East Ayrshire Council vow to deliver improved summer programme after criticism of 2022 scheme

dailyrecord.co.uk:

East Ayrshire Council boss Eddie Fraser says that the council has listened to parents as it bids to avoid a repeat of last year's fight over its ASN summer programme.Parents had hit out at the council last summer when they were told that many of the schemes tailored for children with additional and complex support needs had been dropped, just days before the holidays began.As well complaints that they had reduced the number of hours available, there were claims that many of the activities were unsuitable for children with additional support needs.The council said it had set up a broader 'inclusive' summer programme.On Wednesday, chief executive Eddie Fraser outlined how the council had moved to address the issue.He said: "This is the next step in terms of our response to what we heard last year."Mr Fraser said that the 2022 summer scheme had been an 'extensive programme which was inclusive for many people, including ASN'.He continued: "A small number of people and their families with the highest level of need, felt excluded from that.

Many members here were present and heard directly from parents and carers about the experience."Mr Fraser said the council took on board the criticism and arranged an independent review which contained 'quite hard' messages alongside an ambition that the council could 'move forward and be proud of what we deliver'.The Children and Young Persons Strategy Group has been tasked with looking at the broader provision and developing integrated support that allows support for ASN children to 'socialise the same as everyone else'.But Mr Fraser stated that the decision for cabinet was the agreement over a contract with provider Aberlour that will allow better planning and improvements to the summer