Junior Gateway is a Saturday morning two hour session for children with learning disabilities to come and play, and give the parents/carers a short break from their responsibilities.

The club provides a wide range of play opportunities and we make the most of the space available to us at the centre. We also try and link in with different cultural festivals and celebrations from around the world to give our sessions a theme.

We encourage the children to help prepare their own snacks and then sit down together to have refreshments. This is a fantastic opportunity for the children to build on their social skills telling us about their news/achievements and help to serve food and drinks to each other.

We are very fortunate to have fostered links with the local community. We have had visits from Southampton City Council’s Book Bus, Portswood Library and Red Watch/St Mary’s – Hampshire Fire and Rescue with their fire engine. We have also been involved in the Houndwell Park play consultation with all the children, parents/carers and team members giving lots of ideas for future play equipment there to make it accessible for everyone in the future.

Junior Gateway provides quality, affordable childcare for parents and carers. We work very hard to ensure the children are safe and happy throughout the morning. The team have a wide range of skills, qualifications and experience of working with children with learning disabilities.

Members: Aged 5-16
Dates of Meetings: Saturday, Weekly, Term-time
Times of Meetings: 10.00am to 12.00 noon
Closures during year: School Holidays
Subscription fee: £2.70 per session
Transport available: No
Maximum Attendance: 20
Range of Activities Available: Art and Craft, Cooking, Sand & Water Play, Parachute Games, Books, Puzzles, Jigsaws, Toys, Board Games, Computer Games, Gardening, Dressing Up, Preparing Drinks and Snacks, Outdoor Sports Activities, Planned Outings etc.
Staffing Levels: 1 Supervisor and 3 Support Workers, plus Volunteers.
Additional Information: Extra help is available through the yPod Service for children aged 5-13 requiring a greater level of support than that available within this club.