FIG PLAYSCHEME

For many years, the Family Information Group (FIG) has been funded by Havering to provide holiday Playschemes for children and young people with disabilities aged 5 - 18 living in Havering. More than 150 children are cared for each year during all school holidays apart from Christmas.

The FIG playscheme aims to provide disabled children and young people with interesting and stimulating activities which they may not otherwise have access to. Disabled children and young people will have the same opportunities as other children to take part in exciting and new experiences in a safe way.

Children and young people are able to meet up with some of their friends from school, or make new friends during the scheme which will enhance their social skills. The activities and trips we provide also ensure that children and young people attending the scheme will benefit from increased self-esteem, independence and confidence. Parents and carers benefit from a break from their caring responsibilities, knowing that their child is safe and having fun.

FIG employs approximately 55 staff during the schemes, most of whom are local teachers, teaching assistants and nursery staff, or are students at university studying teaching or related fields. Many have experience in working with children with disabilities and special needs and some work in schools such as the Lime Academy Trust locations and Corbets Tey. The majority of our staff come back every year and any new staff recruited often come to us through recommendation. All staff are DBS checked and are employed via our rigorous safe recruitment procedures.

Children are cared for at our premises in Harold Hill, or taken on outings and each child is allocated a member of staff to care for them. The lowest ratio is 1 child to 1 staff member and the highest may be 1 child to 3 staff members. These ratios are maintained during the whole day and when children are taken on outings and are reassessed each Playscheme as the child's needs change. Outings are arranged based on the various needs of the children and often in response to requests and suggestions from carers, children and young people. Not all outings are available for all children and young people and some of our regular trips are:

Sea-side – usually near to Southend and where toilet facilities are available.

Parks – local parks.

Bowling – usually in Southend so that children can have lunch at the Seaside.

Swimming at Ravensbourne School

Splash Parks in Brentwood and Barking.

Diggerland, Hertfordshire Zoo, Willows Activity Farm and other places of interest.

Oxygen Trampolining, City Limits Bowling.

On outings, our buses stay with our groups. Therefore if we need to leave early for any reason, such as bad weather – we can.

Some parents request onsite activities only, or the Playscheme Manager may deem it necessary for particular children to remain onsite for their own safety and comfort. At these sessions we provide Sensory cooking activities, arts & crafts, music therapy from TIME, water & sand play, games, puzzles, bouncy castles, entertainers, soft play bus visits as well as other activities devised by the staff.

In order to access playschemes a child must have been allocated 100 hours short breaks or a package of care by London Borough of Havering. Evidence of this will be required in order to access Playschemes. We can help you with this if needed.

PLEASE CONTACT joannekent@familyinformationgroup.co.uk FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND A REGISTRATION FORM FOR YOUR CHILD

Playscheme admissions policy