Holiday Play and Activity Scheme for children with disabilities

The Council provides a specialist Play and Activity Scheme for children with disabilities aged between 4 and 18 years.

Capability Scotland run the Play and Activity Scheme and offer a range of activities including arts, crafts, sports and games accessible to children of all abilities in the Easter and Summer holidays at Saltersgate School.

The Play and Activity Scheme is staffed by qualified playworkers and volunteers who are trained and experienced in supporting children with varying disabilities.

Who can use the Play and Activity Scheme?

To be eligible for specialist Play and Activity Scheme provision the young person must:

• Be ordinarily resident within the Midlothian local authority area
• Be aged between 4 and 18
• Have a disability
• Fall within the criteria of MAPSS stage 2 and 3

(MAPSS is the Midlothian Assessment and Planning Staged System. Children at stage 2 will have additional support in place in universal services, which is usually at school eg support for learning. Children at stage 3 will have specialist support from more than one agency eg respite care.)

2013 Play and Activity Scheme dates

Easter 2013	25 March - 5 April 2013 (excluding bank holidays)
Summer 2013	8 July - 2 August 2013

Please note these dates are subject to final agreement.

How do I get a place?

Places for both the Easter and Summer 2013 Play and Activity Scheme were allocated in December 2012 in accordance with Midlothian Council's Allocation policy:

• Play and Activity Scheme allocation policy (PDF)
  

To make sure you get a place please download and complete the application form and return it to Capability Scotland.

• Play and Activity Scheme application form (PDF)

Is transport provided?

Transport for outings is free for all.

Transport to and from the Play and Activity Scheme is available to anyone who wants it and is free for eligible families - such as those with low incomes or those in receipt of income support.

Other families are asked to contribute a maximum of £2 per journey towards the cost of transport, which will help ensure the future sustainability of the scheme.

All families will continue to have the option to transport their children to the scheme themselves. For more information on the charges for transport see downloads.

How much will it cost me?

The Play and Activity Scheme costs £20 per child per week.

For those who are required to pay and want it, transport costs £20 per family per week. (If you have more than one child using the Play and Activity Scheme the cost is £20 in total for all children.)

How do I prove that I am eligible for free transport

When submitting your application please provide a copy of your latest Child Tax Credit notice - TC602.

If you are in receipt of income support, income based job seekers allowance pension credits and your TC602 is unavailable or doesn't reflect these benefits please provide a copy of your benefit award letter dated in the last 3 months.

How do I volunteer?

Capability Scotland are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers. Training opportunities will be provided. If you would like to volunteer to work at the Play and Activity Scheme the please contact Capability Scotland:

• 0131 347 1009

More information

For more information on the Play and Activity Scheme, download the latest copy of the Play and Activity Scheme newsletter or please contact Capability Scotland.