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c/o Council for Disabled Children
National Children's Bureau
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London EC1V 7QE
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Disabled children's review publishes - �340 million for families
Government delivers after listening to families
Monday 21 May 2007
The government has now published the report of the disabled children’s review. Aiming High for Disabled Children: Better Support for Families contains a funding package of £340 million for the period from 2008 - 11. See below for a link to the report on the HM Treasury website.
Key elements of the package include:
* a specific grant of £280m to deliver a step change in the provision of short breaks
* £35m to pilot accessible childcare
* £19m for a Transition Support Programme, modelled on the Early Support programme but focussed on young disabled people in transition to adulthood
* £5m to help more parents get involved in shaping services at a local level, including through parents forums.
Steve Broach, EDCM Campaign Manager, comments:
‘The campaign is delighted that the government review recognises the issues that families say matter to them. Short breaks, childcare and transition to adulthood are all areas where the quality and quantity of services has to improve. The new money is vital to making this happen, but just as important are reforms like the new national indicator on services for disabled children, and a ‘core offer’ for families to help end the variation in services between areas.’
Three government Ministers spoke at the EDCM / Capita conference this morning to launch the review. Economic Secretary Ed Balls MP said at the conference:
‘When I spoke at the Rachel Squire Memorial Lecture in February, I was clear that when we say that every child matters, we mean every disabled child too. Delivering on our vision in today's review is a further sign of that commitment across government.’
Lord Adonis, DfES Minister, added:
‘Today’s report can be a turning point in improving outcomes for disabled children and young people, providing we continue to work together on what is now a shared agenda. The Every Disabled Child Matters campaign wants to see families with disabled children pursue ordinary lives - to see those children achieve their full potential and make a contribution to society without facing poverty or social exclusion. The Government wholeheartedly backs this mission.’
Ed Balls and Lord Adonis also confirmed a national disabled children's indicator.
Ed Balls also announced that the NHS settlement later this year will include money for short breaks for children with complex heath needs. Health Minister Ivan Lewis MP added: 'Today across government we commit to a radical overhaul of the system tailored to the distinct needs of every child. We will be matching DfES's commitment on short breaks for children with chronic conditions.'
Ivan Lewis announced that Primary Care Trusts will be issued with new guidance to review their capacity to deliver integrated care pathways against the Children's National Service Framework standards. He went on to announce a fundamental reform of community equipment and wheelchair services from April 2008. Finally he highlighted the need for an integrated approach across the Palliative Care Review and the Disabled Children's Review.
The review delivers many of the recommendations from the Parliamentary Hearings on Services for Disabled Children, set up by Ed Balls MP and Lord Adonis in 2006.
More from EDCM:
Find out more about 'Aiming High for Disabled Children'
Download our supporter briefing on 'Aiming High for Disabled Children'
Download the review report: Aiming High for Disabled Children
HM Treasury website: Children and Young People Review
News story: Government commits to making every disabled child matter
News story: Balls - Disabled children provide ‘acid test’ for government
