Daycare Trust launches childcare guide for parents of disabled children
Ross Watson
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Parents of disabled children have been issued with guidance to help them take advantage of new government funding for local authorities which comes into effect today.
Childcare charity Daycare Trust has produced the Guide to Childcare for Disabled Children, to coincide with the £12.5m national roll-out of the Disabled Children's Access to Childcare (Dcatch) Programme.
"Many of the parents Daycare Trust speaks to frequently report a lack of information, inconsistency in service provision, being charged extra for childcare for their disabled child and inaccessible and non-existent services," said Daycare Trust chief executive Alison Garnham. "Our new guide will give parents the information they need to feel confident accessing the services that they are entitled to."
The guide offers advice on what parents can expect, what their options are and what local authorities are duty-bound to provide. It also offers guidance on where to get support and financial assistance.
Dcatch aims to help parents benefit from expert advice and support when choosing childcare provision. It follows on from 10 pilots, which have been running since September 2008. Areas the pilots focused on include monitoring take-up of childcare by parents of disabled children, consulting with families, providing families with better information, improving awareness among practitioners and making disabled childcare more affordable.
Copies of the Guide to Childcare for Disabled Children booklet can be ordered by emailing info@daycaretrust.org.uk.
