The parents who created their own SEN summer camp
BBCThe summer holidays can be an exciting time for many families, but for some it can also be stressful.
Helen Boyle knows all too well what this feels like.
"All three of my children have special educational needs (SEN) and the first couple of weeks of the summer are particularly difficult for the kids to settle into a new routine," she said.
Although her children have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), they do not qualify to attend SEN summer schemes, making it difficult for Helen to fill the summer schedule.
That is why Boyle and a number of other parents from the Londonderry area created a week-long summer scheme for children who are neurodivergent and have special needs.
"This is what we have done as parents, we have all came together," she said.
Helen BoyleBoyle is part of a group called Always Ask the Turtle, which is a network of SEN parents who offer advice to each other.
The group said they noticed a gap for SEN summer camp provision in the wake of the fall-out over summer schemes at special schools being cancelled.
However, following intense backlash from parents and political pressure, there was a u-turn after the Department of Health agreed to provide on-site nursing support.
According to the EA, to qualify for a special school summer scheme, a child must be enrolled at a special school which means securing a place outside of that can be difficult.
"Although we have some children within a special school setting, quite a lot of them are a bit younger or maybe did not get a place in it, so we decided that a summer group would be brilliant for everyone," Boyle explained.
Trisha Wilson attended the sessions with her six-year-old son, Caleb, who has autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
She had already tried Caleb in two other summer schemes, but felt they were not suitable for him, as they did not provide specific provisions for SEN children.
"There was no one there with special educational needs and they did not have the capacity to help children with SEN," she said.
During one of these sessions, Caleb, actually managed to get out of one of the centres and tried to run to the main road.
"It was very frightening", said Trisha, "I had the groups calling me to come and get him because they could not cope with him."
Wilson said that without this summer camp, her son would have nothing.
"Stuff like this does help, because all the children are neurodiverse, so they can play together and all the mothers are understanding," she added.
Eileen Pugh decided to travel from Strabane for the summer sessions with her four-year-old daughter, Charlotte and her 11-month-old baby, Bethany.
Charlotte, has been referred for an ASD diagnosis and has PICA - a condition where a person repeatedly craves and eats non-edible items with no nutritional value.
"It is great because my four-year-old is in a mainstream school and so there is no special summer schemes for her, so it has been amazing for her really," she said.
"It is great to be able to speak to parents and get the support and advice."
What is unique about the programme is that parents are in attendance for the entire time.
While the children are taking part in activities such as arts and crafts and Irish dancing, the parents are using it has an opportunity to share tips and exchange advice.
"What is born out of this is, is the peer support," Boyle said.
She hopes to do the scheme again next summer but on an even bigger capacity.
"It is heart-warming to see everyone come together, I always think peer support is the best."
