Holiday camps for children with special needs

Parents with children who have any sort of needs ranging from mild to severe often find it quite difficult to find holiday activities that are inclusive, are sensitive to and take into consideration such needs. One of our mums have kindly sent us a list of camps that include holiday camps which cater specifically to children with such needs and camps that are inclusive and welcoming of such children.

London Children’s Practice
http://www.londonchildrenspractice.co.uk/

http://www.londonchildrenspractice.co.uk/about-us/

 

The London Children’s Practice offers activity days throughout periods of school holidays. These camps provide the opportunity for your child to engage in fun and interactive activities whilst in a supportive therapeutic environment. They are designed to support children to develop their speech, language, play and social skills through a combination of structured language communication and sound activities and supported free play.

Evidence shows that many children make better progress in group settings as the skills targeted are consolidated and generalised into more realistic goals.

Additionally, the Practice also offers input from Occupational therapists and Art Therapy during holiday camps.

For bookings and any queries please contact: [email protected]

The needs supported by the clinic include but are not limited to, the following:

• Language disorders and delays
• Cognitive behaviour disorders
• Sensory processing disorders
• Speech disorders including dyspraxia
• Dyslexia and other learning disabilities and difficulties
• Specific language impairments
• Voice disorders, non-fluency/stammering
• Attention and auditory processing deficits
• Autism and related neurological disorders
• Asperger syndrome
• Emotional and behavioural difficulties
• Hearing impairments
• Gross and fine motor impairments
• Visual perceptual impairments
• Articulation and phonological delay/disorders
• Feeding difficulties/Dysphagia

 

Camp Beaumont
http://www.campbeaumont.co.uk/

 

The camps cater to children from the age of 3 to 16 and are inclusive of children with needs. They run multi activity day camps around London and residential camps called Kingswood camps and come highly recommended.

The camps can be booked on a daily basis or you can get a one day, three day or weekly pass.

 

I can dance
http://www.icandance.org.uk/

Icandance is a charity that holds dance classes for children of all abilities. The classes are held on Saturdays and children are grouped depending on age.

The charity describes itself as follows,
““icandance believes that everyone, regardless of disability, can access their own creativity through dance. We believe that dance enhances confidence and emotional wellbeing” Juliet Diener, Founder & Principal

We have developed a unique approach to dance which encourages creativity and integrates the use of specialised educational methods, developmental movement, expressive dance, therapeutic interventions and ballet technique. This approach encourages creativity, fosters social interaction and builds confidence.

Juliet is a Ballet Teacher (AISTD), Special Needs Teacher (HDE & Feuerstein Method) and a Senior Registered Dance Movement Psychotherapist (MA, SRDMP). She combines her love for dance, and her expertise within special and mainstream education and therapeutic settings to create a fun, social and educational approach to dance.

Members of the icandance team are specialists in dance, special education and dance movement psychotherapy or other related fields. icandance is managed by Trustees who combine a range of skills in commerce, finance, creative industries and social support services. Some of our Trustees are parents of young people with disabilities.”

 

Chicken shed
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/summer-shed-2016

Chicken Shed is a theatre group which started an inclusive theatre programme launched in 1974. Primarily based at their own purpose-built venue in North London, they create theatre for all ages and run successful outreach projects, education courses and membership programmes throughout the year. Performance is at the heart of everything that they do and brings together all aspects of the company. Their work uses the stage to celebrate diversity and performance as a vehicle to communicate with audiences and tackle topical social issues. They regularly present original and entertaining productions for young children, families and adults and also create new work, inspired by people they know, about personal and social issues that affect society today which they then take on tour to theatres, community centres and schools across the UK.

 

 

Thrive
http://www.thrive.org.uk/

Thrive uses gardening to bring about positive changes in the lives of people living with disabilities or ill health, or who are isolated, disadvantaged or vulnerable.

This is known as social and therapeutic horticulture – the process of working with plants to improve physical and psychological health, and communication and thinking skills.

It is also uses the garden as a safe and secure environment in which to develop an individual’s ability to socialise, make friends, and gain practical skills that make them more independent and self-reliant.

Using gardening tasks and the environment Thrive horticultural therapists build a set of activities for each gardener aimed at improving their health and wellbeing and achieving particular goals identified by the gardener themselves or by their family, support workers or carers.

 

 

Role models
http://www.rolemodels.me/sen-summer-camps-2016/

Role Models is a unique service providing skilled & engaging ad hoc and ongoing part-time childcare.

They inspire children to create and learn, whilst having fun at the same time.

Not only do Role Models have extensive childcare experience but they are also lucky enough to be super talented in at least one of music, arts & crafts, drama, sport or homework (whilst many also come with other talents such as cooking or languages).  What’s more, they all love sharing their passion with children.  Ongoing Role Models can normally commit to a minimum of 3 months, potentially longer depending on your requirements (e.g. after-school care or full time roles in the holidays).

They have a variety of courses and also run summer camps for SEN children. http://www.rolemodels.me/category/latest-news/