Childcare-Sufficiency-Assessment-Refresh-March-2013-Final-Draft

develop/improve their communication and social skills through play based activities. This service is delivered andmanaged through the Early Years Service and ensures the Local Authority is compliant with the Code of Practicefor Children with Special Needs but also provides a form of part time free childcare for parents as well as respite.15.6 Assisted Places SchemeThe Early Years and Family Support Department administer the scheme which is Families First funded. It providesfunding to spot purchase, pre-school play/childcare provision in the non-maintained sector for children withassessed additional needs – which may include disabilities or delayed development. Primarily this funding is usedfor children living outside of Flying Start areas, where family poverty may be an additional barrier to the childaccessing, pre-school play and childcare opportunities.15.7 Holiday Play ProvisionA range of play and care opportunities are available to young children during school holiday periods. If a child isover the age of 5 years, they can attend open access play schemes and if their assessed needs determine extrasupport is required to enable this to happen, then the support is spot purchased from a voluntary organisation. Ifthe child is under 5 years of age and has been assessed as requiring holiday provision to meet their developmentaland/or family support needs, they will be offered a place at a holiday care service where extra staff are available orcan be spot purchased to meet the child’s assessed needs.15.8 Pre-School Playgroups/Cylchoedd MeithrinWherever possible children with disabilities or additional learning needs access pre-school play/childcare withintheir local community and playgroups and Cylchoedd Meithrin provide a comprehensive network of services acrossRhondda Cynon Taf. If the child’s needs are such that they need 1-1 support to enable them to attend, Law yn Llawsources and funds the additional help that may be required15.9 Language and Play (LAP) and TalkaboutThese are two different pre-school services with each being universally available to all children to aid thedevelopment of good speech and language skills, together with early literacy skills from a very early age. Theperipatetic teams of staff, work across the authority with pre-school groups, providing direct support to groups of50