Physiotherapy support at one of the Chorley Children’s Centres is helping Kayla’s cerebral palsy

ConvenientUntil Kayla, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was given a place at pre-school, she had been having regular portage sessions at home to help her strength and mobility. However, because her pre-school also offers physiotherapy the home portage sessions ceased. “It had been very useful having the portage worker coming to the house,” says Jane. “It certainly helped Kalya and it was more convenient for me than having to take her into Chorley or elsewhere.”

Jane Worthington lives in Coppull with three of her children: Daniel aged fourteen, Alana, five and Kayla, three. Kayla is receiving weekly physiotherapy support at Coppull Children’s Centre, one of the Chorley Children’s Centres, which has a policy of inclusion for children with additional needs.

SPeCial treatment for KaylaAt about the time that the home portage stopped, the new Coppull Children’s Centre was opening and Jane’s Health Visitor and Social Worker and one of Kayla’s occupational health workers at the child development centre suggested that she might be able to access support for Kayla there. “We were among the very first to start using the Coppull Children’s Centre,” believes Jane, “and Kalya is the only child there at the moment with such specific needs, so we are very fortunate that they have a wonderful Outreach/Family Worker there, who has had advice from the Child Development Team on supporting Kayla’s needs.”

one-to-one theraPyJane takes Kayla to Coppull Children’s Centre once a week where she has one-to-one support with the Outreach/Family Worker. “It is different to the portage she used to get at home, but it’s just as effective,” she says. “She has exercises for her legs, and there are a lot of development toys and games for her to play with, as well as art and craft sessions and painting; there’s something different to do each week. Kayla really enjoys going and it makes a change for us to have somewhere so nice just round the corner. There’s not really a great deal else in the village, so Coppull Children’s Centre is going to be a useful facility for local people.”

an aSSet to the CommunityKayla can access Coppull Children’s Centre for as long as she needs it, and Jane feels that she will be likely to use it more and more. “There are lots of new activities and groups being planned, and it will be lovely for Kayla to be able to make new friends and have someone else to play with. They also have a great variety of toys and games, a lot of thing we don’t have at home, so I’m very pleased that we’re lucky enough to have this new facility in the village. It’s convenient to have Kayla’s treatment there and a friendly and sociable place for the community.”

Coppull Children’s Centre Park Road Coppull PR7 5AH

Tel: 01257 791237 (option 3) Fax: 01257 795314

Duke Street Children’s CentreDuke StreetChorleyPR7 3DU

Tel: 01257 276253Fax: 01257 460399 Email: dukestreetcc@lancashire.gov.uk

Clayton Brook Children’s Centre Great Greens Lane Clayton Brook Preston PR5 8HL

The Children’s Centre Is In The Grounds Of Clayton Brook Primary School. Tel. 01772 310150 Fax. 01772 310151Email. Lesley.Davies@lancashire.gov.uk

Astley and Buckshaw Children’s Centre Chancery Road Astley Village Chorley PR7 1XP

Tel: 01257 248980

Highfield Children’s Centre Wright Street Chorley PR6 0SL

Tel.01257 262441 and 01257 262556 www.highfieldchildrenscentre.co.uk Tel: 01257 248980