Children’s Team

The aim of our team is to enable families of children with physical and/or learning disabilities to cope day to day in the knowledge their child is safe, supported, and cared for.

The Children’s Team provides a range of services supporting children and young people, plus their families, across Dorset and beyond through a variety of specialised services.

Opportunities are also given to siblings to attend play sessions with their brother or sister while parents and guardians can benefit from various information and support services.

We want to ensure all the children we support at Diverse Abilities have an enjoyable childhood while helping families cope with the pressures they face caring for a child with disabilities.

Our Services

Lily’s Place

Overnight and day short breaks for children and young people aged 2 to 19. This is a safe and fun place, also giving parents some breathing space; time for life’s other tasks or to spend quality time with their other children.

Lawford Lodge

Supporting those aged 18 to 27 who have profound disabilities and complex medical needs, Lawford Lodge provides a space for these young people to have respite stays.

Shapes

Provides care in the home and out in the community for children and young people from birth up to 19 years old.

Shapes Transitions

Based at Lily’s Place and Langside School, Shapes Transitions is day care for young people with additional needs and disabilities aged between 18 and 30 years old.

Langside School

Specialist school for children aged 2 to 19 with profound and multiple learning disabilities and complex medical needs. We provide a full sensory, therapeutic, and nursing approach to meet the needs of the pupils and help them to achieve their full potential.

Coping with CHAOS

Play sessions in the school holidays and weekends for the whole family to attend from theme parks and cinema trips through to messy play and arts and crafts, there’s something for everyone.

Project My Time

Enabling independence for those aged 8 to 18 with additional needs. Sessions take place in school holidays for young people to attend, without their parents or siblings, to build social skills too.

Awesome Nights

A youth club for SEN teenagers, giving them a chance to socialise with their peers, take part in activities, and get out in the community too.

STARs

Being a sibling never ends, STARs is our support service to allow children and young people in similar circumstances to come together for support and advice while also having a chance to just be kids.

Family Support

We are well aware of the joys and challenges our families face and we offer support to parents through the difficult times, as well as celebrating the achievements of our children.

Little Squirrels

SEN under 5s nurture group. Prepare for songs, singing, sensory activities, and messy fun! Meet other parents whilst playing with your child in a safe environment.

Just Drop In

Perfect for families of children with special educational needs and disabilities who want to have a safe place to go to socialise and enjoy a fun morning of activities. You don’t need to be registered with Diverse Abilities to attend these sessions.

PMLD Club

These sessions aim to give families who have a child with PMLD a safe space to meet like-minded parents while their children take part in tailored activities such as sensory stories, messy play, music massages and more.

Caterpillar Club

For parents and children under five to come and stay and play at Langside School every Wednesday morning. Get to know the friendly team at Langside School, and ask any questions that may be on your mind.

Transitions Drop In

Taking place once a term, our Transitions Drop In sessions are an open and safe space for talking about your young person transitioning into Adult Services. We vary these sessions between having an expert sharing advice and having open discussions around any concerns you may have.

Baby Buddies

Launching this autumn, Baby Buddies will take place at The Treehouse. Baby Buddies is a dedicated group for families with babies aged 0 to 2 years who have complex medical conditions. Our mission is to provide a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment where your baby can have fun and you can too!

Birthday Parties

Our venue, The Treehouse based in Hurn, is purposefully designed with the individuals we support in mind – a secure and safe space – and a perfect place to host a birthday party!

Learn more about Treehouse Birthday Parties (indoors)
Learn more about Nature Nook Birthday Parties (outdoors)

Little Seedlings at Nature Nook

Nature crafts, planting, story time, and more are all on offer at our under 5s stay and play! These sessions are designed to get your little one outside and exploring the world around them through sensory activities and nature-based loose parts play.

Home Ed at Nature Nook

Spend time in our Nature Nook, learning a range of nature-based skills and taking part in physical activities such as wide games, sports, and obstacle courses. For ages 6 to 18.

Holiday Club at Nature Nook

At our Holiday Clubs, children aged 8 to 14 will enjoy a range of nature-based activities such as fire lighting, green wood crafts, and den building.