for parents and carers of children and young people with any disability and/or additional needs.
Website: InterAct
Wilderness Foundation UK (NEE)
A nature based Brave Futures wellbeing programme for children and young people aged 4 years+.
Website: Wilderness Foundation UK
Youth Enquiry Service (NEE)
School navigator and one to one counselling sessions across 15 settings for young people.
Website: Youth Enquiry Services
Citizens Advice Tendring (Tendring)
Taking their domestic abuse and family advice service into the heart of the local communities.
Website: Citizens Advice Tendring
EXTRA (Tendring)
A rolling programme for parents/carers whose children are undertaking or waiting for counselling.
Website: Extra Support For Families
Home Start (Tendring)
Pop up groups to support vulnerable children 0-11 years and their parents.
Website: Home Start
Lads Need Dads (Tendring)
A family support worker signposting and offering emotional support to mums and carers of boys taking part in Lads Need Dads programmes.
Website: Lads Need Dads
Tendring Families First (Tendring)
A range of therapeutic and creative interventions for children aged 5-11 years to self-manage mental wellbeing.
Website: Tendring Families First
The Ark Family Resource Centre (Tendring)
Weekly therapy sessions for children 5-16 years, outreach and joint child and family sessions.
Website: The Ark Family Resource Centre
The London Bus Theatre Company (Tendring)
Jaywick The Musical – Drama and film making project engaging young people in Tendring.
Website: The London Bus Theatre Company
How can you contact us?
The coordinators are available Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm (excluding public holidays). Referrals can be from professionals, families, children and young people who can self-refer.
You can contact us through our free phone number 0300 247 0015 asking for the Neurodevelopmental Coordinators Team – or you can email us via vcl.essexne-neurocoord@nhs.net
