Learning Difficulties and Disabilities Service

Our Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LDD) Service provides support to children and young people with learning difficulties and disabilities from birth to 18 years old. The service comprises of: ASSIST (Autism Spectrum Service for Information, Support and Training), Bridges Resource Centre, Disabled Children's Team, Ryeish Green Health Resource, and the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Service.

Support provided

We can give advice and organise other help where required. This may include practical help in the home, specialist equipment, home adaptations, and short breaks. Our Special Educational Needs Service carries out Statutory Assessments for children with Special Educational Needs. Our Children's Services offer a variety of support for vulnerable children, young people and their families. This is done through our neighbourhood teams.

Neighbourhood teams

The aim of a neighbourhood team is to support families at an early stage, to avoid potential problems. The teams work with families to find out what support should be provided, and can ask for input from other people who have worked with a child or family in the past. Families and children receive support from the team in the area where they live. There are 3 neighbourhood teams:

• The Ambleside Team, Woodley
• The Brambles Team, Wokingham
• The Riverdale Team, Earley

All teams may include:

• Connexions Service Personal Advisers for young people aged 13 to 19 years
• An Early Years Advisor
• Educational Psychologists
• Educational Welfare Officers
• A Family Information Service Officer
• Family Workers
• Health Partners
• Home School Liaison Workers
• Learning Support Teachers

Social workers and professionals

Social workers are separately managed in individual teams. Social Workers may work from the neighbourhood team locations, from Shute End in Wokingham, or Highwood Annexe in Woodley. Professionals can also be brought in from other services including the Youth Service, Housing Service, the Police, and voluntary and faith agencies.

Assessment

Children are assessed for support through the Common Assessment Framework (CAF.) This looks at their strengths as well as their needs.