Aiming High for Disabled Children

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Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC) is a three year government initiative to improve services for children and young people with disabilities aged between 0-19years.

The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is developing and commissioning  a range of short break specialist provision as well as increasing involvement and inclusion in universal settings such as Children's Centres and Extended Services. The project will run from 2008 until 2011.

Together for Disabled Children is a team that the Government has appointed to oversee the programme and will work with local authorities and their Primary Care Trust (PCT) partners to ensure they meet the Government’s expectations for using the new funds. The amounts that have been allocated to RBK are as follows:

	2008/2009		2009/2010		2010/2011
	Revenue	Capital	Revenue	Capital	Revenue	Capital
RBK	£40k	£0k	£147k	£74k	£475k	£173k
NHS Kingston	£40k		40k		£100k

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• Universal/mainstream sessions such as after school clubs, activity groups, cluns and day care settings such as Children's Centres
• Specialist sessions for children with more complex health needs which includes birth date and overnight short breaks
  

Any child/young person who falls under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) is entitled to short breaks.

Most children/young people will be able to access their short break without the need for an assessment.  However, any family who requests an assessment for their child is entitled to one.

Children/young people who will require an assessment are those needing specialist moving and handling equipment or overnight short breaks in a residential setting.

Some children and families will always need direct access to specialist services, provided by the Disabled Children’s Team in Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

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Since the parents/carers consultation event in February 2009 the comments and feedback made have guided the development of new services funded by Aiming High for Disabled Children.  

The following specialist short break provision has been commissioned:

• Barnardo’s Weekend Activity Group
• Yorda After School Club and Yorda Weekend Adventures
• Yadapa Weekly Drama Group and holiday art workshops
• Shooting Star’s day care for children under 5 years
• 18+ working parents scheme at Dysart School

We have also commissioned:

• Kingston Parents Web Forum
• Website for young people – still in development but imminent
• Aspergers post
• Pilot project in the Youth Support Service mentoring young people aged 14+
• Special Educational Needs PA to provide targeted support for young people aged 15 to 18 years who are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) or potentially NEET.

During the coming year we will be commissioning more specialist leisure provision and other exciting developments such as gardening initiatives in partnership with schools, as well as offering support to both parents/carers and providers in order that children and young people can access provision in mainstream/universal settings.

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Over the next few months the refurbishment of two rooms on the ground floor of The Moor Lane Centre will begin, that will be able to host a multitude of activities. The facility will provide a safe, secure and fully accessible areas for disabled children and young people to be able to enjoy play and leisure activities.

For more information, please contact Caroline Jager by email:
caroline.jager@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

You can also download the following document for the Aiming High for Disabled Children: short  breaks implementation guidance.