Children Ahead offers children and young people with learning and emotional difficulties a wraparound package of specialist intervention and support.
We also work with families and schools to help them create and sustain supportive environments for children.
Children Ahead is the tale of two organisations, both setting out in July 2010.
One led by parents with first-hand experience of children with learning difficulties; the other launched by a group of educators and school governors whose
students struggled to access the support they needed, locally.
Situated around the corner from each other in Hackney, North London, neither knew about the other. Each was determined to find a solution to the growing numbers of Orthodox Jewish children with learning difficulties facing barriers accessing mainstream provision.
They meet. And meet again. They put their individual legacies aside to explore community needs and discuss shared organisation goals and ambitions. They consider financial sustainability, staffing, strategic aims and governance models.
Parent-led Organisation
2010
Educator-led Organisation
2010
Parent-led Organisation
Educator-led Organisation
2013
2023
It’s a privilege to be a mentor at Children Ahead. The boy I mentor has lost his father and it’s thrilling to see his eyes light up each week as he chooses his activity. It’s a vital opportunity for him to get away from his challenging life. I also learnt to be more sensitive and attuned to the needs of vulnerable children.
E.L, Mentor
Placing children at the heart of all services helps them own their journey of growth.
Advocating for children’s needs and giving them a voice, ensures they can access the services and resources they are entitled to.
Internal collaboration, as well as with parents, schools and other voluntary and statutory organisations, achieves the best outcomes for children.
Supporting at an early stage means we avoid problems escalating.
Setting ambitious goals for the children bolsters their belief in themselves.
Having outstanding qualified practitioners deliver only recognised and high-quality interventions is the way we can ensure consistent positive outcomes.
Our ‘child-centered approach’ means we build a network of supportive people, therapies, and services around each child. They goal is always to build the child’s belief in himself.
Helping schools to create the best environments for learning and wellbeing.
Giving parents tools to empower their child.
Setting goals and helping the child reach them through therapies and other services.
Setting goals and helping the child reach them through therapies and other services.
Helping schools to create the best environments for learning and wellbeing.
Giving parents
tools to empower
their child.
It’s not just that I’m able to join conversations during break time and class discussions. It’s that I’ve become a different person since working with Shana every week. And in a good way. I know who I am and I know what I’m good at.
Understand our evaluation process;
We were very unsure about sending Yoni to Children Ahead for help. We worried about yet another programme with endless sessions, endless time and no real progress. Then the therapist explained their GO system to us - Yoni would get targets and we would be able to track his development with tangible outcomes. We felt so relieved and empowered that this was a journey we could join, track, and really get Yoni the help he needed.
Treasurer and founding trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Founding trustee
Chair
Service Manager
Head of Services
Project Manager
Psychotherapy Clinical Lead
Psychotherapy Clinical Lead
Speech and Language Clinical Lead
Occupational Therapy Clinical Lead
Specialist Teaching Lead
Occupational Therapy Clinical Lead
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