Learning disability support services hard to get in summer holidays, poll finds

Four in five parents of children with learning disabilities are struggling to get help during the school summer holidays, a new poll has suggested.

A total of 80% of parents who have a child with a learning disability say they find it hard to access support services during the six-week break, according to a poll conducted by learning disability charity Mencap.

The survey of 316 parents who have a child with a learning disability also found almost half find it difficult to find childcare during the school break.

Mencap chief executive Jan Tregelles said: "For many parents of children with a learning disability, this means non-stop care, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"Having to care for their child who may have complex needs whilst juggling their work and other demands can push many families to breaking point.

"Having accessible and suitable childcare on offer can be a lifeline for many families.

"But due to a lack of sufficient provision from local authorities and inflexible provision of the services that are available, we are seeing many families are unable to access services and are often left to struggle alone.

"It is unacceptable that, despite obligations, yet again local authorities are still not doing enough to help families who are being pushed into moments of crisis. This needs to change.

"We need to invest in these vital services and ensure equal access to them for children with a learning disability as they can be the difference between families reaching breaking point or not."