Allergies The British Allergy Foundation encompasses all types of allergy, including asthma, nuts, eczema, seafood and hay fever, and offers advice to anyone concerned about any allergies. It produces a range of leaflets on allergy testing, and avoiding indoor allergens, eczema, egg allergy, and a school guide to peanut protocol, all 50p each (minimum order 15). The Foundation also has an allergy helpline from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday on 020 8303 8583.
Contact the British Allergy Foundation, Deepdene House, 30 Bellegrove Road, Welling, Kent DA16 3PY (020 8303 8525, fax 020 8303 8792, website www.allergyfoundation.com).
Anaphylaxis
Anaphalaxis is a severe allergic reaction where the whole body is affected -usually within minutes of exposure to the allergen, but sometimes after a few hours. Causes include food such as peanuts, insect stings and drugs. The Anaphylaxis Campaign offers support and guidance, and is dedicated to raising awareness further in the food industry. The Campaign has information on topics including avoiding foods that trigger anaphylaxis, commonly asked questions and answers, referral to an allergy clinic, and peanut oil. It can provide information packs to pre-school groups, schools, dieticians and people allergic to wasp and bee stings. The Campaign has also produced a training video which has detailed information about the treatment of anaphylaxis, including the administration of adrenaline. The Campaign holds workshops for teenagers on anaphalaxis.
Contact the Anaphylaxis Campaign, PO Box 275, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6SX (01252 542029, fax 01252 377140, website www.anaphylaxis.org.uk).
Asthma
The National Asthma Campaign is the independent UK charity working to conquer asthma, in partnership with people who have asthma and all who share their concern, through a combination of research, education and support. It publishes a wide range of educational and support materials including a schools pack, Asthma in the under-fives. The campaign's Junior Asthma Club aims to educate and entertain the ever-growing number of children in the UK who have asthma. To speak to an asthma nurse specialist call the Asthma Helpline on 08457 010203, between 9am and 7pm Monday to Friday.
Contact the National Asthma Campaign, Providence House, Providence Place, London N1 ONT (020 7226 2260, fax 020 7704 0740, website www.asthma.org.uk).
Autism
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates and relates to people around them. Children and adults with autism are unable to relate to others in a meaningful way. People with autism can often have accompanying learning disabilities. There is also a condition called Asperger syndrome, a form of autism used to describe people at the higher functioning end of the autistic spectrum. Reality to an autistic person is a confusing, interacting mass of events, people, places, sounds and sights.
The National Autistic Society aims to raise awareness of this bewildering condition. It runs a range of courses and one-, two-and three-day workshops and conferences suitable for childcare professionals at various locations. These include:
* TEACCH in a home setting, a one-day workshop in Nottingham on 2 October. Although the workshop is aimed at parents, professionals and practitioners are also welcome.
* TEACCH structured teaching model: Basic concepts, a three-day workshop in Nottingham from 3 to 5 October.
The Society also provides in-house teaching, tailored to meets the needs of an organisation and has a consultancy service which is available to local authorities and other providers. Both training and consultancy can also be provided overseas.
Contact Agnieshka Warchol, National Autistic Society Training Services Department, Fourth floor, Castle Heights, 72 Maid Marian Way, Nottingham NG1 6BJ (0115 911 3363, fax 0115 911 3362, e-mail training@nas.org.uk,website www.oneworld.org/ autism_uk).
The National Autistic Society also has an Education Advocacy Line and Tribunal Support Scheme. Both are run by volunteers who provide telephone advice and advocacy from their own homes. The former provides information and advice on special educational needs, including school-based stages, statutory assessments, statementing, annual reviews and transferring local authorities, while the latter gives advice, information and support for parents wanting to challenge their local education authority's decision about their child's education. This preparation support is backed up, where appropriate, by representation from city law firm Clifford Chance.
For more information contact the Advocacy Service on 020 7903 3760.
Bedwetting
The Enuresis Resource and Information Centre (ERIC) is a national registered charity providing information and support on childhood bedwetting, daytime wetting and soiling. ERIC holds a database of NHS-run enuresis clinics around the country. It also has a pen-pal scheme, a quarterly newsletter and sells a wide range of useful literature, bedding protection and enuresis alarms.
ERIC provides resources and training for health professionals, including one-day training seminars on:
* The assessment and management of daytime wetting in children, including children who have special needs.
* Nocturnal enuresis - the three systems.
* Nocturnal enuresis.
* Children with incontinence and special needs.
* Childhood constipation and soiling.
ERIC also runs a confidential helpline service from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday on 0117 960 3060. Its team of trained helpline workers can discuss treatment options and management methods that are available.
Contact ERIC, 34 Old School House, Britannia Road, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 8DB (0117 960 3060, fax 0117 960 0401, e-mail info@eric.org.uk,website www.eric.org.uk).
Bereavement
Grief in its many forms is one of the most painful experiences anyone can suffer and every year it happens to thousands of families when their baby or child is dying or has died and when children experience the death of a close relative. The Child Bereavement Trust is a national charity founded to improve the support offered by professionals to grieving families. It provides specialised training and support for professionals to improve their response to the needs of bereaved families. All the charity's work is based on what families and children have said they need in the months following the death of someone important in their lives.
The Trust produces a number of workbooks designed to help children express their feelings when someone close to them dies and a children's video 'Someone died - "It happened to me"' in which bereaved children talk about their experiences. It also runs three training courses:
* Understanding children's needs in loss and grief.
* Coping with post-traumatic stress.
* Supporting parents when a baby or child dies.
Contact the Child Bereavement Trust, Aston House, High Street, West Wycombe, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP14 3AG (01494 446648, fax 01494 440057, e-mail enquiries@ childbereavement.org.uk, website www.childbereavement.org.uk).
Cerebral palsy
The Conductive Education Centre runs one-week introductory and intermediate courses for childcare professionals interested in the Conductive Education system. Shorter day courses can be arranged to meet the needs of any particular unit or group on request. The courses introduce the participants to the theory and practice of conductive education as applied to young children with cerebral palsy.
Day courses at the Centre include:
* Information morning for parents. This covers topics including cerebral palsy, conductive education, and advice and support for children in mainstream education.
* A child with cerebral palsy in the classroom. This course is for teachers, learning support assistants and SENCOs who have to manage and educate a child who has cerebral palsy. It aims to give some theoretical information about cerebral palsy and the associated problems.
* Key Stage 1 literacy and the child with cerebral palsy in the classroom. This is a follow-up to the course 'A child with cerebral palsy in the classroom'. It aims to empower those involved in the literacy hour and to provide valuable learning experiences and a learning environment for literacy for children who have cerebral palsy.
Contact the Conductive Education Centre, 54 Muswell Hill, London N10 3ST (020 8444 7242, fax 020 8444 7241, e-mail info@hcec.org.uk,website www.hcec.k-web.co.uk).
Deafblindness
The charity Sense offers a wide range of specialist services across the UK to help sensory-impaired people of all ages to reach their full potential despite the many challenges facing them. It also offers advice and services for social services staff, and campaigns and lobbies the Government and local authorities to promote the interests of sensory impaired people and their families. Sense has a wide range of specialist publications and factsheets on topics including deafblindness, Usher syndrome, Sharing information with deafblind children and their families, and toys and equipment catalogues.
Contact Sense, 11-13 Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4 3SR (020 7272 7774, fax 020 7272 6012, e-mail enquiries@ sense.org.uk, website www.sense.org.uk).
Diabetes
In the UK someone is diagnosed with diabetes every five minutes.
Diabetes UK, formerly the British Diabetic Association, publishes a comprehensive range of booklets for the parents and carers of children who have diabetes, covering everything from diet to specialist insurance. It also publishes literature on topics including What care to expect when your child has diabetes, Balance for beginners: Starting out with insulin-dependent diabetes, and a magazine for young children, Just for you!, which has games and cartoons as well as information about the condition. If you would like a speaker to visit your primary school, ring 020 7462 2652. Diabetes UK has a Careline on 020 7636 6112, open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. It also has an information science team for research-based enquiries on 020 7462 2601.
Contact Diabetes UK, 10 Queen Anne Street, London W1G 9LH (020 7323 1531, fax 020 7637 3644, website www.diabetes. org.uk). It also has offices in Scotland (0141 332 2700), Warrington (01925 653281), Walsall (01922 614500), Darlington (01325 488606), Northern Ireland (028 9066 6646) and Wales (029 2066 8276).
Down syndrome
The Down Syndrome Educational Trust is a charity that works to advance the development and education of individuals with Down syndrome. It runs workshops and courses at the Sarah Duffen Centre, for parents, teachers, health visitors and early years professionals, on the early development and education of children who have Down syndrome. These include:
* The development and education of nought-to three-year-olds with Down syndrome in infancy and pre-school years (for parents and professionals), on 16 July and 22 October.
* Development and education of three-to five-year-olds with Down syndrome in infancy and pre-school years (for parents and professionals), on 17 July and 23 October.
* Meeting the educational needs of children with Down syndrome in mainstream infant schools (for teachers and parents), on 17 September.
* The cognitive development and education of children aged one to five with Down syndrome (for parents and professionals), on 15 October.
* The social development and education of children aged one to five with Down syndrome (for parents and professionals), on 16 October.
* Supporting the development and education of children with Down syndrome, on 26 and 27 November. This is a two-day course for experienced outreach staff and trainers.
For more information about its workshops, e-mail the Trust on workshops@downsed.org.Information about Down syndrome can be found on the Trust's online information resources at www.down-syndrome.net Contact the Down Syndrome Educational Trust, The Sarah Duffen Centre, Belmont Street, Southsea, Hampshire PO5 1NA (023 9282 4261, fax 023 9282 4265, e-mail enquiries@downsed. org, website www.downsed.org).
Dyslexia
The British Dyslexia Association organises conferences for families, dyslexic people of all ages, school governors, teachers and other professionals at local, regional and national levels. It has produced an early years training pack, 'Language and literacy: Joining together', which consists of four two-hour sessions and is designed to enable early years practitioners to work effectively with each other and with parents in order to support children with speech and language difficulties. The pack costs 175 plus 17.76 VAT (includes p&p).
Events include:
* A family day for families with dyslexic children aged seven to 16, in North Wales on 29 September.
* This year's Dyslexia Awareness Week is from 29 October to 2 November. Its theme is Understanding dyslexia and mathematics.
* Maths, special needs and dyslexia, a one-day conference in either Reading or London on 5 January 2002.
Contact the British Dyslexia Association, 98 London Road, Reading RG1 5AU (0118 966 2677, fax 0118 935 1927, helpline 0118 966 8271, e-mail admin@bda-dyslexia.demon.co.uk, website www.bda-dyslexia. org.uk).
Eczema
The term 'eczema' is used to describe a number of skin conditions that show common symptoms, including inflammation of the skin, dryness, flaking and sometimes the formation of blisters. Eczema can be intensely itchy, and is estimated to affect one in eight children, with atopic eczema the most common form. The causes of eczema are unknown, but modern treatments such as emoillents - mixtures of oils, fats and water - and steroid creams - carefully designed anti-inflammatory medicines, are used to bring it under control.
The National Eczema Society can provide advice on a number of lifestyle changes to help keep eczema under control. It also publishes a range of materials for teachers and carers, including Eczema in schools: A guide for teachers.
Contact the National Eczema Society, Hill House, Highgate Hill, London N19 5NA (020 7388 4097, helpline 0870 241 3604, website www.eczema.org).
Emotional and behavioural difficulties
The Association of Workers for Children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (AWCEBD) holds workshops on topics including:
* The importance of nurture groups and preventative work, suitable for nursery workers, infant teachers, psychologists and school governors.
* Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Contact Alan Rimmer, AWCEBD, Charlton Court, East Sutton, Maidstone, Kent ME17 3DQ (01622 843104, fax 01622 844220, e-mail awcebd@mistral. co.uk, website www.awcebd. co.uk).
Epilepsy
The National Society for Epilepsy runs:
* Half-day seminars each month at its headquarters in Chalfont St Peter, Bucks. These run from 1.30 to 4.30pm, and give a basic introduction to epilepsy and an update on the latest information. Sessions are run according to participants' needs and questions on related issues are welcomed. There is a suggested donation of at least 15 per person. Please note bookings must be in writing and cannot be made over the telephone. Upcoming half-day seminars are on 11 July, 16 August, 11 September, 17 October, 15 November and 6 December.
* Tailor-made half-day and day seminars, which include presentations on the medical aspects of epilepsy such as seizure management and classification, along with video material of genuine epileptic seizures. The seminars can be held in any setting or at the Society's headquarters. A half-day seminar costs 250 plus VAT and a day seminar costs 500 plus VAT.
The National Society for Epilepsy also welcomes queries from Nursery World readers about training in epilepsy.
Contact Jennifer Hunt, Training and development manager, National Society for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire SL9 0RJ (01494 601300, fax 01494 871927, e-mail jenniferh@epilepsynse.co.uk,website www.epilepsynse.co.uk).
Fragile X
Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited cause of inherited learning disability. It affects boys and girls, and shows itself in a wide range of difficulties with learning and behaviour problems. These vary from subtle educational delays to severe mental handicap. The most striking feature of Fragile X is the challenging behaviour. A typical Fragile X boy is inattentive, easily distracted, impulsive and overactive. Girls are usually less affected than boys, but have similar attentional difficulties. They are often extremely shy and socially withdrawn.
The Fragile X Society runs regional meetings about the disability, and provides four national helplines for education statementing, epilepsy, family welfare benefits and adult services. It also publishes booklets, papers, conference reports and an award-winning 20-minute video showing wide-ranging effects of Fragile X, which costs 5 (including p&p). A Fragile X information pack is also available free to professional enquirers.
Contact the Fragile X Society, 53 Winchelsea Lane, Hastings, East Sussex TN35 4LG (01424 813147, e-mail info@fragilex.k-web.co.uk,website www.fragilex. org.uk).
Hearing impairment
The National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) runs various conferences and workshops around the country for people working with hearing-impaired children. These include:
* Inclusive working in the early years: Who does what, where?, in Wolverhampton on 22 June. This conference will examine the roles each profession plays in successful multi-agency support of newly-identified deaf children, focusing particularly on the importance of early years support.
* Working in the classroom, in Swansea from 16 to 18 July. This three-day course for nursery nurses, classroom assistants and auxiliaries working with deaf children in nursery, primary and secondary education looks at the issues of non-teaching staff working with deaf children in education.
* Learning support assistants training course, in London on 19 and 20 September. This two-day course is for non-teaching staff working with deaf children in primary schools. A similar course for learning support assistants in Scotland will be held in Edinburgh in early October.
* Inaugural all-Wales NDCS conference, in Cardiff on 2 November.
For Scottish events contact NDCS Scotland, 293-295 Central Chambers, 93 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 6LD (0141 248 2429, fax 0141 248 2597). For all other events contact the National Deaf Children's Society, 15 Dufferin Street, London EC1Y 8PD (020 7490 8656, fax 020 7251 5020, telephone helpline 020 7250 0123, website www.ndcs. org.uk).
Language difficulties
It is estimated that five per cent of children under the age of five in Britain suffer from stammering. While most outgrow the condition without treatment, some 25 per cent don't and are left with a stammer into adulthood. The British Stammering Association estimates that about 35,000 children across the UK are currently at risk of having a stammer in their adult lives and should be referred to a speech and language therapist.
The Association has produced a leaflet with BT to raise awareness of the problem among parents and carers working with pre-school children. It contains help and advice on how to spot the signs of stammering - tense and jerky speech, stretching sounds in a word or putting extra effort into saying words, for example - and where to go for help.
The Association also provides free information packs for parents of children under five, primary and secondary school children, teenagers and young adults, adults who stammer as well as speech and language therapists. In addition, it can put UK residents in touch with their local NHS speech and language therapy department. These departments usually operate on a self-referral basis so you can make an appointment yourself.
The Association has a helpline on 0845 603 2001.
Contact the British Stammering Association, 15 Old Ford Road, London E2 9PJ (020 8983 1003, fax 020 8983 3591, e-mail mail@stammering.org,website www.stammering.org).
The I CAN Training Centre runs a wide range of one-and two-day courses and seminars for childcare professionals working with language-impaired nursery-age children. They include:
* Communication in the classroom: An introduction to identifying and supporting children with speech and language impairment in schools, in London on 12 July (ref 515) and 3 December (ref 545).
* A musical approach to developing communication, a two-day course in London on 14 September (ref 518) and 7 December (ref 548).
* Linking language targets to the curriculum, in London on 20 September (ref 554).
* A practical, multi-disciplinary approach to working with nursery-aged speech and language-impaired children, in North Tyneside on 21 September (ref 574).
* Practical ideas for the management of children with autistic spectrum difficulties in a school setting, in Rainworth, Nottinghamshire, on 24 September (ref 522).
* Supporting learning for children with speech and language impairments, in Rainworth, Nottinghamshire, on 5 October (ref 526).
* Warm, hot, scorching maths!, in London on 8 October (ref 527).
* Learning how to learn: Helping dyslexic and language-disordered children to access the curriculum, a two-day course in Sutton, Surrey, on 16 and 17 October (ref 531) and 27 and 28 November (ref 543).
* Intensive interaction, in Edinburgh on 30 October (ref 533).
* A practical introduction to Paget-Gorman Signed Speech (PGSS), in London on 15 November (ref 537).
* Talking to learn: Learning to talk, in London on 16 November (ref 538).
* Autism: A social skills approach for children and adolescents, in London on 21 November (ref 541).
* Weaving foundations for later reading development into naturalistic oral language intervention for early years and reception children with language delays, in London on 22 November (ref 542).
* Communication in the classroom: A focus on expressive language impairment (ref 546), in London on 4 December.
* Setting the foundations for nursery-aged children with speech and language difficulties, in London on6 December (ref 571).
Contact the Training Administrator, The I CAN Training Centre, 4 Dyer's Building, Holborn, London EC1N 2QP (0870 010 7088, fax 0870 010 7089, e-mail training@ican.org.uk,website www.ican.org.uk).
The charity AFASIC helps children overcome speech and language disorders. It has decided not to offer short courses at present, although it will be holding a:
* Parents' conference, at Aston Villa Football Ground, Birmingham, on 10 November, in conjunction with the Department for Education and Employment. This conference will examine the impact of the DfEE pilot projects on speech and language therapy in relation to good practice and lessons to be learned. The main speaker will be Hilary Cass, who will talk on overlapping syndromes and issues around 'labelling'. There will also be a variety of workshops.
Contact Carol Lingwood, Conference and In-service Training Co-ordinator, AFASIC, 29 Hove Park Villas, Hove, East Sussex BN3 6HH (01273 381009, e-mail carol's work, contact it at 69-85 Old Street, London EC1V 9HX (020 7841 8900, fax 020 7841 8901).
Learning difficulties
Learning disability is a lifelong condition which results from damage to the brain before, during or after birth, or from genetic or chromosome factors, such as Down syndrome. The charity Mencap works with people with a learning disability to fight discrimination. It campaigns locally, nationally and in Europe to raise the profile of learning disability issues and to ensure that people's rights are recognised and they are respected as individuals. Mencap also provides residential, education and employment services, leisure opportunities and individual support and advice for people with a learning disability, their families and carers.
Its leisure arm, Gateway, provides a variety of opportunities for personal and social development. Gateway has 700 clubs and projects around the country providing activities such as sport, music, dance and drama. Mencap operates throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and there are hundreds of local Mencap societies and other groups, which are affiliated to the national Mencap organisation. Scotland has its own learning disability charity called Enable (0141 226 4541).
Contact Mencap, 123 Golden Lane, London EC1Y 0RT (020 7454 0454, fax 020 7608 3254, public liaison officer on 020 7696 5593, website www.mencap. org.uk, e-mail information@ mencap.org.uk).
The British Institute for Learning Disabilities (BILD) is the leading organisation in the field of learning disabilities. It can provide information from its extensive library service, provide specifically-designed training for all staff who work with children who have learning disabilities and offer a wide range of publications. All training is delivered by professionals who work with children who have learning disabilities and who have developed particular expertise in all aspects of learning disability. BILD also holds conferences, seminars and workshops.
Contact Liz Howells, BILD, Wolverhampton Road, Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY10 3PP (01562 850251, fax 01562 851970, e-mail lizh@bild-edn.demon.co.uk,website www.bild.org.uk).
Leukaemia
Leukaemia is the most common cancer in children, diagnosed in 450 children in Britain every year. Another 150 children develop lymphoma. About 70 per cent of childhood cancers are acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Most of the rest are acute myeloid leukaemias. Leukaemia represents one third of children's cancers overall. The majority of cases of ALL occur in children aged between two and five. Children are treated with intensive chemotherapy and follow-up therapy often lasting several years. However, survival is good, at almost 80 per cent for children with ALL and lymphoma. The causes are poorly understood but one possibility may be related to an unusual response to a common infection.
The Leukaemia Research Fund (LRF) is the only national UK charity devoted exclusively to improving treatments, finding cures and investigating the causes and prevention of cancers of the blood and related conditions, in children and adults. It supports major research initiatives investigating the causes, development, diagnosis and treatment of children with leukaemia. The Trust has produced a leaflet, Leukaemia in children: Meeting the challenge, which gives a summary of research so far.
Contact the Leukaemia Research Fund, 43 Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3JJ (020 7405 0101, website www.lrf.org.uk).
Meningitis
The Meningitis Trust, formerly the National Meningitis Trust, is the leading charity providing information and advice on meningitis - inflammation of the meninges, the linings surrounding the brain - and meningococcal septicaemia, which is blood poisoning caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream and multiplying uncontrollably.
The Trust can arrange for staff to visit early years settings and give talks to nursery nurses and managers and parent groups which cover all aspects of the disease - particularly how to recognise the signs and symptoms. It also has free publications available to nurseries and other settings, About meningitis and Symptoms card, which give nursery nurses and parents general information on the disease. An informative symptoms poster is also available.
* Meningitis Awareness Week is being held from 23 to 29 September. Each year during the week the Trust organises a sponsored Toddle Waddle for children up to the age of five to raise funds to help fight the disease.
* The Trust provides specialist counselling, a home-visiting service and has a network of community groups throughout Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England.
* The Trust has a 24-hour nurse-staffed helpline on 0845 6000 800.
Contact the Meningitis Trust, Fern House, Bath Road, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 3TJ (01453 768000, fax 01453 753588, e-mail info@meningitis-trust.org.uk,website www.meningitis-trust.org.uk). Its Scotland office is at 19 Hillfoot, Houston, Renfrewshire PA6 7NR (01505 322 466, also fax) and its Northern Ireland office is at 35 Thornhill Parade, Belfast BT55 7AT (028 9070 4020, also fax).
Multiple births
The Twins and Multiple Births Association (TAMBA) aims to provide information and mutual support networks for families of twins, triplets and more by highlighting their unique needs to all involved with their care. The charity has a range of products available to parents and carers, including leaflets, books and newsletters. It has specialist support groups for one-parent families, parents of triplets or more, special needs families, those who have lost one or more of a multiple-birth set, and parents who are expecting or have twins, triplets or more as a result of fertility treatment. TAMBA members also have access to professional advice through the Parent Professional Forum.
There is also a TAMBA Twinline, a confidential listening support and information service, whose volunteers are the parents of twins or triplets and have undergone a comprehensive training programme. The Twinline is 01732 868000 and runs on weekdays from 7 to 11pm and 10am to 11pm at weekends.
For an information pack, send two first-class stamps to TAMBA, Harnott House, 309 Chester Road, Little Sutton, Ellesmere Port CH66 1QQ (0151 348 0020, fax 0151 348 0765, website www.tamba. org.uk).
Paediatric care
Every year millions of children receive treatment in GP surgeries and hospitals in Britain. Of those who stay in hospital, more than 500,000 are under the age of five, with a further 3,000,000 attending hospitals for accident and emergency treatment. Action for Sick Children is the UK's leading children's healthcare charity, specially formed 40 years ago to ensure that sick children always receive the highest standard of care in hospital, at home and in the community. The charity aims to ensure sick children's special needs are taken into account and that the whole child is treated - not just their illness or injury. To achieve these aims, it promotes certain beliefs, including:
* Children should never feel isolated or threatened;
* Children should be involved in decisions about their treatment, along with their parents; and
* Children should never be put on an adult ward in hospital, but have their own friendly environment in which parents should be allowed to stay.
Action for Sick Children has developed a unique training programme for health professionals which focuses on understanding the emotional needs of children when commissioning or delivering health services for children and young people. The charity has a freephone helpline on 0800 074 4519, for parents with problems or queries regarding their child's healthcare, from how to register the child with GP to what to expect when they go into hospital.
Contact Action for Sick Children, 300 Kingston Road, London SW20 8LX (fax 020 8542 2424, e-mail action_for_sick_children_edu@msn.com,website www.actionfor sickchildren.org). Affiliated offices are, for Scotland, Action for Sick Children (Scotland), 15 Smith's Place, Edinburgh EH6 8NT (0131 553 6553) and, for Wales, the Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital, 31 Penyrheol Drive, Sketty, Swansea SA2 9JT (01792 205227).
Portage
Portage is a home-visiting service for pre-school children who have special needs. It is based on the principle that parents are the key figures in the care and development of their child. The Portage home-training scheme was developed in Wisconsin, US, in the early 1970s to meet the needs of young children living in rural communities in an area called Portage. The scheme is different from other educational services for young children for instead of taking children to the service, the service is brought to the children and their families in their own home. Portage is based on four main activities -weekly home visits by a trained home visitor; weekly written teaching activities designed for each individual child and parent; teaching and recording carried out by the parent; and weekly supervision by the home visitor.
The National Portage Association runs a:
* Three-or four-day basic training workshops throughout the country. These cover its history, theories and basic practice, and are suitable for parents and professionals working with pre-school children who have special needs.
Contact Brenda Paul, Administrator, National Portage Association, 127 Monks Dale, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 3JE (01935 471641, 9am to 1pm, Monday and Thursday).
Special educational needs
Concept Training runs multi-sensory training workshops and holds multi-sensory conferences nationwide on topics including:
* A multi-sensory environment for special children.
* Getting in touch: Sensory approaches to learning disabilities/challenging behaviour.
* A sense of freedom - meeting the needs of people with autism.
Contact Concept Training, 15 Beach Street, Bare, Morecambe, Lancashire LA4 6BT, e-mail concept.training@ kencomp.net.
The Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education (CACHE) runs a Professional Development Award (PDA) on:
* Working with children and young people who have special needs. This specialist award is an award of considerable breadth and depth, and includes an understanding of the legal, social and emotional implications of work in this area.
It is recommended that candidates have received training in child development through a recognised awarding body, or have completed an award in mainstream child development, or have experience of working in this area.
Contact CACHE, 8 Chequer Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 3XZ (01727 847636, fax 01727 867609 e-mail info@cache. org.uk, website www.cache. org.uk).
The National Association for Special Educational Needs (NASEN) runs workshops and conferences useful to primary and special school teachers, and at least one residential study course each year. Topics covered recently include:
* Speech and language difficulties in the classroom.
* Numeracy in special education.
* Functional language in the classroom.
* Emotional and behavioural difficulties.
* Autism.
Contact NASEN, 4-5 Amber Business Village, Amber Close, Tamworth, Staffordshire B77 4RP (01827 311500, fax 01827 313005, e-mail welcome@nasen.org.uk).
The National Early Years Network offers a range of customised in-house training courses in early learning. Subjects covered which are relevant to developments in this area include:
* Making policy on special educational needs.
* The Code of Practice.
* Developing practical skills for including disabled children in early years settings.
All courses are linked to Ofsted requirements, NVQs and other Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)-accredited qualfications.
Contact the National Early Years Network, 77 Holloway Road. London N7 8JZ (020 7607 9573, fax 020 7700 1105, e-mail neyn.org@virgin.net).
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) runs courses at its national training centre in Leicester. These include:
* Working with parents of children with learning difficulties.
* Working with children who are sexually abusing other children.
* Working with girls and women who are survivors of child sexual abuse.
Contact Gillian Weston, Training Administrator, NSPCC National Training Centre, 3 Gilmour Close, Beaumont Leys, Leicester LE4 1EZ (0116 234 0804, fax 0116 234 0464, e-mail gweston@nspcc.org.uk, website www.nspcc.org.uk).
NIPPA, the Early Years Organisation runs a training course in Northern Ireland on:
* Working with children who have special needs.
Contact NIPPA, Enterprize House, Apollo Road, Belfast BT12 6HU (02890 662825, fax 02890 381270, e-mail training@nippa.org).
The Wales Pre-school Playgroups Association runs courses including:
* Playing together, for pre-school workers. A six-part, 12-hour course which looks at promoting good practice in the integration of children with special needs into a pre-school setting.
Contact the Wales Pre-school Playgroups Association, Ladywell House, Newtown, Powys SY16 1JB (01686 624573, fax 01686 624577, e-mail info@walesppa.org).
Visual impairment
The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) runs:
* A certificate course for learning support assistants working with children with visual impairment and multiple disabilities.
Specific objectives include developing practical skills to facilitate interactive approaches, an understanding of visual impairment and how this affects everyday work in the classroom, and helping assistants to develop the skills essential to become effective members of multidisciplinary teams.
There are no formal entry requirements, but it will involve some writing tasks. The course is offered throughout the UK using RNIB's network of education centres.
Contact your nearest RNIB Education Centre - East, Warwick House, c/o Exhall Grange School, Wheelwright Lane, Ash Green, Coventry CR7 9HP (02476 369500); London, 224 Great Portland Street, London W1N 6AA (020 7391 2245); North, Grosvenor House, Headingley, Leeds LS6 2DZ (0113 274 8855); Northern Ireland, 21 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast BT2 8HD (028 9027 8118); Scotland, Dunedin House, 25 Ravelston Terrace, Edinburgh EH4 3TP (0131 311 8521); Wales, Trident Court, Eastmoor Road, Cardiff CF24 5TD (02920 450440); West, Whittington Road, Worcester WR5 2JX (01905 357635).
General courses
Children in Scotland runs courses, seminars and workshops of particular interest to early years workers. In-house and tailor-made training can also be arranged. The programme reflects current Children in Scotland development areas, including early years, rural childcare, special needs, children and families affected by HIV and AIDS, the Scottish Parenting Forum, Childcare information services, and Men and Childcare Scotland (with One-Parent Families Scotland).
Contact Children in Scotland, Princes House, 5 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh EH2 4RG (0131 228 8484, fax 0131 228 8585, e-mail info@childreninscotland. org.uk, website www.childrenin scotland.org.uk/children).
The National Children's Bureau runs many seminars and workshops on issues relating to children of all ages.
Contact the National Children's Bureau, 8 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7QE (020 7843 6000, fax 020 7278 9512, website www.ncb.org.uk).
