Long awaited disabled children’s services overhaul announced

A £340 million funding package to improve services for disabled children over the next three years has been announced by the Treasury.

The package, which will be spent over the Comprehensive Spending Review period 2008-11 and is a part of the Treasury led policy review of children and young people announced in the Budget 2006, includes £280 million for short breaks for disabled children and their families. This works out at an extra 40,000 fortnightly breaks.

Other measures include a £35 million pilot project to provide accessible childcare and a £19m transition support programme creating intensive wrap around support for when disabled young people start to use adult services.

A further £5 million has also been announced for parenting forums to be set up in each local area to enable parents to help shape services.

A public service agreement on services for disabled children is set to be created by the government. This will be underpinned by a core offer outlining the support the group are entitled to and how to access it at a local level.

Launching the reforms, economic secretary Ed Balls said: “The government believes that every child matters. This review will take us closer to achieving our aim of ensuring that every disabled children can have the best start in life.

Aiming High for Disabled Children: Better Support for Families

Policy review of children and young people