A site where the families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can access services in a more comfortable setting is set to open in Clifton.
The SEND Family Hub is set to open in the Children’s Centre based at Clifton Green Primary School following its approval by City of York Council’s executive.
Council SEND lead Maxine Squire said it aimed to offer parents and carers a more relaxed environment to meet with professionals and use services.
Council education executive member Cllr Bob Webb said bringing multiple organisations under one roof aimed to make the SEND system easier to navigate.
The Snappy Trust, York Inspirational Kids Autism Hub and St Pauls Nursery which provides specialist services for younger children are among the organisations set to be based at the Hub.
The proposed site will be part of a network of Family Hubs run by Raise York.
Families would be able to meet specialists including those working in educational psychology, SEND casework officers, with NHS therapy services also on offer.
A council report on the plans stated it would help to link services together after parents said they often overlapped and or felt disjointed.
The Hub is also set to focus on early intervention to try and bring the number of children having to go through assessments down, in turn reducing waiting times.
The report stated it came as SEND services across England remain under significant pressure.
It added that while the Hub could not solve all problems with the system it could help to improve them in the future.
Council assistant director of SEND Ms Squire said despite information and support being available online parents felt there was no substitute for being able to meet people face to face.
The assistant director said: “Parents say that the first time they meet professionals it often feels very formal, this will be more comfortable and relaxed.”
Children’s executive member Cllr Webb said the Hub came as demand for services was greater than it had ever been.
Cllr Webb said: “We want to put children and young people with SEND and their families at the centre of local support, making it easier for them to access the help they need and navigate an often complex system.”