Short Break Stories

Stanmore Playscheme

A story by Stanmore Playscheme

We provided a playscheme based at Stanmore House School 3 days per week for 7 weeks during the school during school break for young people with severe and complex additional support need.

Stanmore Playscheme has been operating for 19 years during school break, it is administered by a voluntary committee registered and inspected by care inspectorate. It provides appropriate play in a safe environment supervised by trained staff, also offering parents/carers welcome respite.

What Stanmore Playscheme did

Stanmore Playscheme runs 3 days a week for 7 weeks of the year. It is based at Stanmore House School. Staff are recruited from staff based at Stanmore House on a casual basis, as some only work up to 21 days or less.

They are all trained and experienced in working with young people with severe and complex additional support needs meaning up to 20 youngsters can attend. Appropriate programmes are offered in a safe environment. A clinical health practitioner/nurse is always on duty.

M has life limiting conditions and often spends time in hospital, however our clinical practitioner has specific training to deal with his condition which allows Mum to have the confidence to leave M in the safe hands of playscheme staff and she enjoyed well-earned respite time.

E and K attended the playscheme for the first time, they are autistic and need time and appropriately organized activities to ensure they are attracted and have attention span to enjoy these activities photographs depict them engaging and enjoying.
Parents of M and G had the opportunity to relax, go out for lunch while M and G were at playscheme. These outings are rare but they were able to enjoy their break in the knowledge that their children were in safe hands enjoying themselves.

What Stanmore Playscheme has learned

We have learned to liaise more with our local social work department and therefore more respite has become available. The fund has allowed us to pay more staff to accommodate an increase in our numbers.
Top tips Stanmore Playscheme's top tips for an organisation that wants to run a similar project
Tip 1:
Have a comprehensive leaflet describing your service .
Tip 2:
Offer opportunities for parents/carers to visit the playscheme.
Tip 3:
Ensure that young people all have their communication diary completed by staff and parents.