Disabled Children's Charity in Kent
Family AdviceThe aim of our Family Advice Service is to ensure parents, carers and young people have access to timely, accurate, and independent information as well as advice and support.
1-1 Advice
Under 5s Play Sessions
Parent Support
Education Support
Parenting Programmes
Fathers Club
The aim of our Family Advice Service is to ensure parents, carers and young people have access to timely, accurate, and independent information as well as advice and support. This enables you to take an informed and active role in any decisions relating to SEND processes and day-to-day activities. Priority support is given to our members, (please see our website for information about membership), however, we welcome enquiries from anyone in need, within the areas of Dartford, Gravesham, and Sevenoaks.
The service aims to empower parents, carers, and young people and to help you ensure your voices are heard.
The Family Advice staff team are well established and has accessed independent training in Disability Benefits, SEND Practice and Procedure, Behaviour Management, Autism & ADHD Awareness, and all have personal experience of supporting disabled children.
Please read a copy of our latest impact report.
How we can support
- Telephone enquiry line, Mon – Fri 10 am until 2 pm
- Weekly Advice drop-in clinics (term time only)
- Support group meetings
- Parent training courses/workshops
- Home visits (if approved by the service manager)
- Support at meetings
Our advisers can
- Meet with you to discuss your concerns
- Help you prioritise actions
- Give you information & advice about referral pathways
- Help you understand a diagnosis that has been given
- Give you an overview of SEND processes
- Offer advise which may help you manage your child’s behaviour
Extended services for members
- Help you complete benefit forms and draft letters/emails
- Help you prepare a parental request for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP’s)
- Give you advice and support relating to annual reviews of EHCP’s
- Support you at meetings with professionals in relation to health, education and social care matters
Our advisers can not
- Speak for you
- Make decisions for you
- Represent you in benefit tribunals
- Advise or support you with SEND tribunals
- Give you legal advice
- Dual work alongside other agencies including Early Help and IASK
- Provide therapeutic input suggested by Health Services, including Camhs
Please note, our Family Advice Service does not offer out of hours or emergency support. If you require support outside of our office hours, please visit the link below.
Disclaimer
Whilst our team has substantial experience in our field of work, the information and advice we give are general and as such, does not constitute ‘Legal Advice’. You must not rely on the information given as an alternative to legal advice from a solicitor or other professional legal adviser.
1-1 Advice
Our Family Advice face to face clinics take place weekly at a number of venues. Our experienced team can help you to prioritise the key areas of support needed.
For each session, we have two advisers available to facilitate.
Our helpline remains open Monday to Friday, 10am until 2pm.
Our service is provided for families with disabled children and young people in the Dartford, Gravesham, and Sevenoaks districts. From 1st January, we will also be covering Bexley.
We can help you through the maze of services, agencies and processes. This is particularly useful around the time of diagnosis where parents often feel isolated and are unsure of what to do next.
Fathers Club Kent will not hold in-person meetings anymore. Going forward, sessions will take place online via a private Facebook group, allowing dads and granddads to continue connecting, sharing experiences, and accessing support.
To join, search for Fathers Club Kent on Facebook and send a request. You can also contact the facilitator via email below.
Here are just a few areas of support given:
- Help parents draft letters to request and access support.
- Signpost to other specialists.
- Give strategies to manage challenging behaviour.
- Give a good listening ear on any concerns.
- Information on dealing with education professionals to ensure your child receives the right support.
- Ideas on where to take your child for leisure activities that have special services for a disabled child.
Advisers are available at regular Drop in Advice Sessions, or in exceptional circumstances by a home visit.
Dartford *New Venue*
When: Tuesdays, term time only
Time: 9.30 am – 2 pm
Where: Dartford Valley Rugby Club, Cotton Lane
Dartford DA2 6PD
Clinic will resume as normal in Dartford on Tuesday 27th January 2026
For emergency or out-of-hours support, please click here.
Sevenoaks
When: Wednesdays term time only, starting 10 September
Time: 10 am – 2 pm
Where : House in the Basement, Youth Cafe, Stag Community Arts Centre, London Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 1ZZ
We are in the basement of the Stag Theatre. Entry via right hand side of the building.
For emergency or out-of-hours support, please click here.
Gravesend
When: Thursdays term time only, starting 11 September
Time: 9.30 am-2 pm
Where: The Maltings, City Praise Centre, 9-11 Lower Road, Gravesend, DA12 2LY
For emergency or out-of-hours support, please click here.
Our clinics are open advice sessions. No need to book. Come along and join us.
It is not always possible to ensure total privacy in these Drop-in Sessions, particularly at peak times. If confidentiality is essential to you, please make this known to the adviser and they will do their best to accommodate you.
Under 5s Play Sessions
Explore and Discover New Under 5s Play Sessions at Beams
We’re excited to launch our brand new stay and play sessions for children under 5 and their parents and carers.
Each week features a new theme, think messy play, creative arts, and imaginative discovery.
The sessions have been designed with a gentle structure to help your child feel at home while hitting those important developmental milestones.
Join our FREE launch event.
When: Monday 9th February
Cost: FREE (special launch offer)
Venue: We Are Beams, Hextable, Kent BR8 7RJ
Times: Choose from two sessions, 10.30am until 11.30am or 12pm until 1pm.
Our first block of sessions will bring favourite children’s stories to life, beginning with the classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Following the launch, sessions will run weekly during term time for just £3 per child. We keep our groups small to ensure a great experience, so spaces are limited.
Parent Support Group
Our Parent Support Group meets once a month and offers support and guidance to parents and carers.
Support Group at Ifield Smile
We will be running a Family Advice Support Group from 10 am to 12pm at Ifiled Smile, Gravesend.
Next dates (10am – 12pm):
21 April 2026
16 June 2026
Please note, places are limited and will be on a first come, first served basis. Booking is essential. To book a place, please email.
Support Group at We Are Beams Hextable
Our Family Advice Support Group is held at We Are Beams, Allsworth Court, 38-40 St Davids Road, Hextable, Swanley BR8 7RJ.
No need to book, just come along and join us. For each session, we have two advisers available to facilitate.
Next dates (10 am – 12 pm):
Thursday 12 Feb
Thursday 19 March
Thursday 14 May
Thursday 2 July
Education Support
Beams Family Advisors can provide you with information and advice on education and help you prepare a parental request for an Education, Health and Care Plan.
We offer Education Advice through the drop-in 1 to 1 sessions throughout the three areas we serve.
Support will also continue to be available to families through their local SEND Information, Advice and Support Services (SENDIASS) and also through the national Contact helpline.
Within Kent, the local SENDIASS service is provided by:
Information, Advice and Support Kent – IASK
Helpline: 03000 41 3000. Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.
Email: iask@kent.gov.uk
Address: Shepway Centre, Oxford Road, Maidstone, ME15 8AW
Telephone: 03000 412 412
Please see the links below for more information on EHC Plans:
- About EHC Plans
CLICK HERE - Annual Reviews of EHC plans
CLICK HERE - Kent County Council Local Offer:
CLICK HERE
Further information/support
Parents may wish to look at Ipsea’s website for additional legally based information and resources including helpful template letters.
Ipsea’s vision is that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities are able to fulfil their potential. With a mission to help children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, and their families and carers, to get the appropriate education, training and support to which they are entitled under the law.
Sossen offer a free, friendly, independent and confidential telephone helpline for parents and others looking for information and advice on Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). They also have a regular advice clinic in Kent plus various online training events throughout the year.
Parenting Programmes
Our Family Advice Team works with professionals and agencies to deliver a number of parent programmes, courses and workshops aimed at supporting parents of children with a disability.
Our popular parenting programme Cygnets is a course for parents of children with ASD aged between 5 – 17 years.
The course runs for 6 weeks, is 3 hours per week, and covers arrange of topics including:
- Week 1 – Introduction to autism
- Week 2 – An overview of autism, with parent
and carer experience - Week 3 – Thinking and Sensory
- Week 4 – Social interaction and
Communication - Week 5 – Understanding and Supporting
Behaviour - Week 6 – Analysing Behaviour
- Week 7 – Follow Up Session held later in
the year
There is a follow-up session approximately 3 months later. Refreshments are provided (tea, coffee, biscuits). There is no crèche facility or funding for childcare costs at present.
Criteria:
Your child has or is on the pathway to a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum. Condition and is aged between 5 and 18 years old.
For more information or to be added to the waiting list please contact us.
Fathers Club
Our Father’s club meet once a month and offers support and guidance to fathers and grandfathers of children with Autism.
Fathers Club Kent holds meetings once a month, offering support to Fathers and Grandfathers of children with Autism.
Welcoming and informal the club aims to provide knowledge and support for fathers to improve the quality and future of their child. The club has supported hundreds of families over the past few years.
Fathers Club Kent will no longer hold in-person meetings. Going forward, sessions will take place online via a private Facebook group, allowing dads and granddads to continue connecting, sharing experiences, and accessing support.
To join, search for Fathers Club Kent on Facebook and send a request. You can also contact the facilitator via email below for any questions.
The Big Lottery Fund through their reaching communities programme is a valued partner of Beams funding our Family Advice Team and inclusive playschemes.
Proudly supported by Masonic Charitable Foundation
