Talking about the inclusive West Oxford Holiday Playscheme, which runs during the school summer holidays, Christina, aged 9, explains, 'We do games that everyone can play, you can use ordinary games and change the rules a bit so anybody can join in, you can make up some too.'
Jack, also aged 9, adds, 'We went ice skating and we done a quiz. We got asked, "What is Big Ben?" When we went swimming we had a huge float, and me and Lewis climbed on it, and Alex pushed us off!'
Alex, who has cerebral palsy, has a power chair that came in particularly handy on the ice rink. In a part of the ice rink that was especially cordoned off, a little train of shrieking children, formerly clinging to the side of the rink, got a free fast ride by holding on to the back of Alex's chair set at top speed! 'I got very cold,' he said later, 'but I do want to go again.'
Funding and training
Tracey Collins, childcare development officer (disability) for the Oxfordshire Early Years and Childcare Service, says, 'Although the situation is changing, there is still a real shortage of provision for disabled children, particularly those who need extra support in order to enjoy holiday and social activities with other children - and whose families also need the break.'
She adds, 'It's not as hard as people think to organise an inclusive scheme. There are many funding programmes around now and money available for training. And playschemes offer unique potential for breaking down barriers - in play, children get to know each other and build relationships that then transfer to school.'
Pam Beal, a colleague of Tracey's, agrees, 'The beauty of playschemes is that they are not "structured" - children are free to choose what they do, you can cater for more needs, and the children have choice and responsibility and the freedom to play - and unlike school, the children are coming of their own free will!'
The best inclusive playschemes have a few outings and these will need careful planning. Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) says that all services - and that includes zoos, museums, cinemas, and so on - must be provided on a non-discriminating basis. That is, they must be accessible and/or provide help for disabled people. If any don't, you can take them to the Disability Rights Commission.
Transport and access
It is important to work out in advance how you can transport children or adults who are wheelchair users. Tripscope is a national organisation that can help you find out what is available in your area (call 0845 7585641 or log on to www.tripscope.org.uk). For example, cheap, accessible transport in Oxfordshire is provided by Ring a Ride and needs to be booked a week in advance.
The more you are prepared to research, phone up and even visit in advance, the easier things will be on the day. In the case of the ice rink used by the West Oxford Holiday Playscheme, the manager was consulted a few weeks beforehand, and agreed to cordon off one area of the rink and to lay down a ramp to allow a wheelchair to be able to get on to the ice.
Sometimes compromises have to be made. Taking everyone swimming, for example, meant a slight change of plan for the West Oxford Holiday Playscheme. The scheme had been going to visit an outside pool, but the pool had no adequate changing facilities and the water would have been too cold for some of the children. Switching to an indoor pool in this case meant easier changing and access, and warmer water. And no-one lost out.
Old buildings housing museums, galleries and so on can present their own access problems, but prior arrangement means that a parking space might be reserved, an accessible entrance opened up, and someone can be on hand to point out the whereabouts of the toilet, and to operate platform lifts. Zoos and wildlife parks, sanctuaries and theme parks should all have good access these days, but again, it is wise to plan and phone in advance.
'Attitudes towards disabled children are changing,' says Tracey. 'We are starting to realise that the child is a child first and foremost. We must learn to start taking down the barriers that might discourage inclusion in the same kinds of holiday and out-of-school settings that other children have access to.
'There has never been a better time for doing this, with funding programmes, money available for training, and DDA legislation. At a playscheme, children can learn about differences in relaxed activities where they can just hang out together and "be kids".'
Next month Jane Muir will look at how to make indoor activities inclusive for all children
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
* The innovative group Dynamix will work with playscheme organisers and families, or both, all over the country, to devise training programmes specialising in creative play training, disability awareness and problem solving, with discussion on how to adapt all activities so that no-one has to be excluded. For a fun and 'different' day on a scheme, Dynamix will also run an inclusive circus workshop! Ring 01792 466231 or e-mail: Dynamix@seriousfun.demon.co.uk.
* It doesn't just happen: inclusive management for inclusive play by Philip Douch from Kidsactive, published this spring, covers the ethos of inclusion, providing guidelines on creating and improving policies and practice. Contact Rachel Scott at Kidsactive on 0207 731 1435.
* Me too! is a report published by Mencap looking at the play, leisure and childcare needs of children and young people with disabilities in the West Midlands. The report examines the major barriers to inclusion and how they can be overcome, It can be accessed by visiting the Mencap website at www.mencap.org.uk.
