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Play AT IT Invitation to participate

02/05/2008

Invitation to become a Play AT IT Nursery/SureStart Children Centre Participant

Background to the Project

The Play AT IT project is funded by the Big Lottery and aims to provide play options and inclusion for children with disabilities in 18 nurseries in disadvantaged areas across 9 geographical regions of England. Each nursery will receive a complete Assistive Technology kit, including hardware and software, to provide inclusive play opportunities to children with disabilities. AbilityNet will provide training and support directly to the nurseries or children’s centres who have received the kit. AbilityNet will also be offering training, support and access to an extensive Loan Bank of assistive ICT equipment to 36 local authority Early Years teams and portage services.

The Role of Nursery or Surestart Children’s Centre Participants

Nursery or SureStart children’s centre Participants are a vital part of the Play AT IT Project.

The role of the Nursery or SureStart children’s centre involves:

• Nominating an individual member of staff who will act as the point of contact with AbilityNet and carry out activities on behalf of the organisation for the duration of the project.
• Directly support children with disabilities in using the Play AT IT kit, who attend the nursery/children’s centre
• Form links with local Early Years teams and/or Portage Services.
• Promote their new equipment to encourage children with disabilities to attend their nursery/children’s centre.
• Attend training and network events and meetings as required within the project.
• Produce reports of activities and case studies of intervention to an agreed schedule.

Requirements to become a Nursery or SureStart Children’s Centre Participant:

• Already have disabled children attending the nursery or children’s centre who would benefit from receiving the Play AT IT kit.
• Nursery or children’s centre is based in a disadvantaged area of England.

Selection Process

You are invited to submit a proposal to become one of the 18 nurseries involved in the project. Please provide details of the following in your submission:

• Details of your nursery or children’s centre’s highlighting if you have disabled children attending
• Information regarding the geographical area that your nursery or children’s centre is based
• The background and experience of the named individual who would take a lead in the Partnership
• How you would go about ensuring that you involve your local Early Year services in the project
• Confirmation that you will be able to commit to taking the role for the duration of the project, to be completed March 2010.

Selection Criteria

Confidentiality and Data Protection

Nursery/SureStart Children’s centre Participants will be expected to comply with relevant AbilityNet policies including Data Protection and Confidentiality and Equal Opportunities policies. The data and outcomes of the work will be owned by AbilityNet.

Bidding Process

• Bids to become Nursery/SureStart Centre Participants must be returned by Monday 9th June 2008
• Visits will be held in various locations, middle to late June 2008.
• These visits to the nurseries should be attended by the named person who will be delivering the work, as well as the writer of the proposal, if these are not the same person.
• A decision will be made by 30 June 2008
• If a suitable bid is not identified, further submissions will be invited
• Your response must be returned by email and hard copy to playatit@abilitynet.org.uk

FAO Tracey Shawcross, Play AT IT Project Manager,

Tel No: 0800 269 545

Would you like to participate?

Download the Play AT IT participation form (Word document 62KB).