Childcare services for parents and carers of children with additional needs

Bedfordshire County Council is committed to ensuring that the childcare and early years provision developed and established across Bedfordshire provides a service that includes all children.

We believe that every child has a right to a safe, stimulating and inclusive environment to enable them to reach their full potential. We have a dedicated Early Years Inclusion Team and Childcare Development Officer whose role it is to ensure that this takes place.

The work of the Early Years Inclusion Team

Support provided to childcare and early years settings:

• monitor and evaluate a setting's Special Educational Needs and Equal Opportunities policy.
• provide advice and support to settings in developing inclusive early learning environments.
• provide support and training to Special Educational Needs and Equal Opportunities Co-ordinators.

Support provided to children and parents:

• visit and assess individual children's needs after a referral from an early years education setting or a parent. Parental permission will be obtained before this takes place.
• provide initial telephone advice for an unnamed child.
• provide recommendations to both parents and a childcare setting.

Special Education Needs Funding

In order for settings to increase the access and attendance of children with disabilities specific funding is available for, additional staffing, specialist training and equipment.

For information regarding additional funding for an early years setting please call (01234) 228120.

For information regarding additional funding for a childcare setting please call (01234) 262584.

Specialist Childminding Services

The National Childminding Association manages the 'Specialist Childminding Services'.  The co-ordinator for the scheme helps to find a suitably trained registered childminder to care for a child that has an additional or special need.

Childminder's on the scheme:

• have received extra training to work with children who have additional needs.
• receives on-going support from the Co-ordinator.
• offers a flexible package, to meet your child care needs, whether this is providing full day care or arranging shorter periods of care according to the needs of both you and your child.

For further information please contact the National Childminding Association (01234) 242818.
 

INFORM 0-19

INFORM 0-19 provides free information, advice and support to parents and carers on all registered childcare provisions and services for children and young people in Bedfordshire.

INFORM 0-19 also holds information and contact details on local support groups and activities for children with additional needs.

For more information please call 0800 023 2057.

Useful Contacts

Autism Bedfordshire
Support group for individuals, parents and carers.
Tel: (01234) 350704

Early Years Support Services
Offers educational support and advice to children from birth to 5 years of age with special educational needs.
Tel: (01234) 290770

Disability Register
Produces a free information newsletter for children and families on the Disability Register.
Tel: (01582) 818181

Disability Resource Centre
Provides information on a variety of topics including equipment, support groups, benefits and transport.
Tel: (01234) 349988
Tel: (01582) 470900

Gate Opener, Bedford & District Cerebral Palsy Society
Information and support for people with Cerebral Palsy, their families and carers.
Tel: (01234) 351759

MENCAP
Family Advisory Service for parents and individuals with learning disabilities.
Tel: (01582) 560003