Appendix 35 - Sports, clubs, groups, days out - with access and participation

Differentiated Costs for SEND Children at Before and After School Clubs and Activities (October 2022)

For information

It has come to our attention that some external providers of before and after school clubs and activities based in Barnet schools are charging parents an extra cost if they require additional support at the club i.e. the additional cost of a member of staff to meet their needs. We sought legal advice about this and after looking at the law and the guidance, an organisation is likely to fall foul of the Equality Act if they do this. Charging more to provide extracurricular activities to SEND children, may constitute discrimination, where those children are considered disabled which is a protected characteristic (such a label is likely to apply to the majority of children with an EHCP).  Whoever is responsible for the club/activity (be it the school or an external body) should consider their duties under the Equality Act and in particular, the fact that providers are not entitled to ask parents/disabled people to pay for reasonable adjustments. 

A school is within its rights to charge parents for an external club (known as optional extras), with their agreement and consent.

Optional extras are:

  • education provided outside of school time that is not:

    • part of the national curriculum;

    • part of a syllabus for a prescribed public examination that the pupil is being prepared for at the school; or

    • part of religious education

  • examination entry fee(s) if the registered pupil has not been prepared for the examination(s) at the school;

  • transport (other than transport that is required to take the pupil to school or to other premises where the local authority/governing body have arranged for the pupil to be provided with education);

  • board and lodging for a pupil on a residential visit;

  • extended day services offered to pupils (for example breakfast club, after-school clubs, tea and supervised homework sessions).

It  would be potentially discriminatory to charge an uplift for disabled pupils.  Again, the same considerations outlined above, apply.  Further advice on charging for school activities can be found at the following link  Charging for school activities (publishing.service.gov.uk).

If this practice is taking place in a school the organisation should be made aware of their duties under the Equality Act. If a school promotes and facilitates the after school clubs (even if it is run by an external organisation) they may find themselves facing some liability should any claim be made. It is important that external providers are made aware of any potentially discriminatory practice and seek their own legal advice about this.

We understand this is a difficult issue and that a school or external organisation needs to cover its costs but there cannot be a different charge for different parents based on the needs of their child. Some suggested ways forward:

  • The external organisation covers the additional costs

  • The school covers the additional costs even for an externally run club

  • The school and the external organisation share the cost

  • The organisation increases the cost for all children to cover the staffing needs of all the children attending

  • The school or organisation look into any local charitable trusts or voluntary organisations who may be able to provide support

It may also be worth reviewing the school’s policy on charging to ensure it reflects the most up to date guidance (2018), see link above.

Neil Marlow
Chief Executive and Director of Education and Learning
Barnet Education and Learning Service

Groups for children with special needs, including sports are vital.  Things change all the time so it is worth checking and doing your own research too. 

Chickenshed Inclusive Theatre   Chickenshed

Chickenshed is an inclusive theatre company based in Southgate, North London. They celebrate diversity and are fabulous for creating a range of musical, dance and theatre opportunities for children, young people and adults. These include:

  • Planet Play - sensory shows aimed at babies 

  • Tales from the Shed - engaging shows with puppets and music for 0-7 year olds during holiday periods

  • Children’s and Youth Theatre - after-school inclusive drama clubs from age 5 (get on the waiting list early as possible, as it’s very popular!)

icandance

nurtures creativity, learning and wellbeing in children and young people with disabilities through dance and movement. Weekly classes in Hampstead - and an opportunity to perform at the annual show (previously at artsdepot, in future at the newly restored Alexandra Palace!) 

DSA Active 

offer various short-term initiatives, from BMX biking to tennis. Get on their mailing list to hear about upcoming opportunities.  DSActive is a sports programme for people with Down Syndrome administered by the Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA). DSActive currently have over 40 football sessions and 20 tennis programmes that run over England and Wales. All of the programmes are easily accessible and cater for ALL ages and ability. DSActive was created in response to the awareness of the sedentary lifestyles of many children and adults with Down Syndrome and the subsequent health problems including obesity, resulting from lack of exercise and participation in sport.  Phone: 0333 1212 300   Email: dsactive@downs-syndrome.org.uk       Down’s Syndrome Association for further resources and training.

https://www.bacdis.org.uk/policy/documents/DSActive.pdf

Arsenal – North London United | DSActive is a weekly Football Club for children and young people with Down Syndrome, in partnership with the Arsenal Community Hub. 

Inclusive Play Opportunities Project

provides opportunities for children and young people of all abilities to play and socialise together, offering support/info to families and raising awareness of inclusive provision. Services include enabling playworkers (1:1 support to attend mainstream play/leisure activities), swimming (weekly sessions at Finchley Lido) and family activities and trips. (Some of these services are accessed through the short breaks scheme - there may be other things of interest there. See Barnet’s local offer page for details).

Barnet Mencap

run ‘Open Door’- a weekly playgroup for under-fives where parents can also access support/advice with carefully considered toys and experienced staff.  They also organise adhoc events eg soft play and drama workshops for older kids and young people.  Subscribe to their mailing list: email projectsupport@barnetmencap.org.uk

The Challenge Playgroup

in Muswell Hill is run weekly for children with additional needs and for their siblings, parents and carers. Great toys, very welcoming and even massage on offer while your child is looked after!

Play group

at St James church in New Barnet for children with additional needs (Discuss with EY SEND for further details)

Unity 

is Norwood's recreational service for children with disabilities between the ages of 5-18. Unity offers a wide range of programmes including weekly after school clubs, play schemes during the summer, winter and spring school holidays and one residential holiday a year.  Email: info@norwood.org.uk   Tel: 020 8809 8809

For family days out, also worth keeping an eye out for:

  • ZSL’s annual ‘Special Children’s Days’ at London Zoo and Whipsnade. 

  • relaxed performances at local arts centres: artsdepot and Jacksons Lane (both of which also occasionally commission work aimed at CYP with SEND), and the West End! - and local cinemas eg Phoenix in East Finchley and Picturehouse in Crouch End. These are becoming increasingly commonplace.

  • SEND activities increasingly commonplace at many of London’s larger museums, often free.

GLL exists to make community services and spaces better for everyone and to improve the health and wellbeing of local communities. It operates local leisure centres under the brand name ‘Better’. It’s worth checking what is available at your local Better centre.  For example, in Barnet it might be the Finchley Lido leisure centre, who have launched supervised inclusive gym sessions (with an experienced fitness instructor), targeting adults (16+) with a disability. 

Special Olympics

In every corner of the earth, Special Olympics is changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, building an inclusive world – one that celebrates ALL abilities – in sports, schools and in the workplace.

www.specialolympics.org

Special Olympics local group – http://www.specialolympicsgb.org.uk/find-a-club/21

Herts disability sports Hub 

Herts Disability Sports Foundation

Saracens 

  • Rugby training. Monday 5-6pm Allianz Park

  • Athletics for Special Needs students at  Allianz Park

disABILITY Programmes - Saracens Sport Foundation

Pedal Power

Cycling with provision of specialist bicycles. Finsbury Park, mixed days tues, thurs, sat. C2C Cycle Route

Tottenham Hotspur foundation - Football, mixed levels for students with learning disabilities. https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/the-club/foundation/about-us/

Otters & Barracudas Swimming clubs at the weekend in Borehamwood and Potters Bar.

Guppies swimming training - at Willesden Sports Centre. Tues 6pm & 7pm term time.

Electric Eels (Maidenhead) - DS special swim club. https://electriceels.org.uk/

Special needs gymnastics - Heartlands School, Wood Green, https://www.lagad.co.uk/

Jump start Jonny - Aerobics on the internet, https://www.jumpstartjonny.co.uk/home

Disability Ice Hockey - Werewolfs Streatham - https://werewolvesoflondon.org.uk/

The Gold Trust based at The Shire Golf Club - https://theshirelondon.com/

PHAB Club - Clubs and overnight holidays for kids with and without disabilities. Nationwide. https://www.phab.org.uk/

Brownies, Guides - https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/

Scouts, Cubs - https://www.scouts.org.uk/

Happy Days at Northway - Playscheme for Children with SEN at Northway special school for Northway students (Barnet).

Horse Riding - Riding for the Disabled, https://www.rda.org.uk/

The Stables in Barnet. http://thestableshorseactivitycentre.org.uk/

Penniwell - http://www.penniwellsrda.com/

Electric Umbrella Dance https://www.electricumbrella.co.uk/

SOTO Performing Arts Ltd - SOTO Finchley - Something Out The Ordinary – Performing Arts Opportunities For Children, Young People & Vulnerable Adults.  Disability dance group. https://www.sotocic.org/ Emilia Georgiou Director. 07949235602. Emilia@sotopa.org

Unitas Youth Zone in Barnet – huge range of activities to young people aged 8-19 (or 25 with a disability) including dance, boxing, wall climbing, cooking, gaming…..and more! It is open to all young people for a £5/year membership, then a nominal 50p/session entry which includes all equipment needed for the activities.  They are also able to get hot meal for £1.  They also offer a session on a Sunday specifically for children with a disability and their families.  www.unitasyouthzone.org

Lagad runs a disability gymnastics classes (not just DS) - this was on Saturday afternoons at Heartlands school (Haringey) but this may have changed.   See https://www.lagad.co.uk/disability-gymnastics

Irish Dance teacher with Fiona:  www.mcgahanlees.co.uk

Contact Barnet Parent Carer Forum or Barnet MENCAP for current information: 

info@barnetpcf.org.uk
T: 07468 029 705
W: BarnetPCF.org.uk
Barnet Mencap, 35 Hendon Lane Finchley, London N3 1RT

The above groups and organisations have been suggested to us, but we cannot take responsibility for recommending them on a personal basis.