William started at Playskill shortly after his second birthday. He has been attending for just over a year and we have seen such a huge change in him.

Will spent just over a year in Great Ormond Street Hospital, having treatment for benign tumours that were in his lungs, bowels and peripheral limbs. He was fed intravenously for two years and had been through multiple surgeries and chemotherapy by the time we took him home.

His immune system was very weak and he was vulnerable to catching viruses which would lead to many hospital visits due to having a central line and the risk of Sepsis, which he had had four times in hospital already. For the first two years, life was very isolating for us as a family with the fear of infection.

However, with time, Will slowly managed to transition from intravenous nutrition to milk through an NG tube, and it is now one year since he had his central line taken out. It was such a huge milestone. It felt like the world had opened its doors to us. Playskill was the first group setting we took Will to. Being inside with a group of people had, until recently, been a huge source of anxiety. Apart from his older brother, Will had rarely spent time or seen other children.

I remember the first session he spent crying and was totally overwhelmed. In fact, I think was the same. Over the past year, he has found his love for nursery rhymes, hello time and even started joining in with messy play. The gains sound so small, but to a child with his history and disabilities (oral aversion/tube fed) are huge step forward. I have felt guided in where his needs are and the targets set have been SMART. The team take time to get to know your child and understand their limitations and how best to improve certain skills or communication.

The Playskill sessions give children like Will, the time and encouragement they need to be able to explore their sensory and physical needs. With every child having their own challenges, the team have a lot of considerations to make, so it is a safe space for each individual to thrive.

The sessions are also a time to meet other parents raising a special needs child. Sometimes, it can feel isolating and overwhelming navigating the barriers that children with special needs face daily and in their future. Having a tea and chatting through similar road blocks helps you feel less alone. Playskill has many services outside of the sessions to help guide parents with these barriers, as well as meet ups to get people together.

Will still attends some appointments at GOSH but they are slowly transferring into the community. The NHS waiting times are huge so we feel very grateful that Playskill allows us to access some of the services we are waiting Playskill.