By Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children
Access to childcare and out-of-school activities for children with special educational needs (SEN) is notoriously bad. According to a recent survey, eight out of 10 parents who have children with a learning disability claim that their children could not go to an out-of-school activity club either because of access or awareness problems.
However, there are real signs that out-of-school childcare is making major strides in providing for this crucial client group. According to 4Children's industry statistics, in 1999 just 45 per cent of out-of-school clubs said that they offered places for children with SEN - a figure which has risen dramatically to 86 per cent today.
For the most part, this change is a result of a proactive approach to offering places for children with SEN. With 65 per cent of providers operating on school premises, physical access is less likely to be a problem for many. The availability of funding through local authorities and Sure Start is another contributing factor.
However, it is the positive communication that more and more out-of-school clubs are having with parents and teachers of children with SEN which is likely to make a long-term difference.
These changes are encouraging, but we do need to remember that the majority of children with SEN do not have access to an out-of-school place.
There are some inspirational examples of provision for children with SEN around the country. Ensuring that these become a core part of out-of-school provision is a key priority.
The Blue Peter Get Together appeal is raising funds to support out-of-school clubs to provide places for children with SEN. For more information contact www.bbc.co.uk/bluepeter or www.mencap.org/bluepeter.
