Worried parents facing holiday upheaval after summer scheme is axed for kids with additional support needs
dailyrecord.co.ukWorried parents at a Kilmarnock school are facing weeks of upheaval after their vital summer scheme was axed days before the holidays.
Frustrated parents of Willowbank have railed against East Ayrshire Council's plan to provide a broad programme of activities for kids across the region.But the decision has meant specifically tailored schemes for children with additional and complex support needs have been canned.Willowbank, which is a specialist provision for children and young people aged 5 to 18 with complex needs and disabilities, has previously operated a 40-hour summer scheme for parents broken into two days for four weeks.And upset parents say the new model is entirely unsuitable for the majority of kids with additional needs.East Ayrshire Council acknowledged their summer schemes wouldn't be for everyone and said that parents of additional support needs parents can contact schools to "commission specific activities".One parent whose 11-year-old son uses the Willowbank summer scheme, asked to remain anonymous.She said: "I'm worried and anxious about how the summer's going to be without routine and structure that he's had previously."He needs a routine and without that he'll be upset.
And I do worry come August how we're going to get him back into school, where's he's not been for a while."There's a lot of upset among parents.
We just want it back to what it was."The mum, whose son has autism and a learning disability, says the scheme gave him a routine during the summer holidays.She added: "My son went twice a week he loved going and it gave him routine during the holidays and it was ran by Willowbank staff and they knew him.
Read more on dailyrecord.co.uk
