Useful Links
At Riverstone Academy, we recognise that supporting a child is a partnership between school, families and the wider community. Access to the right information, services and guidance can make a real difference to children and the people who care for them.
The links on this page signpost families and carers to a range of trusted organisations, local services and helpful resources covering education, wellbeing, SEND support, parenting guidance, financial assistance and community services.
As our school grows, this page will continue to be updated with additional resources that we hope families will find useful and informative
Please note: External websites are not controlled by Riverstone Academy. While we aim to recommend reliable resources, we cannot be responsible for the content of external sites.
We hope these resources provide useful information, support and practical guidance for families both in and beyond the school environment.
- SEND Family Voice Redcar & Cleveland
Supporting young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families. They are a Department of Education funded forum of parents and carers of children and young people (0-25) with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Our main aim is to ensure the needs of our children are met. We bring together parent carer voices from across Redcar and Cleveland to improve engagement between services and families, to empower each other and influence policy and practice. - Redcar and Cleveland Family Hubs
Redcar and Cleveland Family Hubs and wider network, offer help and support to families with children aged 0-19 years (25 with SEND), across Redcar and Cleveland. - CAMHS
Community mental health services in Teesside for children and young people. Providing community mental health services for children and young people in Teesside. - Redcar & Cleveland Health Visiting and School Nursing Team
School nurses offer year-round support for children and young people with identified health needs both in and out of school settings. School Nurses can offer information and support with:
Promoting healthier lifestyles – healthy weight
Preventative education – tobacco, alcohol, and drugs
Sexual health and contraception
Transition – moving to secondary school
School-aged Immunisations
Continence - Daisy Chain
Daisy Chain Family Support team can support in various different ways including developing routines, visuals and social stories, understanding communicative behaviour, identifying your child’s needs and sensory strategies and regulation. They can also signpost and refer to other services that could support you. Support is available to anyone living in the Tees Valley. This encompasses Stockton, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Darlington and Redcar & Cleveland. - Children’s Speech and Language Therapy
Speech, language and communication are core life skills. Children and young people need communication skills so they can fulfil their potential in life. The South Tees speech and language therapy team (SALT) aims to ensure that every child and young person in the South Tees region is offered the help and support they need to achieve this. - Tees Valley Sleep Service
The Tees Valley Sleep Service is delivered across the Tees Valley by Sleep Scotland trained practitioners from the Health Visiting & School Nursing Team and the Family Support Team at Daisy Chain. - Special Guardianship Order Team
Redcar and Cleveland Council has a support service in place for children who are subject to a Special Guardianship Order (SGO). An SGO may be granted when a child cannot live with their parents, and instead parental responsibility is given to another person that is close to them (often a grandparent or other extended relative). Sometimes these carers are called kinship carers. The SGO Team are available to offer support directly to children where needed, and advice and guidance to carers. - Redcar & Cleveland Short Breaks
Short Breaks are available for children and young people who have additional support needs and or disabilities and are intended to have positive benefits for both children and young people and their families. Short breaks provide opportunities for children and young people:
To spend time away from their parents carers;
The chance to develop new friendships;
To develop their independence;
To take part in new experiences and to have fun doing positive activities such as swimming, youth clubs, day trips with friends and much more.
Short breaks aim to provide their parent carers with:
A necessary and valuable break from their caring responsibility;
A chance to rest and unwind;
To spend time with other members of the family.
Short Breaks provision can range from a few hours a week to an allocated number of overnight breaks per year and anything in between.
Redcar and Cleveland’s Short Breaks Offer is provided under 3 categories; Universal Services, Self-Referral Clubs and Social Worker Referral Services.
Short Breaks Team Contact Details
The Short Breaks Team can be contacted by email shortbreaks@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk or by calling 07966 232668 - Max Card
The Max Card is the UK’s leading discount card for families of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council are pleased to confirm following a successful pilot, Max Cards are available upon request (eligibility applies) to local SEND families. Families can use their Max Card at venues across the UK to get free or discounted admission. The scheme is designed to help families save money on great days out at castles, zoos, bowling and much more. - Senses Wellbeing Centre
Senses Wellbeing Centre provides accessible fitness and wellbeing opportunities, promoting healthy lifestyles, inclusion and positive community connections for individuals and families.