Playskill Stories

A selection of stories from Playskill parents and carers

Caleb's story

As a parent of a child with additional needs, you’re constantly fighting for the care your child needs. Walking into Playskill was such a different experience.

Rowan's story

From our very first session, we were welcomed. For the first time, I felt Rowan truly belonged. There was no judgement, no awkward glances - just understanding and acceptance.

Rio's story

With a one-in-a-million diagnosis of a rare congenital condition, everything felt overwhelming. "Rio was just eight months old when we started at Playskill, and from the very first session, our lives began to change."

Macy's story

Macy's early arrival and diagnosis of a very rare chromosomal difference left her parents feeling uncertain and lost. At Playskill they found acceptance, compassion, and high-quality professional knowledge in equal measure.

Lucas' story

After a cerebral palsy diagnosis, Lucas’ parents knew that their journey would be different, but not how isolating it might feel. Finding Playskill changed everything.

Dan's story

Dan, now aged 23, attended the very first pilot group in 2006. Mum, Sue, talks passionately about Playskill's impact 20 years on - 'Playskill gave us a safe space to grow as a family and the confidence to help Dan reach his full potential – it truly changed our lives.'

Teddy's story

When he was just eight weeks old, Teddy began losing weight rapidly. We watched our tiny baby fade before our eyes for four long weeks before he was finally admitted to hospital.

Roman's story

Roman received his diagnosis of 1p36 deletion syndrome at just 12 weeks old and we were thrown into a world of uncertainty. Playskill changed our journey, and I’ll always be thankful for that.

Young child with a visual impairment holding a white stick

Lilien's story

Lilien was born with a visual impairment that affected every part of her early development. When the family found Playskill, the positive impact was immediate and profound.

Madison's story

Before Playskill, life felt overwhelming and fragile. Each day felt like a balancing act of worry, hope, and unanswered questions. At Playskill, Madison is supported in ways that truly meet her needs.

Rob & Harry's story

What does Playskill mean to me? Quite simply: everything. Playskill is a beacon of hope for families like mine. Their impact is profound, far-reaching, and transformative. They change lives.

Young boy with a feeding tube laying down, with a lady holding his hand and looking at him.

Arthur's story

Arthur's brain was starved of oxygen at birth causing a severe brain injury. The doctors didn't think he would survive coming off the ventilator. As time went on Arthur showed little signs of strength.

Caolán's story

Following a diagnosis of Down Syndrome during pregnancy, there were many complications after Caolán was born including a long stay in hospital and almost a year of him being tube fed and on oxygen.

Noah's story

Noah is two years old and has ACC, a rare birth defect in the brain signals which causes developmental delay.

Harry's story

During the first lockdown, we noticed something wasn't quite right with Harry. He was the six-month weaning stage but wasn't holding his head up

Elis's story

We received Elis' diagnosis of a rare genetic disorder that affects the development of the brain and nervous system in November 2020.

Oscar's story

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.

William's story

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.

Cara's story

Cara is nearly five years old and has attended Playskill since she was two. She has a rare disorder called CDG, which means there is an error in the way that sugars attach to proteins in her metabolic system.

Sara's story

Sara was born prematurely at 24 weeks and is now two years old. Being born so early impacted her gross motor skills development so our health visitor recommended Playskill.

Freddie's story

When our son Freddie was first diagnosed with a rare condition called Polymicrogyria at six weeks old, we were suddenly thrown into an isolated world of unknowns.

Owen's story

Owen is nearly three and has been attending for almost two years. Owen's NHS physiotherapist recommended I get in touch with Playskill when I asked what other support was available locally.

Florence's story

To give you a bit of background about our situation, we have three children and our third child Florence, was born in 2018. At ten days old she failed her newborn hearing test and we learned that she is deaf.

Veda's story

It was only after our daughter turned 8 months old we started noticing regression in her development. Due to the pandemic we were turned around from the NHS for any early intervention consultations or therapies that our daughter would have benefited from.

Lisa's story

Our four-year-old son, Charlie, has severe global development delay, epilepsy and numerous other health issues caused by a rare genetic syndrome. We’ve been attending Playskill since he was one.

Jackson's story

Jackson spent a wonderful four years at Playskill, achieving so much and, thanks to the consistent, weekly early intervention he received in that time meant that he was adequately prepared for starting school.

Aliyana's story

Aliyana was about 5 months when we came to realise she was having difficulties with head control, alongside low birth weight and consistent eye infections.

Maeve's story

Playskill parents, Jill and Ben, tell us about their experience of Playskill in 2021, with daughter Maeve.

Emma's story

Early Years Care Co-ordinator

Twelve years ago, I worked in a nursery where one of the children had Cerebral Palsy and attended Playskill. The parents raved about it and I was sold! Since then, I have referred many children to Playskill and watched them flourish as a result.