Frequently Asked Questions For Parents
Frequently Asked Questions For Parents
If you’re worried about your child’s physical, emotional, learning or social development, you’re not alone. At Proximal Living, we focus on each child’s strengths and potential. A good first step is to speak with your GP or health visitor, who can advise you on what to do next. This can happen before your child starts school or once they’re already in an education setting.
Your GP may refer your child to relevant specialists—such as community paediatricians, educational psychologists or clinical psychologists—to explore any underlying developmental needs. Following assessment, you’ll receive a clear report with recommendations for support. If you’d prefer to move faster, private assessments are also available (at a cost).
An official diagnosis can help families better understand a child’s needs, unlock access to appropriate services, and provide reassurance for both parents and the child. While Proximal Living is not a clinical service and does not make diagnoses, we work alongside families, schools and health professionals to put agreed recommendations into practice.
These plans are statutory and legally enforceable. They set out a child or young person’s special educational, health and social care needs, the outcomes being worked towards, and the specific support required to help them achieve their potential. They are developed by the local authority following a comprehensive needs assessment and apply from birth to 25 where support is needed beyond what a nursery, school or college would ordinarily provide.
Yes. You can say which school you’d like your child to attend.
– If your child has (or is getting) an EHCP: you can ask for a specific school to be named in the plan. The local authority will usually agree if the school can meet your child’s needs, won’t significantly disrupt other pupils’ learning, and is a reasonable use of public resources.
– If your child doesn’t have an EHCP: you can still list your preferred schools through the normal admissions process. Places are offered according to the school’s published criteria and available spaces.
At Proximal Living, we’re not an education provider, but we work with families and local authorities to help make sure the chosen school can meet your child’s needs.
While every young person is different, our children’s home follows a simple, transparent referral pathway:
1) Initial enquiry & visit
A local authority (or commissioning team) contacts us to discuss the young person’s needs. We’ll arrange an initial call and offer a virtual or in-person visit so everyone can get a feel for the home.
2) Information sharing & assessment
With consent from the placing authority, we review key documents (care plan, assessments, chronology, risk information, education/health reports). Where helpful, a senior team member may observe the young person in their current setting or meet them and those who know them best.
3) Matching & impact considerations
We look carefully at compatibility with the home’s statement of purpose, the existing group, locality factors, and safeguarding. This helps us decide whether we can meet the young person’s needs safely and well.
4) Introductions
If there’s a good match, we’ll plan introductions—this could include a meet-and-greet and short visits—so the young person can get to know the home, staff and routines.
5) Offer & transition plan
Following a successful assessment and introductions, we issue a placement proposal. If agreed, we co-produce a clear transition plan with the placing authority (and education/health partners as needed) to support a positive start.
Our aim throughout is to provide a warm, stable environment where children and young people can settle, feel safe and make progress.
Please contact us directly and ask for the Home Manager (or Duty Manager). We will discuss your child’s needs and arrange a convenient time to visit, either in person or virtually.
For looked-after children, visits should be coordinated by the child’s local authority Social Work team.
For safeguarding reasons, visits are by appointment only and visitors may be asked to provide photo ID.
Certain local authorities may assess a means-tested parental contribution. If this applies, the local authority will discuss it with you directly. We do not invoice parents directly. If you’re unsure which route applies, please contact your local authority; we can also signpost you to the right team.
At Proximal Living, we do not use a one-size-fits-all approach. Every child is different. We work with our in house educational psychologist and trusted consultants to understand each child and agree the right support, then put it in place.
We:
• Carry out the assessments needed
• Review them regularly
• Agree simple strategies and adjust them as things change
Support may include help with regulation, communication, sensory needs, identity, or building safe and trusting relationships.
We use the Interactive Consultation Model (ICM). This means we bring together the child, their family (where appropriate), other key adults, and professionals to create practical plans that work day to day.
We build life skills at the young person’s pace, with goals agreed together and reviewed regularly. Support is practical, hands-on, and matched to individual needs. This can include:
• Daily living: cooking, laundry, cleaning, personal care and routines
• Money skills: budgeting, banking, saving and safe online spending
• Travel training: planning journeys and using public transport confidently
• Health and wellbeing: booking and attending appointments, medication routines, healthy habits
• Education and work: CVs, interview practice, work experience, vocational pathways (including support to access education and complete vocational or and ASDAN courses where appropriate)
• Community and safety: shopping, using local services, online and community safety
• Next-step readiness: Develop basic understanding of tenancy agreement, understanding how to pay bills, sharing a home respectfully
Our aim is simple: to help each young person grow in confidence, make informed choices and take the next step towards independent living.
Yes. We can accept referrals for young people who have experienced fixed-term or permanent exclusion, as long as we can meet their needs safely and the match with our home is right.
We work with the placing local authority, the Virtual School and education providers to put an education plan in place. This might include:
• short-term tutoring at home or in the community
• alternative provision (AP) or a specialist school/college placement
• structured routines, confidence-building and study skills
• vocational options (for example, ASDAN modules) and work preparation
Our aim is to help each young person rebuild confidence, re-engage with learning and make steady progress toward education, training or employment.
Note: Proximal Living is not an education provider. Education is arranged with the local authority and the named school, college or AP, while we provide day-to-day support in the home.
We see parents and carers as key partners. Where it is appropriate and safe, we keep families informed and involved in ways that are clear, regular and useful.
• Named key worker: your main point of contact for day-to-day updates and questions.
• Regular communication: calls, texts or emails agreed with you; a simple weekly update on progress and wellbeing.
• Meetings: we involve families in care-planning, review meetings and education meetings (PEP/CIN/LAC) where appropriate.
• Family time and visits: we arrange and support contact as set out in the care plan, including practical help with timings, space and transport where needed.
• Shared goals: we agree a few simple targets together and use consistent strategies at home, in education and in the community.
• Celebrating progress: we share achievements and milestones (with permissions in place).
• Advice and signposting: we offer guidance and link families to helpful services or workshops.
• Feedback and concerns: easy ways to give feedback or make a complaint, with clear response times.
• Accessibility: interpreters, accessible formats and adjustments on request.
Our approach brings together the child and, where appropriate, their family, alongside other key adults and professionals, so support is consistent, safe and centred on the child’s needs.
As a young person approaches 18, we plan early and work closely with them, their social worker, and the Leaving Care Team and or Adult Social Care to agree the next steps. This includes a warm handover, clear goals, and, where agreed in the care plan, planned check-ins to support a smooth transition into the next placement or semi-independent living.
We are committed to working closely with parents, carers, and social workers. If you have a concern, we encourage you to first speak with the staff member you regularly communicate with. If you feel the issue is unresolved, you can contact the children’s home manager (Registered Manager). If further action is needed, you can escalate your complaint by emailing our complaints team at info@proximalliving.com
For more information about our services, or to discuss your child’s needs, please contact us via our Contact Us page: complete the enquiry form, call us, or email us. We will acknowledge your enquiry promptly and a member of our team will guide you through the next steps.