Specialised Outreach Childcare Scheme (S.O.C.S.)
This Specialised Play scheme was set up as a result of a survey of parents whose children have special needs. This survey highlighted the profound lack of childcare/respite care suitable for their children during school holidays.
The Specialised Play scheme helps parents who have difficulties in finding childcare appropriate to their child’s needs. It offers parents peace of mind knowing that their child is in care that has been specifically designed for their needs, improving the quality of life for parents, children and siblings. It also aims to help families who are rurally and socially isolated from childcare and 
respite services by providing a multi-centre mobile scheme in three separate centres in the areas of:
- Richmond
- Northallerton
- Thirsk
This Specialised Play scheme is available to children between the ages of 5 years and 13 years of age who are unable to access mainstream holiday activities and who live in the Hambleton or Richmondshire areas.
The scheme is run on a staff ratio of 1 staff member to each child. In addition to this we also have some volunteer helpers. Appropriate equipment and activities are provided including soft play, sensory equipment, music, specialised therapies and sports. Occasional trips out are also arranged.
All staff are required to have a Criminal Record Bureau check before working in our scheme. Many of the staff currently work in the special schools in the area and already have a good relationship with the children using the scheme as well as extensive knowledge and experience.
Due to funding constraints the scheme can only run for limited periods in the school holidays and places are limited.
Please feel free to contact us if you require any further information about the Specialised Play scheme. sue.wright@tscca.org.uk.
However if you would like your child to attend our activities you will need to contact Social Services Customer Relations Unit 01609 779999. Places are allocated on the basis of need.
If you feel it is necessary you can contact the Co-ordinator to arrange a convenient time to come and visit you for an informal chat and the opportunity to meet your child, to get to know them a little and to understand their needs before they start using the service. This may help your child settle more easily and help us to ensure suitable staffing arrangements are in place for your child.
The Activity Scheme has an ‘Open Door’ policy. This means that parents and carers will be made welcome at any time of the day.
Once you are on our mailing list information about future holiday provision will be sent directly to you approximately four weeks before the next school holidays. Bookings must be received before the closing dates or we will be unable to accept them.
Many of the young people attending the scheme have special dietary needs. We therefore ask you to provide a packed lunch. If the food needs to be liquidised, please do this at home and send the food in a tightly sealed container. We have the facilities required to warm liquidised food. If your young person cannot drink Ribena or orange squash, we would also like you to send enough drinks for the course of the day
Sue Wright
Administrator
01845 523115
Teenage Activity Scheme(T.A.S.)
T.A.S. helps parents who have difficulty finding childcare which is appropriate to their child’s particular needs. It offers parents peace of mind knowing that their child is in care that has been specifically designed for their needs, improving the quality of life for parents, children and siblings.
The Activity Scheme is aimed at young people between the ages of 13 and 18 years old who live in the Hambleton and Richmondshire area and are unable to access mainstream holiday activities or childcare. It is run during the school holidays on Mondays and Fridays from 9am to 4pm at The Mencap Centre, Northallerton at a cost of £12.00 per day (subsidised by Social Services) and offers a range of activities. Not every child will want to join in each activity and some may have ideas of their own. We hope that one of the best features of the scheme is that we can respond to each person’s ideas and preferences.
Occasional trips out may be arranged and an additional charge for these may be made to cover expenses. When trips are organised staffing is on a one to one ratio.
T.A.S. ensures that the Activity Scheme is well equipped and fully staffed. All staff are required to have a Criminal Record Bureau check before working in our scheme. Many of the staff currently work in the special schools in the area and already have a good relationship with the children using the scheme as well as extensive knowledge and experience.
Please feel free to contact us if you require any further information about the Specialised Play scheme. sue.wright@tscca.org.uk.
However if you would like your child to attend our activities you will need to contact Social Services Customer Relations Unit on 01609 779999. Places are allocated on the basis of need.
If you feel it is necessary you can contact the Co-ordinator to arrange a convenient time to come and visit you for an informal chat and the opportunity to meet your child, to get to know them a little and to understand their needs before they start using the service. This may help your child settle more easily and help us to ensure suitable staffing arrangements are in place for your child.
The Activity Scheme has an ‘Open Door’ policy. This means that parents and carers will be made welcome at any time of the day.
Once you are on our mailing list information relating to future schemes will be sent directly to you approximately four weeks before the next school holidays. Bookings must be received before the closing dates or we will be unable to accept them.
Cancellation Policy:
As much notice as possible of cancellation is
needed or the following charges will have to be made:
Less than 24 hours notice – full charge (£12 per day)
Less than 7 days notice - half full charge (£6 per day)
Many of the young people attending the scheme have special dietary needs. We therefore ask you to provide a packed lunch. If the food needs to be liquidised, please do this at home and send the food in a tightly sealed container. We have the facilities required to warm liquidised food. If your young person cannot drink Ribena or orange squash, we would also like you to send enough drinks for the course of the day.
Administrator
01845 523115
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