Highlights
Launching our first work in big way!
Our first piece of work was commissioned by Manchester City Council who were keen to review and build on some amazing early years inclusion services locally, ensuring the best use of resources possible. Our review included a series of small meetings with key personnel; a review of the data; desk based research; and a two week block of engagement sessions with the local authority, partners, early years providers, schools, and families. The process aims were to seek information and understanding, and to engage and excite our audiences about the positive change. Our final report links local findings to current legislation, good practice, and evidence; and creates a series of recommendations to help keep Manchester on its journey of continual improvement to improve outcomes for children.
Small Cornish charity supported with big plans
Cornwall Accessible Activities Programme (CAAP) has successfully delivered activities for disabled children and their families in school holidays for over ten years. Like many small charities, they struggle to continuously find the resources to support long term sustainability. Just a small number of days’ support from Families First has created a business plan, a policies and procedures review, and we are now supporting funding applications too. This work aims to create the infrastructure for long term sustainability.
Getting it right from start in out of school provision for school age children
As the government rolls out a Wrap Around package of childcare for school age children and their families, we saw a gap that we couldn’t ignore! Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are far more likely to miss out on their full early years entitlements than their peers, let alone accessing childcare at school age. We know this group of families often need and want to work. We believe inclusion should be at the heart of day to day practice and not an after thought, so we are delighted to be offering a package of training and support to Slough and Enfield Councils which will help achieve that, and reflect the capacity issues faced by both local authorities and the sectors. We are also excited to be thinking big in terms of who the sector is and supporting more join-up across the Wrap Around, Holiday Activities and Food (HAF), and Short Breaks provision.
