Scope - about cerebral palsy. For disabled people achieving equality.

The work of the early years sector is vital in helping make important changes to the way we care and educate disabled children and to the way society values and perceives them, now and in the future.

83% of respondents in a National Audit Office survey in 2004 identified specific barriers to the inclusion of disabled children into childcare provision.

The Council for Disabled Children publication, “Bridging the gap : developing policy and practice in childcare options for disabled children and their families” (2003) highlighted specific difficulties in identifying and finding appropriate childcare for disabled children.
More information from http://www.ncb.org.uk/resources/

The National Service Framework Standard 8 highlighted the problems of disabled children accessing mainstream services, noting that “Disabled children and their families should not be excluded from using mainstream children’s services, and services should be delivered in such a way as to minimise negative impact on family life.”

The National Service Framework has made its first “marker of good practice” that “Disabled children are able to access all mainstream children’s services. These promote active participation and inclusion in childhood, family and community activities.”