Supporting Children with SEND and Additional Needs

At Mill House Club we are committed to supporting every child so that they can enjoy our sessions and feel fully included. Where a child needs more support than is covered by our standard staffing ratios, we put in place additional measures—whether or not a formal diagnosis has been made.

Our usual ratios are 1:8 for children aged 5 and under and 1:10 for children aged 6 and over. For children with additional needs who require closer support, we may provide care at 1:3, or at 1:1 for higher levels of need.

This enables us to make sure that every child can take part in activities, feel happy and included, and also have opportunities for quiet time or targeted support when needed. We work closely with parents and schools to give children a consistent approach to their care and support. Inclusivity is something we take great pride in, and we are committed to making reasonable adjustments wherever possible.

To provide this additional support, we ensure extra staff are available. Where possible, the cost of this is covered by the club. However, as we do not receive any external funding, there may be times when an extra charge is needed to provide dedicated support. At present, additional charges only apply to children requiring 1:1 support during our before and after school sessions. Children supported at a 1:3 ratio are not currently charged extra, though this may need to be reviewed in the future.

Holiday Club

At Mill House Club we aim to make our holiday provision accessible and inclusive for all children. Where a child needs more support than is covered by our standard staffing ratios, we may provide care at 1:3 or at 1:1 for higher levels of need.

To make this possible, we sometimes need to apply an additional charge. This reflects the cost of providing extra staff so that children can take part in activities, enjoy quiet time when needed, and receive targeted support. Having dedicated staff in place helps ensure every child has the best experience from our sessions.

We welcome children with a wide range of needs—both diagnosed and undiagnosed—including autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, learning difficulties, behavioural needs, physical disabilities, trauma, and more. Our focus is always on the individual child and how they can be supported within our environment, rather than on any diagnosis.

To make sure we can provide the right level of care, we ask families to attend a stay and play session before booking if a child may need additional support. This allows us to assess the level of support required and ensure we are able to provide the best possible experience.

All SEND sessions MUST be booked with the setting manager directly, not on the online booking system to allow for the correct staffing.