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Find out about changes to our services and Christmas opening times on our Festive information page. To find out when your bin will be collected over the festive period, visit Changes to County Durham bin collections at Christmas.

Due to maintenance, the following systems will be unavailable from 11.45am on Tuesday 24 December until 8.00am on Thursday 2 January: our online Council Tax, business rates and housing benefit services, and our welfare assistance form. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Educational Psychology drop-in sessions for parents and carers


Educational psychologists (EPs) help children and young people with a wide range of different needs, such as, learning, communication and language, social and emotional-wellbeing, practical skills or being independent.

We can help if, for example:

  • you are worried your child is not talking enough
  • you struggle to know what is best to do when your child has a 'tantrum'
  • you've noticed your child does not play with other children much
  • your child is always on the go and does not sit still for any activity
  • your child really struggles to be apart from you
  • your child is feeling anxious about school
  • you want to discuss preparing your child for adulthood

If you have concerns about your child, come to our drop-in sessions where our friendly team can provide advice, discuss your concerns, and help you plan your next steps. These drop-ins are informal and focus on providing advice. If you believe your child requires more help, assessment, or direct support, please speak to their school's SENDCo about involving our Specialist Inclusion Support team as part of a graduated approach. The Specialist Inclusion Support team is the term used to describe our EP team, our advisory teaching teams, Portage etc. See Special educational needs support.

Our drop-in sessions can get busy, so the EP may not have time to speak to everyone. We will let you know how many people are waiting. The EP will do their best to see everyone, but if they can not, they will discuss other drop-ins to reschedule your visit.

The graduated approach is the term used to describe the stages of support learners with Special Educational Needs (SEN) move through. It usually begins with an early Short Note, followed by a SEN Support Plan. If learners require lots of additional support, SEN Support Plans can have additional funding or children have Educational, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). See SEN support and the graduated approach.

Drop-ins are running at:

VenueDate and time
Bishop Auckland Family Hub

From 12.30pm to 2.30pm on:

  • 16 December 2024
  • 17 February 2025
  • 28 April 2025
  • 16 June 2025
  • 18 August 2025
  • 21 October 2025
  • 15 December 2025
Brandon Family Hub

From 12.30pm to 2.30pm on:

  • 23 January 2025
  • 27 March 2025
  • 22 May 2025
  • 24 July 2025
  • 25 September 2025
  • 27 November 2025
Chester-le-Street Family Hub

From 9.30am to 11.30am on:

  • 16 December 2024
  • 17 February 2025
  • 28 April 2025
  • 16 June 2025
  • 18 August 2025
  • 20 October 2025
  • 15 December 2025
Consett Family Hub 

From 9.30am to 11.30am on:

  • 4 February 2025
  • 1 April 2025
  • 3 June 2025
  • 5 August 2025
  • 7 October 2025
  • 2 December 2025
Durham Family Hub

From 9.30am to 11.30am on:

  • 20 December 2024
  • 21 February 2025
  • 25 April 2025
  • 20 June 2025
  • 15 August 2025
  • 17 October 2025
  • 19 December 2025
Easington Family Hub

From 12.30pm to 2.30pm on:

  • 16 January 2025
  • 20 March 2025
  • 15 May 2025
  • 17 July 2025
  • 18 September 2025
  • 20 November 2025
Ferryhill Family Hub

From 9.30am to 11.30am on:

  • 14 February 2025
  • 11 April 2025
  • 13 June 2025
  • 15 August 2025
  • 10 October 2025
  • 12 December 2025
Horden Family Hub

From 9.30am to 11.30am on:

  • 9 January 2025
  • 13 March 2025
  • 8 May 2025
  • 10 July 2025
  • 11 September 2025
  • 13 November 2025
Newton Aycliffe Family Hub

From 12.30pm to 2.30pm on:

  • 28 January 2025
  • 25 March 2025
  • 20 May 2025
  • 22 July 2025
  • 23 September 2025
  • 25 November 2025
Peterlee Family Hub

From 12.30pm to 2.30pm on:

  • 5 February 2025
  • 2 April 2025
  • 4 June 2025
  • 6 August 2025
  • 1 October 2025
  • 3 December 2025
Seaham Family Hub

From 9.30am to 11.30am on:

  • 10 February 2025
  • 14 April 2025
  • 9 June 2025
  • 11 August 2025
  • 13 October 2025
  • 8 December 2025
Stanley Family Hub

From 12.30pm to 2.30pm on:

  • 8 January 2025
  • 12 March 2025
  • 14 May 2025
  • 9 July 2025
  • 10 September 2025
  • 12 November 2025
Tudhoe Family Hub

From 9.30am to 11.30am on:

  • 13 December 2024

12.30pm - 2.30pm from 2025

  • 9 January 2025
  • 6 March 2025
  • 1 May 2025
  • 3 July 2025
  • 4 September 2025
  • 6 November 2025
Wheatley Hill Family Hub

From 9.30am to 11.30am on: 

  • 3 February 2025
  • 7 April 2025
  • 2 June 2025
  • 4th August 2025
  • 6 October 2025
  • 1 December 2025
Willington Family Hub

From 9.30am to 11.30am on:

  • 14 January 2025
  • 11 March 2025
  • 13 May 2025
  • 8 July 2025
  • 9 September 2025
  • 11 November 2025


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