Plans to offer even more holiday activities for disabled children are moving forward with the support of Bath & North East Somerset Council.
The Council’s Cabinet has agreed to use Government funding on refurbishing the Lansdown building and outdoor space at Wellsway School, Keynsham, (run by the charity KIDS) and make it more accessible to all for short breaks.
The outdoor space would be transformed into a play area; including artificial grass, two raised flower beds, water play barrels, a swing, an outdoor tent and a play feature. On the request of the parents/ carers, an outside canopy is also proposed so that outdoor play can still take place when it is raining.
The proposed changes to the building include a fully accessible toilet with at least one additional toilet next door and acoustic tiles on the ceiling and frame over the window which should dampen noise in the main room.
Councillor Nathan Hartley (Lib-Dem, Peasedown), Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Youth and Deputy Leader of Council, said: “This project will positively enhance the opportunities for disabled children and young people in the Keynsham area, with families being able to enjoy fully accessible provision after school and in the school holidays.
“The targeted holiday provision commissioned by Bath & North East Somerset Council is designed to cater for up to 15 disabled young people each day, with facilities on offer to fully accommodate the needs of all the young people who want to access it.
“The refurbished the Lansdown building in Keynsham will complement similar provision in Bath and Radstock, and support the Council’s objective of promoting independence and positive lives for everyone, as well as creating neighbourhoods where people are proud to live.”
On the approval of the Cabinet, the proposed refurbishment of the Lansdown building and outdoor space will be funded by a capital grant from the Department for Education’s Aiming High for Disabled Children programme. This was given to provide fully accessible targeted holiday provision in community settings for disabled children and their families in Bath and North East Somerset.
A consultation was carried out with families of disabled children in July 2011. This established a need for a targeted holiday provision for disabled children to be run in Keynsham which was fully accessible both indoors and outdoors.
Working with the charity KIDS, Bath & North East Somerset Council identified a number of sites for the provision to take place. The Lansdown building at Wellsway School in Keynsham was selected as the best venue to suit all needs.
The Council consulted the Parent Carer Aiming High Group for parents and carers of disabled children, who viewed the Wellsway site and contributed ideas to the initial developments and overall design of the indoor/ outdoor space.
The refurbishment is anticipated to take place before the end of 2012 and the charity KIDS hopes to be able to offer activities for all at the improved facility by early next year.
The space will provide inclusive access and may also be hired by other providers to deliver inclusive and targeted provision which will provide opportunities for young people in the community to flourish in a supported environment.
