Be All You Can Be
The Scottish Spina Bifida Association (SSBA) received a grant from the Early Years Early Action Fund, which is designed to help improve children’s lives. The SSBA developed the Be All You Can Be project to provide Play And Learning Support (PALs) workers throughout central Scotland to give each family with a child affected with spina bifida and hydrocephalus the opportunity to have individualised and tailored support.
The project supports children from birth to 8 years old and the aim of the project is to deliver an individualised early years play and learning support package to young children who have spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus.
The project staff conduct weekly one to one visits to support and educate children as well as holding groups and meetings at the SSBA's centre in Cumbernauld, the Dan Young Building.
The one to one sessions offer support and education to children through fun and engaging activites as well as advice to parents on a range of subjects relating to their child's development and welfare.
The group meetings give parents an opportunity to meet each other, widen their social circles, share experiences and relax while their children get to experience new things and make new friends.
Project Objectives:
- Provide a safe, happy and caring play and learning environment for children
- Ensure that all children can access high quality learning and development resources
- Ensure that children and parents feel valued, respected and included
- Provide opportunities for parents to meet, network and sahre knowledge within family groups
- Assess children's learning and development needs using Scottish Government education guidelines and policy
- Offer practical support and advisroy services to parents and children
- Offer play and learning opportunities indoors, at home and in the local environment
- Support children's transitions to nursery and school
- Offer continuous professional development training to Early Years Practitioners
