Willowbank School is a specialist provision for children and young people aged 5-18 with complex needs and disabilities who are the most vulnerable in our community. 

The summer holidays can be a challenging time for ASN children as they benefit most from routine and familiarity and they are suddenly faced with 7 weeks of no routine and no structure. Families struggle to provide opportunities for their children as due to their needs they are unable to go out and play with friends or attend the numerous clubs, camps and play days that are available to attend over the summer holidays.

Until 2019, Willowbank operated a very successful4 week Summer Scheme offering all school pupils 1 or 2 sessions a week. The Scheme was based at Willowbank (although involved trips out in the local community and further afield) and was funded by EAC Social Work Department & EAC Education Department. The programme was managed and staffed by the AMAZING Willowbank Staff. 

This Scheme was invaluable to the young people and their families as the young people were able to socialise in a safe and supportive environment with staff that they knew. Parents were comfortable in leaving their children with people they knew and trusted.

East Ayrshire Council has decided to discontinue this model and two weeks before the summer holidays has announced an “integrated model of summer provision” which will offer a “much more tailored approach delivered in individual communities”.  Essentially what this means is that Vibrant Communities will operate a range of activities open to all children (as they do each year) and Willowbank pupils could chose to attend. Most, if not all of these activities are inappropriate for Willowbank pupils, are in environments that the young people do not know and would be staffed by people the young people and their parents do not know, with no confirmation if they would have appropriate training and/or experience to work with our young people. Parents/Carer would also have to attend to support their children.

Clearly this is in no way comparable to the Summer Scheme that the School used to deliver. 

EAC’s decision to end the Summer Scheme was never discussed with the parents or the young people in the school. Law and policy all state that young people's voices should be heard and respected, but EAC did not consult with the young people who benefit most from this service.

We want East Ayrshire Council to continue to offer the Summer Scheme as it was pre-COVID and acknowledge this is the most appropriate resource for our children over the Summer Holidays. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this fully with the appropriate EAC staff.