Frequently asked questions 

Childcare search
Searchable database for childcare in the borough on the Directgov website.

Special needs



Opportunity playgroups
Provide part-time care for children with physical or learning disabilities alongside children without disabilities or special needs. Staff generally have specialised training. A session is normally two and a half hours. Ealing has two opportunity playgroups:

Ealing Opportunity Playgroup, Enterprise Lodge, Stockdove Way, Perivale.
Tel: (020) 8998 3466.

Southall Opportunity Playgroup, Spikesbridge Park Playcentre, Spikesbridge Road, Southall.
Tel: (020) 8813 8220.

The log cabin
An adventure playground for children aged four-fifteen with special needs who live in the borough of Ealing. Services provided include holiday playschemes, after-school clubs and school sessions. Transport can be provided to and from the Log Cabin.

Address: The Log Cabin, 259 Northfield Avenue, Ealing, London, W5 4UA.
Tel: (020) 8840 3400
Fax: (020) 8840 6780
Email: info@logcabin.org.uk.

Contact a family Ealing
Help for parents/carers of children up to 19 years of age with disabilities or special needs. Assistance with grant and benefit applications and advice on specific issues such as housing, welfare rights etc. They also hold 'parent link' sessions for parents on a wide range of topics and offer an opportunity to talk to other parents.

Ealing Contact a Family, Room 3, 1st floor, St Andrews Church Centre, Mount Park Road, Ealing, W5 2RS.
Tel: Stefan Wrana (020) 8810 8151.

Southall Contact a Family, St George's Community Centre, 8-12 Lancaster Road, Southall, Middlesex, UB1 1WW.
Tel: Mrs Gulshan Singhota (020) 8571 6381.

Ealing portage service
A home-visiting service for pre-school children who have special needs.
Ealing Portage Service, Perceval House, Uxbridge Road, Ealing.
Tel: Vina Mistry (020) 8825 7746.

ContinYou Ealing Parent Partnership 
Provides free advice, information and support to Ealing's parents of children with special educational needs (SEN) 
ContinYou, Lido Centre, 63 Mattock Lane, Ealing. London W13 9LA
Tel: (020) 8280 2251 
Email:  cepps@continyou.org.uk

Website: www.continyou.org.uk/cepps

Pests (parents of Ealing self-help training scheme)
A term time support group for families with children aged 0–5 years with disabilities and special needs. Sessions are run for parents and children every Tuesday and Friday from 10:30am-12:30pm. A toy library is available fortnightly and occasional parents-only evening. Various social activities and occasional outings during holiday times. Transport available for those who need it.

PESTS, Heller House Annex, 124 Norwood Road, Southall, UB2 4DX.
Tel: Sue Meacham (020) 8571 9954 or Maureen Browne (020) 8578 8794.

Short breaks for children with disabilities:

Ealing family link scheme and sitting service
This scheme provides short breaks for families, by linking children with a disability or special need, aged up to 18, to another family or individual, who provides care in their home. Children go to their link carer's home for a few hours, overnight, a weekend or longer, depending on their situation.

This service provides evening or daytime breaks for families of children with disabilities or special needs up to the age of 18. A sitter sits with the child and their siblings, in the child's home, for up to eight hours per month. To apply telephone Ealing social services on (020) 8825 5797. For further information visit EalingHELP