STEPPING STONES-WEST WILTSHIRE OPPORTUNITY GROUP FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Stepping Stones-West Wiltshire Opportunity Group for Children with Special Needs is an independent UK charity established to support children aged from birth to four years who have special needs, with a focus on those experiencing developmental delays. Registered under charity number 1012556, the organization operates a District Specialist Centre (DSC) service under contract with Wiltshire Council, serving the West Wiltshire area including Trowbridge, Melksham, Westbury, Warminster, Bradford on Avon, and surrounding villages[1][3][5].

Mission and Objectives

Stepping Stones aims to foster a collaborative partnership among parents, staff, and other professionals involved in healthcare and education for children with special needs. The charity provides a supportive and informative environment where families can build confidence and access specialized care and therapy. Their mission includes:

• Offering a centre for children with special needs where visiting health professionals liaise with staff and parents to support the family and provide tailored therapy and advice to develop each child's potential.
• Encouraging relationships with other early years settings to facilitate inclusion of children with special needs within their local communities.
• Committing to non-discrimination and ensuring all services are equally accessible to all children and their families[5].

Services and Approach

Children referred to Stepping Stones—typically by paediatricians, health visitors, or other professionals, though self-referrals by parents are also accepted—are assessed by a highly trained team. Children with diagnosed conditions or developmental delays benefit from individualized support plans developed in collaboration with visiting therapists including speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists.

The charity emphasizes learning through play, providing a safe, child-centred environment that prioritizes the individual needs of each child. Paediatric clinics are held on site to allow families to receive assessments and therapy in familiar surroundings, helping reduce stress and promote wellbeing[2][5].

Recognition and Impact

Stepping Stones has received positive evaluations praising its exceptional partnership with parents and child-centred approach. An Ofsted report from 2020 highlighted the exemplary support provided, noting that many parents regarded the pre-school as “amazing” and credited the staff with significant progress in their children’s development. The staff’s dedication to placing children’s individual needs at the centre of everything they do has been specifically commended[2].

Community Role

Stepping Stones functions as a vital resource within West Wiltshire, supporting vulnerable children and their families. By providing specialist early years provision and access to multi-disciplinary health services, the charity plays a crucial role in enabling children with special needs to make developmental progress and integrate into broader educational settings[3][5].

Charity Number: 1012556

[Note: Contact details and web address have been omitted per guidelines.]

[1] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1012556 [2] https://www.steppingstonestrowbridge.co.uk [3] https://wiltshiretogether.org.uk/profile/stepping_stones [4] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1012556/contact-information [5] https://www.steppingstonestrowbridge.co.uk/about