29 December 2009

Parents with disabled children will now get better support to help with childcare following a £12.5 million cash boost from the Government, Ed Balls and Children's Minister Dawn Primarolo announced today as they also called on local authorities to do more to help disabled children access childcare.

The cash injection will fund the national roll out of the Disabled Children's Access to Childcare Programme, following ten successful pilots across the country. The programme will help parents of disabled children, who are understandably cautious about using childcare, benefit from expert advice and support when choosing services for their child.

As part of the programme, 'Parent Champions', who are parents in the local area who have experience of using childcare for their own disabled children, could help other parents understand the services and support available to them. The champions would be recruited by local authorities across the country to promote the new services to other parents. They will give parents greater confidence in making the most of the services available, and ensure they have someone to turn to discuss any concerns they may have.

The £12.5 million fund is being allocated across the country, with the remaining 142 local authorities who were not part of the pilot each receiving at least £59,000.

Local authorities will have flexibility to use the funds to meet local needs, choosing from a range of options developed by the ten pathfinders. These include creating the 'Parent Champions' as well as providing specialist training for childminders and staff so that they have the skills they need to work with disabled children. It could also be used to produce better information for parents of disabled children so they are more aware of the options available to them.

Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, said:

"We want every child to have the opportunity to be happy and do well, no matter what their background is or the challenges that they face. I know from talking to parents of disabled children how important short breaks can be, both for the children and their families, and this funding backs up our commitment. Every child matters and that means every disabled child matters too."

Children's Minister, Dawn Primarolo said:

"Understandably, some parents of disabled children are apprehensive about using childcare because of the unique and special requirements that their child has. That's why I want to make sure that all families have access to high quality support which is most suitable for them. I'm delighted that we are rolling out the Disabled Children's Access to Childcare Programme nationally following the successful pilots, helping to improve the lives and outcomes for disabled children. It will give parents the information and choice they need and staff the specialist training they require to make a real difference.

"We have already seen from the ten pilot areas the benefits that this programme brings, with more disabled children having access to childcare. I'm keen to promote the Parent Champions who can speak with fellow parents in similar situations, explain all the options available and help them to know what to ask or look out for. As a result, we expect parents to gain confidence and enable their children and their families to take full advantage of what is on offer."

To help local authorities use the funding to maximum effect, the Department for Children, Schools and Families will be holding a National Take-Up Conference in February, featuring workshops run by representatives from the current pilots to promote good practice. The Department will also be producing a report on the experiences and findings from the pilots; showing new local authorities how they can best use their funding by highlighting the activities that the original pilots found most effective.

Editor's Notes

This press notice relates to 'England'

1. DCSF announced £340m for the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme over 2008-09 to 2010-11 of which £35m was for improving childcare for disabled children.

2. The 10 pilot areas started Disabled Children's Access to Childcare Programme in September 2008. The remaining 142 local authorities receive their funding in April 2010. There will be £12.5m available to the 142 local authorities for 2010-11.

3. Funding for each local authority will range from £59,000 to £119,000 depending on the size of the authority and other characteristics of the area such as social deprivation.

4. The Department of Health confirmed £340 million in primary care trust baselines over the same period for wheelchairs, community equipment, short breaks and palliative and end-of-life care for children.

5. The report for LA's can be found here:
http://publications.everychildmatters.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=DCSF-01203-2009

6. The 10 pilots areas and activities taken place:

Barking and Dagenham

Delivery of extended services and holiday provision for children with autism.

Training on autism, disability awareness, messy play, challenging and behaviour management has been delivered to childminders and out of school providers in conjunction with National Autistic Society.

14 childminders have now been recruited and 4 childminders are now providing care for children with additional needs.

Bradford

Mechanisms are now in place for instilling confidence in parents to use childcare services including the appointment of Parent Champions linked to their local children's centre and employing play partners to support inclusion of children in out of school settings of their choice.

A team of inclusion mentors has been recruited to work in settings to demystify inclusion, develop confidence and change attitudes.

Camden

Developed a volunteer programme as a route into employment with parents recruited on to the programme; either on a work placement, entering work, or undertaking training.

Welfare rights advice and discussion on work and training and childcare has been provided to over 50 parents.

Inclusion staff now working across a range of settings - to support individual placement and develop holistic inclusive provider approaches.

Cornwall

Over 50 children who have not previously accessed extended services have attended extended services.

A community childminding network has been launched to support childminders who mind disabled children and young people.

Includer service enabling children to access a wide range of mainstream services (not previously accessed) has been developed.

Luton

Development of parent champions to provide a brokerage service

Developed work with Extended Services, special schools and mainstream provision to develop access to extended services and holiday activities.

Northumberland

Ongoing joint work with the Families Information Service to enhance and inform more parents to ensure they access this service.

DCATCH Inclusion Co-ordinators introduced who are acting as brokers for parents who are looking for support within childcare in order to work or access training. They work with the FIS to secure appropriate childcare for each family.

Effective joint working with childcare providers including around the introduction of the Inclusion Toolkit.

Nottinghamshire

Currently supporting over 100 disabled children whose parents are either working or seeking employment to access childcare.

Introduction of a brokerage manager to assist in finding suitable childcare.

Introduction of a specialist equipment loan scheme for disabled children accessing childcare provision.

Oxfordshire

Developed a range of childcare options, including, 13 childminders currently recruited to the Enable Childminder Network.

Currently developing a range of support and training for the providers of childcare, play and leisure so that they can provide responsive provision to disabled children and children with additional needs.

Sefton

Establishing an intensive training programme including training children's centre staff in relevant specialisations and developing an understanding of early identification, referral and transition processes.

Planning for summer holiday childcare for up to 15 children and young people with complex needs - training all staff in generic core competencies, augmented by specific competencies appropriate to needs of the children.

Solihull

Introduction of specialist Parent, Young People and Child Champions.

Completed training of professionals from a variety of backgrounds to understand what inclusion really means - this will help to audit other settings regarding inclusivity.

Introduced KIDS Activities - which has supported over thirteen children to engage in activities that allowed their parents to go back to work.

Contact Details

Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk

Press Notice 2010/0003