Funded Specialist Early Learning and Childcare

Creating more opportunities for young children with complex additional support needs and their families

At Craighalbert, we believe every child deserves opportunities to learn, play, communicate and achieve, whatever their needs.

We know that finding suitable early learning and childcare can be particularly challenging for families whose children have complex health, care, communication and learning needs.

With support from the Scottish Government's Childcare Support Fund, we are re expanding our specialist early learning and childcare provision to create additional opportunities for children and families who might otherwise struggle to access suitable support.

Our aim is to provide flexible, personalised early learning and childcare that helps children thrive while supporting parents and carers with employment, education, training and family life.

LEARNING, PLAYING AND GROWING AT CRAIGHALBERT

Every child is different, and our approach reflects that.

Craighalbert provides a welcoming, fully accessible environment where children can explore, play, communicate, develop relationships and build confidence.

Our experienced education, therapy, health and care professionals work together to provide learning experiences shaped around each child's strengths, interests, needs and aspirations.

We recognise that children's learning, health and wellbeing are closely connected. By bringing specialist knowledge and support together, we aim to remove barriers to participation and create opportunities for every child to achieve their potential.

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Who could benefit?

The additional service is intended for young children with complex additional support needs whose families are experiencing difficulties accessing suitable early learning and childcare.

We particularly want to reach families on lower incomes and those facing financial or other challenges because suitable childcare is unavailable or difficult to access.

Families may benefit when:

Their child has limited or no access to suitable early learning and childcare.
Existing childcare arrangements have changed or become unavailable.
Parents or carers need childcare to access or sustain employment, education or training.
Changes in family circumstances have created a need for additional support.
Children need support during a transition into, between or beyond early learning and childcare settings.

These are examples rather than a complete list. We recognise that every family's circumstances are different and encourage families to get in touch to discuss whether the service could meet their needs.

Families already involved in Craighalbert's Early Intervention Programme, as well as those who are new to Craighalbert, are welcome to enquire.

What support is available?

Support will be planned around each child and family's circumstances and may include:

Personalised assessment and planning
Our multidisciplinary team will work closely with families to understand each child's strengths, needs and interests and agree a personalised plan for their learning, health and care.

Flexible attendance**
We anticipate offering up to two full days or four half-day sessions each week, depending on individual circumstances, assessed needs and availability.

Specialist learning and care
Children will have opportunities to participate in a range of play and learning experiences, supported by professionals with expertise in complex additional support needs.

Support with travel
We recognise that transport can be a barrier for families and will explore opportunities to help with travel costs where funding arrangements allow.

Planning for transitionsWhere appropriate, we'll work with families and other professionals to explore longer-term early learning and childcare options and support transitions into other settings.

Working together with families and other services
Families know their children best, and their knowledge and experiences are central to our approach. We will work in partnership with parents and carers from the initial assessment through to planning and reviewing their child's support.

We also recognise the importance of helping other early learning and childcare providers develop their confidence and capacity to support children with complex additional support needs.

Where appropriate, we can work alongside local settings and partner organisations to share specialist knowledge, contribute to risk assessments, provide training and support transitions.

Our ambition is to help more children access the right support, at the right time, in the setting that best meets their needs.

Information about funding and eligibility

This additional service is supported by the Scottish Government's Childcare Support Fund, which aims to improve access to suitable childcare for families experiencing financial disadvantage and other barriers to employment, education or training.

The funding is intended to complement existing childcare support rather than duplicate it.

What does this mean for families already attending Craighalbert

The new service is intended to create additional opportunities, not reduce existing specialist support.

If any changes to a child's current arrangements are proposed, these will be discussed and planned with their family.

Developing the service for the future

The additional provision is initially funded until 31 March 2027.

We will use the experiences of children, families, staff and partner organisations, alongside evaluation of the service, to inform the future development of specialist early learning and childcare.

While we hope to build on this work, funding beyond the initial period has not yet been confirmed.

Find out more

We would be delighted to hear from families who think this service could benefit their child.

Places will be limited, and attendance arrangements will be agreed following an assessment of each child's needs and family circumstances.

Whether your family is already involved with Craighalbert or you are getting in touch for the first time, please contact us to find out more and discuss the opportunities available.

Get in touch!

or you can call us on 01236 456 100 or email us admin@craighalbert.org.uk