For families in St Helens

Our community based learning opportunities improve understanding, develop skills and share experiences so that you can better support your child or young person.

Learning Programmes and Workshops*

Community Network Groups

Information & Advice

*Our commissioned offer for families is open access and completely free. There is no referral or diagnosis needed. We are here for your family from the very beginning of the journey, to support you to understand challenging behaviour, identify characteristics of neurodiversity and explore strategies to improve difficult situations at home and school.

ADDvanced Solutions helps families to grow together...

without the support from ADDvanced Solutions and the knowledge and understanding that I have learned, I am not quite sure where I would quite be.... I didn't understand my son but now I understand him so much more. The friendships I have made from coming to the Advanced Solutions groups have given me overwhelming support and they just bring so much comfort each week.

I have learned a lot of coping strategies coming here so I would definitely recommend ADDvanced Solutions for that. But knowledge is power and knowing more about it definitely makes you more able to cope with it and deal with it.

Learning Programmes & Workshops for St Helens Families

Through our community-based groups, we offer free programmes and learning opportunities that support the families of neurodivergent children & young people, who may also have specific learning difficulties or associated mental health needs.

We also offer weekly informal learning, advice and support at our community network groups, no need to wait or book just come along.

ND Conditions Learning Programme

Covering Autism, ADHD and Sensory Processing Difficulties as well as specific learning difficulties, SEND and the local offer, the neurodevelopmental conditions learning programme gives parents and carers the knowledge and confidence to better understand and meet the needs of their neurodivergent children and young people with or without a diagnosis.

The next face to face programme in St Helens will be across 3 Wednesdays 25th February, 4th and 11th March 2026 – 9.30am – 2.45pm. You attend all 3 sessions.

We also run this programme online in a webinar format, with cameras and microphones switched off, interaction is via the chat. The next ND Conditions online programme will be across 6 Tuesday evenings beginning 6th January.

Autism Learning Programme

Designed to help parents and carers, whose child or young person has received a diagnosis of Autism, to develop their understanding of the condition. Although priority will be given to parents and carers whose child has received an autism diagnosis, those on the pathway are also able to attend if places are available.

Two versions of this programme run in St Helens focussing on the challenges at specific life stages.

Our next is Autism Learning programme – Tweens and Teens Focuses on the specific presentations and needs of autistic young people as they navigate, high school, puberty and increased social expectations. is across 3 Wednesdays – 21st and 28th January and 4th February – 9.30am – 2.30pm.

Sessions will cover:

communication skills
sensory processing differences
self-esteem and mental well-being
different thought processes
discussing a diagnosis
supporting independence

Parents will learn valuable strategies for supporting their children and young people with daily life and with their special educational needs and enabling them to achieve their full potential.

We also run an online version of the programme with information and references for all ages of children and young people. It runs in the evening in a webinar format, with cameras and microphones switched off, interaction is via the chat. The next online Autism Learning programme will be across 6 Thursday evenings beginning 8th January.

Learning Workshops

Structured online learning opportunities, delivered on-line, supporting parents and carers around specific areas such as:

Sensory Processing Difficulties
Eating Difficulties
Supporting Sleep
Barriers to School Attendance
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Understanding and Supporting Behaviours that challenge
SEND Process & EHCPs
Encouraging Independence
Preparing for the Future

ND and Me (ages 8-14)

In small groups, we are commissioned to provide learning opportunities for children and young people to better understand themselves and their neurodiversity, build confidence, find strategies to manage their challenges and feel positive about the future. Requires parents / carers to have completed our ND Learning Programme.

Post Diagnosis Autism Coaching

We have a limited number of places for 1-1 coaching for autistic young people (aged 11-19) in St Helens, to help them to understand their diagnosis, build strategies to manage their challenges and feel positive about the future. Once parents and carers have completed the Autism Learning programme, they can enquire about availability if they feel their young person would benefit.

St Helens Community Network Group

Our St Helens Community Network Group runs each Tuesday afternoon in term time, 12.30pm-2.30pm at Willowbrook -The Living Well, Borough Rd, St Helens WA10 3RN.

We offer a weekly opportunity for informal learning and support, discussing a different topic each week and sharing experiences and the local offer in your area.

You can find details of the weekly topics in our termly What’s On Guide or our what’s on calendar.

If you cannot make it to the group, see if another group or our online offer is more suitable.

Supporting you to find the answers around:

St Helens SEND Local Offer

ADDvanced Solutions Community Network are part of the SEND Local Offer in St Helens.

St Helens Local Offer has lots of information about Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). The Local Offer helps you understand what services and support you can expect from a range of local partners.

For families in St Helens

Our community based learning opportunities improve understanding, develop skills and share experiences so that you can better support your child or young person.

Learning Programmes and Workshops*

Community Network Groups

Information & Advice

ADDvanced Solutions helps families to grow together...

ND Conditions Learning Programme

Autism Learning Programme

Learning Workshops

ND and Me (ages 8-14)

Post Diagnosis Autism Coaching

St Helens Community Network Group

ADHD

Autism

Sensory Processing

Sleep

SEND & School Attendance

St Helens SEND Local Offer

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