At six weeks old Oscar was admitted to hospital with meningitis. When he was discharged after five long days, we were told he had viral meningitis and we were lucky that there would be no long lasting effects.

I soon noticed that Oscar’s development was delayed. I remember worrying because he didn’t hold his head up and the expected age, he couldn’t sit up unaided, he couldn’t babble, weaning was extremely difficult because he just wasn’t ready. But no one listened to me, it seemed no one understood what I was saying or what we were going through. I raised my concerns many times to various different people. He eventually had an MRI and started physio at nine months old. I was told so many times ‘he’s young’ and ‘he’ll catch up’, or ‘babies do things at their own pace’. It’s very sad but I felt I couldn’t take Oscar to your average mum and baby group because I would continuously have to explain why my baby couldn’t do various things and it just made me even more worried for him.

At his one year review my health visitor agreed there were some delays and, as he was already under a paediatrician, all they could do was refer him to Playskill. It sounds cliche to say but that’s when I finally felt listened to.

He had an assessment with one of the members of staff over Skype and she immediately listened to all my concerns and Oscar’s needs, and told us what Playskill was all about. When we were welcomed to group everyone was so kind, caring and comforting and people really knew how I was feeling. I felt relaxed and at ease, with no judgement, just care and compassion and a real desire to help my child succeed.

Oscar started at Playskill aged one and is now three years old. We still have no diagnosis for Oscar, at the moment he has global developmental delay of unknown cause. He is under genetics and neurology, it’s a long road to a diagnosis and we’re only a little way there.

Oscar’s needs aren’t always complex enough for him to be entitled to NHS services. He had physio until he could walk and then was discharged, he’s never been accepted for OT and they won’t refer to speech and language until 2.5 years old, and then it’s such a long waiting list. This is why Playskill is so valuable to us because it means he can still get the help he needs, regardless of the complexity of those needs.

In the almost two years since Oscar has been at Playskill he has developed in leaps and bounds. He can now walk, he has started babbling and being able to use his hands and play with toys. He can make marks with a pen, and he is beginning to show signs of being able to feed himself. Oscar is so happy to come to Playskill, he often gets anxious and nervous in crowded unfamiliar environments but you can see from how settled and comfortable he is there, just how much he enjoys it and feels like a safe space for him.

Playskill has changed me as a parent in so many ways. Before Playskill I felt lost and alone, I didn’t know where to go for support or help. I didn’t know anyone in a situation similar to ours. I felt so anxious and emotional about our situation. But there is always someone at Playskill to listen and comfort and support us. Not only me as a parent but our whole family, we have evening events for parents to give us all a well-deserved break. But most of all I love the sibling days. I think sometimes siblings can get overlooked but they’re also going through this journey too. Playskill makes sure that doesn’t happen. My older son has enjoyed various different days just for him which he absolutely loves. He also attended group many times before he started school and would always ask me what day we were going to Playskill because he enjoyed watching Oscar there so much. I believe it has made him such a caring and compassionate person from watching and engaging with children with additional needs.

In 2024, in signed up for my first ever organised race, the Royal Parks Half Marathon, choosing to raise funds for Playskill. I really wanted to find away to give back for all the wonderful help Playskill have given Oscar and our family. I also wanted to set myself a challenge seeing how hard Oscar and all the other children work in group to achieve their goals motivated me to try and do something to help raise money to the charity.

I would tell others to come to Playskill because it is an amazing charity that helps children with additional needs in so many ways. It’s not just for the child, it’s for the family unit. You will feel supported, cared for and listened to and they will always help wherever they can.

Julia - Oscar's mum