Aiming High for Disabled Children

In 2009 the Government introduced the Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC) initiative to transform services and support for disabled children and their families.

Over the last 2 years, as a consequence of additional funding from Central Government and the continued commitment of Bracknell Forest Council there has been a significant increase in the number and range of short breaks available for disabled children and their families in Bracknell Forest. At the end of last year we signed up to the Every Disabled Child Matters Charter - a copy is attached to the right of this page

Short breaks form a continuum of services, which support disabled children and their families. They are provided to give:

Children and young people with a disability enjoyable experiences away from their primary carers, thereby contributing to their personal and social development;
Parents, carers and families a necessary and valuable break from caring responsibilities.

Annually we consult with parents, children and professionals to inform where funding should be prioritised and how improvements can be made to short breaks and services for disabled children.

What we provide
On 1 April 2011 the Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations (2011) placed a duty on Local Authorities to provide short breaks to children and young people with disabilities and their families.

We have prepared and published a Short Break Services Statement (full details are on the right hand side of this page) setting out details of:

The range of services provided;
Any criteria by which eligibility for services will be assessed;
The range of services designed to meet the needs of carers.

Who is eligible and do I have to pay?
There is a wide range of short breaks available for children with disabilities up to the age of 18 years old. However certain activities will take young people up to the age of 19 years old. Information about these activities, including criteria and age range, is disseminated via the Aiming High Service through regular email updates and mail shots. Information is also contained within the Short Break Services Statement.

Activities and support available can be divided into 3 main areas; Universal, Targeted and Specialist settings;

Within universal settings there are no formal assessment processes or eligibility criteria. Fees are applied by the provider;
In targeted settings there are no formal assessment processes or eligibility criteria. Wherever possible the Council has subsidised these services so that only a small fee is applied by the provider.
Specialist services and support including Larchwood Short Break Unit, short break foster carers, direct payments, home care and agency support, community childminders and independent short break providers are provided by the Local Authority. These services are determined following an assessment by Children’s Social Care.

Contact us
Information about support and short breaks is made readily available through the Aiming High Service. If you would like to be added to our database, please contact Jo Lillywhite via email aiming.high@bracknell-forest.gov.uk or telephone 01344 352733.