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Children with autism (0 - 4 years old)

My early years child has received a diagnosis of autism

Being a parent or carer of a child who has received a diagnosis of autism can be really positive, but can also be confusing at times, especially when family members don't understand what is happening for their child or young person.

What is autism?

Watch this helpful video by the National Autistic Society:

Many children with a diagnosis of autism attend their local childcare provision. Support and training for staff working in the setting is available from the early years team.

The following links and information are designed to help you find support and services that can support you and your child when you have received a diagnosis of Autism.

Local Support

HANDS Hub

HANDS is the Herefordshire Autism and Neurodiverse Support charity based in Hereford City Centre. They have a weekly Stay and Play called Tots Time every Tuesday 10am to 12pm. Find out more on their Facebook page or visit their website.

Tots Time with COSI in the Community

Once a month at HANDS Hub. This is a collaboration between Tots Time and the COSI team held on the first Tuesday of the month (Term time only) 10am to 12pm. For more information contact Amber on 07792880765

Parent Carer Voice (PCV) Herefordshire

PCV are the local Parent Carer Forum who work with (not for) local authorities, health commissioning bodies and social care to represent parent views and experiences to influence and inform the provision and services used by our children, young people and their families. PCV hold regular coffee mornings and other events for parent carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities. PCV also run training for practitioners and parent carers to increase awareness and understanding of autism spectrum disorder.

Visit their website or Facebook page to find out more.

National Autistic Society Herefordshire

The National Autistic Society's Herefordshire branch has various groups and activities for autistic people and their families. Visit their website for more information.

SENDIASS (Special Educational Need and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service)

SENDIASS is an information, advice and support service in Herefordshire. They offer free, legally-based advice about anything related to SEND. SENDIASS have a dedicated early years section on their website.

Herefordshire SEND Local Offer Facebook page

Up to date information about SEND events, leisure activities, sources of advice and support are shared on a regular basis.

CDC (Child Development Centre) Coffee Morning

Our communication and social interaction service (CoSI) hold coffee mornings in the Autumn and Spring for parents and children to offer support and advice from a wide range of services including; speech and language therapists, occupational therapy, portage, parent carer voice, paediatric dentist, the SEN team. Coffee mornings are held at the Child Development Centre on Ross Road and the dates for 2025 are:

  • Friday 13 February 2026 10am to 11.30am
  • Wednesday 21 October 2026 10 to 11.30am

Early Years Communication and Social Interaction (CoSI) services

CoSI consists of 3 different types of support – CoSI in the Community, CoSI Outreach and CoSI Group.

  • CoSI in the Community are stay and play sessions that parents can attend with or without their child to get advice and support along with a safe environment for children to play in. All early years children with a diagnosis of autism are welcome to attend CoSI in the Community. Sessions are on the first Tuesday of the month during term time from 10am to 12pm at HANDS Hub.
  • CoSI Outreach is for children who attend an Early Years setting. Our autism outreach teacher or Early Years Area SENCO will contact the setting to see if they can help provide strategies, advice or training to support the setting to make provision to meet the child’s needs.
  • CoSI Group is our most intensive support where small group sessions are led by a teacher with other trained support staff and a speech and language therapist. This group is only for children who are not already attending an early years setting.

If you would like further information regarding CoSI Services please contact Amber Williams on 07792880765 or download the COSI group criteria and COSI group leaflet.

Portage

Portage is Herefordshire Council’s home education service for families with a pre-school aged child (between 0 and 4 years old) who may have SEND who attend a setting for less than 15 hours per week. A referral to portage is usually made by health visitors, paediatricians or physiotherapists. You can find out more about Portage here.

Speech and Language Therapy Service

The speech and language therapy service at Wye Valley NHS Trust provides assessment and intervention for children and young people with speech, language, voice, communication and feeding or swallowing difficulties. 

Other sources of support and information

‘Togetherness’ Bringing the Solihull Approach to the world

Togetherness is an NHS emotional health team sharing evidence-based teaching and learning about emotional wellbeing and preventative mental health in the UK and around the world. Herefordshire families have access to free online e-learning for parents and families. Courses cover a range of topics including ‘Understand your child with additional needs’. Courses are available in multiple languages and can be accessed for free using the code ‘APPLEHERE’.

PCV Early Years online information booklet

PCV have produced an online ‘Padlet’ containing lots of useful information for parents and carers of early years children.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Any child who has a disability or illness might qualify for DLA. You don’t need to wait for a formal diagnosis to make a claim. It is sufficient that they have some form of disability. You can find out more about DLA on the Contact DLA page and watch video guides created by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Blue Badge

Blue Badges help people with disabilities or health conditions park closer to their destination, including children. You can apply for a badge for yourself, on behalf of somebody else or an organisation that transports people that need a Blue Badge. Find out whether your child would be eligible for a Blue Badge on the Department for Transport website.

SEND Local Offer Neurodivergence Zone

Find out more about neurodivergence and the support available in the neurodivergence section on the Local Offer.

Signalong

Signalong is based on British Sign Language, using unaltered BSL signs wherever possible. There are free Signalong resources available for parents and carers including videos and downloadable resources on the Signalong website.

CBeebies Parenting ‘Tiny Happy People’

Tiny Happy People offer free parenting and pre-school tips and advice along with ideas for creative activities and recipes. You’ll find a range of resources including videos, audio clips and activity ideas on the CBeebies Tiny Happy People website.

Dingley’s Promise

Herefordshire is a Dingley’s Promise Local Authority. Dingley’s Promise provide support for children with SEND in the early years including resources for parents and carers which can be found on the Dingley’s Promise website.

Beyond Autism

Beyond Autism provides education and support for autistic children and young adults including resources for families with an early years child. Find out more on the Beyond Autism website.

Intensive Interaction

Intensive Interaction is a natural, person centred approach to developing fundamental skills of communication such as vocalisations, facial expressions and turn taking. Watch this video to find out more: Intensive Interaction Youtube

Attention Autism

Attention Autism is a learning approach that aims to develop natural and spontaneous communication skills for autistic children through the use of visually based and highly motivating activities. Find out more on the Attention Autism website.

All-Age Autism Strategy

Our autism strategy sets out our long term plans with and on behalf of people of all ages with autism and their family carers.

 

While You Wait group for pre-school age children awaiting neurodevelopmental assessment

As part of Herefordshire's 'Waiting Well' initiative, we run a monthly multi-agency information and advice session for families of pre-school age children only who are already on the waiting list to see a paediatrician for a neurodevelopmental assessment. Professionals and settings can signpost parents to the group once a referral has been made for assessment. The While You Wait group is held every month at Widemarsh Children's Centre with a range of professionals in attendance including Portage Workers, Speech and Language Therapists, Early Years Family Support Workers, Children with Disabilities Family Support Workers, Community Nursery Nurses and Health Visitors. 

Sessions also include specific themes and include visiting professionals such as dental specialists, the bladder and bowel service and therapists who can support with feeding, chewing and food aversion.

Please note, this group is only for families of pre-school age children who are already on the waiting list for a neurodevelopmental assessment with the community paediatrician. If you are not on the waiting list but you have concerns about your pre-school age child's development, please discuss your concerns with your childcare provider, Health Visitor or GP in the first instance.

If you are a professional who would like to support the group, please contact: