This is a section which shows all of the information that relates to the local offer within West Sussex for activities for Children and Young Persons with Disabilities and their Families. Please select the following headings to go direct to the question that may be relevant to you.

What does your service do?
Where is it located and what areas does it cover?
Who does your service provide for?
How can I start using the service?
How are decisions made about who can use your service?
How do you communicate with service users and how are they involved in decision making/planning?
Is your service fully accessible?
What training are the staff supporting children and young people with SEND had or are having?
Who can I contact for further information?

1. What does your service do? What is the key purpose of your service and how does it contribute to better outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their families?

Time Aside delivers to needs groups and individuals through Sensory Art and Interaction in ways which meets the esteem, communication, inclusion and social needs of people of all ages, abilities and disabilities.

The tools that underpin our work are Non-Directive strategies which centre on the needs of people to use a non-objectified activity as play, communication and the telling of self stories. The making of art is not the focus of the session; it is the process of creating and exploring the child’s chosen material that is important. The adult does not judge or question what the child is making, but instead focuses on supporting the story about the experiences of making and what happened on the way.

Children and Young People with Disabilities find that the sessions we offer provide an opportunity to be seen as whole and sufficient to their needs, as being skilled in their capacities of imagination and of their play, which may exhibit greater skill than a parent, guardian or carer as the needs of play arise from communicating that which may be non-literate and which create other modes of expressing oneself. We have found that the need can and does create a new capacity.

The whole family around the child or young person can also benefit by the release from the need to direct and take charge and we often encourage the child or young person to help a parent who might very well find open ended play a bit daunting. This of itself releases anxieties for all parties and allows an acceptance of who we are as individuals and an awareness of differing capacities. In our experience this supports and enhances esteem, builds trust in relationships with others, enables and recognises differing communication modes and recasts how families, parents, children and young people with disabilities and siblings interact with each other.

It’s also a fun and natural thing to do.

What are the typical activities that you do?
We run Sensory Art Workshops for the whole family, with a small sensory area and an area for parents to chat and network with refreshments provided.
Do you have any limitations on the amount of time your service will support a child or young person? NO
Do you provide any on-going support? We provide a listening ear where we can and Sign posting to other professionals and other groups.

2. Where is it located and what areas does it cover?

We run Sensory Art Workshops monthly at Chichester and East Grinstead, Outreach sessions close to East Grinstead, Chichester and Selsey. After School Clubs at Fordwater and St Anthony’s Schools, Chichester.

• Where are your main locations and do you work across the whole local authority area?
As above

• Are there any differences in your offer in different parts of the local authority area?
As above

3. Who does your service provide for?

• What types of need and age ranges do you cover?
We cater for all levels of need, children 0-18years. Children with high needs most welcome.

• What are the eligibility criteria to use your service?
Medium or High level of Care Component, or Self Assessment.

• Are there any types of disabilities that you do not provide for?
No

4. How can I start using the service?

• Can I make direct contact myself?
Yes
• Do you charge for the service and if so, what are the costs?
£5 per family/carer/buddy per session.
• Can I use my personal budget to pay for the service or to add to the service?
Yes
• Are there any waiting lists and if so, how long are they?
There is not a waiting list. Drop ins are warmly welcomed.

5. How are decisions made about who can use your service?

• How are these decisions made and who makes them?
We see ourselves as part of a partnership between our funders WSCC Short Breaks Team, ourselves and the parents/ carers.

We naturally involve all of our attendees or stakeholders in any changes or issues which affect the running of the sessions or of any issues which may arise. We actively encourage individuals to raise issues at every session held and we either speak to the individual personally by phone or through email or social media. We do document these issues and also encourage people to access other advice points if this is required

• How will I know the reasons behind their decisions?
Importantly any changes needed as part of this evaluation or exchanges are initiated and we inform people of why and how this will affect them.

• How will you help me understand them?
We welcome any approaches by individuals and families about any matters of concern or clarification.

6. How do you communicate with service users and how are they involved in decision making/planning?

• What are your usual methods of seeking the views of service users?
Full evaluations, sticky notes for thoughts and feelings, talking/listening to our families.

• Do you use any specialist communication system e.g. signing?
A small amount of Makaton.

• What leaflets and information do you have?
We have a full colour A5 leaflet, our website www.timeaside.com which is updated reguarly and an active Face Book page. We are in the WSCC Directory and with the West Sussex Parents Forum.

• How does the service communicate with parent carers whose first language is not English?
Not easily, but happy to try to find a way to support these families. We also coordinate with Children and Family Centres on this requirement to acertain extra support where applicable.

• How will I know how well my child or young person is doing?
These are Non- Directive Workshops, ie Child led and children always need to be accompanied by a parent or carer.

• Do you offer any parent training or learning events?
No, we can do but it is outside of our tender with the Short Break Team.

7. Is your service fully accessible?

• Is the building fully wheelchair accessible?
Yes

• Have there been improvements in the auditory and visual environment?
No

• Are there disabled changing and toilet facilities?
We have a disabled toilet at each of the venues.

• Do you have a changing places facility? What support is there for a child with additional needs in general areas e.g. waiting rooms?
Sadly, we do not have changing facilities or a hoist, there is plenty of space and a Quiet Room at Chichester only.

• How will my child or young person be able to access all of the activities of the service and how will you assist him or her to do so?
We have a vast array of sensory art materials, something for everyone. If the height of the table is not right for the child, we have lap trays available to use.

8. What training are the staff supporting children and young people with SEND had or are having?

Andrew is a fully qualified and experienced Special Needs Art Teacher, both Andrew and Sueloo are fully trained and experienced Non- Directive Play Practitioners, similar to Play Therapists.

• This should include recent and future planned training and disability awareness.
We are hoping to do a Makaton Course.

• Are there any specialist staff?
Yes two.

• Do any other services work closely with yours?
The WSCC Children and Family Centres in Chichester and Mid Sussex.

9. Who can I contact for further information?

• Who would be my first point of contact if I want to discuss something about my child/young person?
Andrew Baker. (See Contact details)

• Who else has a role in my child’s/young person support?
Sueloo Brown and Children and Family Staff and supervised Volunteers at times.

• Who can I talk to if I am worried? Who should I contact if I am considering whether child/young person would benefit from the service? Andrew Baker or Sueloo Brown we would be very happy to help.

Back to top

Time Aside Ltd (Not for Profit) Company Limited by Guarantee No: 8181599, Arun House, Hurst Road, Horsham, West Sussex. RH12 2DN