Stoke-on-Trent Aiming High
Important information
Find out how to access our services
- What you can access - the Core offer
- Booking activities
- Transport
- Non-attendance policy
- Emergency out-of-hours support
- Zero Tolerance
- Comments or Complaints
Further information
What you can access - the Core Offer
All disabled children and young people in Stoke-on-Trent are entitled to a minimum of:
- one short break opportunity a month,
- a minimum of one additional short break during Easter and each half-term holiday, and
- a minimum of two additional short breaks during the summer holidays.
The core offer is also available in our brochure and is included in the Local Authority Short Breaks Statement.
Booking activities
As there is high demand for our Short Break activities, pre-booking is required. Bookings must be made between:
1st - 10th of the month: You will need to book your child onto their chosen core offer activity.
11th - 15th of the month, you can book any additional activities for a nominal contribution.
To make a booking or to notify our team of a cancellation, please contact us on 01782 982250 or email with your choices. Please also include reserve choices to avoid disappointment.
Transport
Transport can only be provided if a child is prevented from attending activities through no other means of travel. This will be subject to an initial transport assessment and discussed with you at the time of each booking. As agreed with the Aiming Higher Together Parent’s Forum, if transport is requested and agreed to be provided, there will be a £5 charge for this service.
Non-attendance policy
If you need to cancel a session, Action for Children is to be notified within 24 hours of the start of the activity, as the place could be used for someone else. If you fail to show up for 3 sessions over a 3 month period, without cancelling, the offer of a place at future sessions will be withdrawn for 1 month. There is an appeals process in place which can be accessed by contacting us on 01782 982250.
Action for Children understands that there will be exceptional times when you are unable to give prior notification. This will be taken into account when making any decision about withdrawing future places.
Emergency out-of-hours support
There is out-of-hours telephone support available for parents and carers to contact in the event of an emergency. This support is available outside of office hours and is to be used in an emergency situation only, e.g. to inform us that your child is not able to attend an activity or if requested transport has not arrived, outside of office hours.
To access this out-of-hours number; please ring the Aiming High line on 01782 982250.
Please note bookings for activities will not be taken outside of the stated booking hours.
Zero Tolerance
Action for Children Stoke-on-Trent Aiming High takes a zero tolerance approach to bullying, harassment, and abuse. Any form of abuse, either physical or verbal, will not be tolerated and anyone who abuses any member of Action for Children staff or volunteers may put at risk any service that is provided for them or members of their family.
Comments or Complaints
What you tell us is important, and we encourage you to let us know what you think of the service. Your comments help us to know when we are getting things right. If you do have a complaint, you can contact us using our interactive form or by calling 01782 982 250.
Please note that the Children’s Services Manager or member of staff dealing with your complaint will follow a set procedure.
Alternatively, you can contact our customer service and complaints manager by phoning 0800 328 7822 or by sending an email to [email protected].
The Local Offer
The Children and Families Act (2014) has introduced a new approach to the way children, young people, and their families are supported. From September 2014 every Local Authority is required to publish information about services they expect to be available in their area for children and young people from birth to 25 who have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND). This is known as a ‘Local Offer’.
The Local Offer will bring together information from education, health, and social care about Special Educational Needs and Disability all into one place. The Local Offer will cover what’s available including statutory entitlements, what provision is in place locally, and what other organisations offer for children and young people from birth to 25 with Special Educational Needs and Disability.
You can find out more information regarding the local offer by visiting the Local Authority website.
Staffordshire Children
Children who live in the Staffordshire local authority area will not be excluded from the programme but please note that spaces will only be awarded following a booking request if places are not allocated to children that live in Stoke-on-Trent.
For further information please contact our Aiming High team.