What is 'Inclusion'?
Inclusion is about making sure that children with special needs and/or disabilities are able to access mainstream provision. The aim of inclusion is to give children with special needs and/or disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from good quality childcare. To enable this to happen, inclusion addresses the individual child's additional support needs.

The Learning Trust, with Hackney Early Years and Play is committed to developing inclusive practices in childcare settings for children and young people aged 0?16. The Learning Trust has an Early Years and Play Development Manager who is responsible for Inclusion and an Inclusion Officer.

What support is offered?
The Learning Trust have been offering supported places to children within three play sites during term time. The Play Support Workers have been funded by Stamford Hill and Woodberry Down Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) and Barnardos Better Play Scheme.

Most supported places are available during the school holidays at adventure play grounds and playschemes. Funding from Hackney Early Years and Play has enabled almost 70 supported places to be offered at holiday sites across Hackney since Easter 2002.

Who is support provided for?
At present support is provided for children on the mild-moderate scale, in the past this has included children with challenging behaviour, autism and downs syndrome. We have also supported children who require personal care such as changing and feeding.

The aim of a supported place is to tailor support to the individual needs of the child. Play Support Workers provide support to a child or sometimes two or three children depending on the children's additional support needs.

Who can I contact?
The Inclusion Officer takes referrals from social services, schools, after school clubs, adventure playgrounds and direct referrals from parents/carers.

Please note that there is a high demand for this service so it is not possible to meet all demands.

Anthony Greenidge, Inclusion Officer Tel: 020 8820 7517