Specialist children’s services & educational enablers in South Gloucestershire

For families of children with additional needs, finding the right support can feel overwhelming. Whether your child requires personal care in school, help accessing education, or specialist support at home, you need a provider who understands both the clinical and emotional aspects of care.

At Bluebird Care South Gloucestershire, we provide specialist children’s services designed to support young people with complex needs, not just at home, but in educational settings too.

Our aim is simple: to help children thrive safely, confidently and with dignity - wherever they learn and live.

What are educational enablers?
An educational enabler is a highly trained care professional who supports a child in accessing their education safely and comfortably.

Unlike teaching assistants, our carers are trained care professionals. They can support with:

• Personal care during the school day
• PEG feeding and nutritional support
• Tracheostomy care
• Seizure management
• Medication administration
• Mobility and hoisting
• Continence care
• Complex health needs
• Emotional reassurance and behavioural support

This allows teachers and teaching assistants to focus on teaching, while we ensure the child’s health, dignity and safety are fully supported.

For schools, this can be transformative. For parents, it can be life-changing.

Supporting local schools across South Gloucestershire
We work in partnership with:

• Mainstream primary and secondary schools
• Specialist SEND schools
• Academies and trusts
• Alternative provision settings
• Home education programmes

Many schools are under increasing pressure to meet the needs of pupils with complex medical conditions. Our educational enablers provide reassurance that children are supported by trained professionals from an Outstanding-rated care provider, experienced in complex and clinical care.

This is particularly valuable where:

• A child’s needs exceed the capacity of in-house staff
• There is a requirement for clinical oversight
• Schools need short-term or emergency cover
• A child is transitioning back to school after illness or injury

We become part of the wider team around the child , working collaboratively with SENCOs, therapists, parents and local authority professionals.

Wrap around children’s care – not just the school day
Children don’t live in “care hours”- and neither do we.

In addition to school-based support, we provide wraparound children’s services at home across South Gloucestershire. This includes:

• Morning routines and preparation for school
• After-school care and personal support
• Evening routines and bedtime care
• Overnight care
• Weekend support
• Holiday and respite care

Consistency is crucial for children with additional needs. Where possible, we provide the same care professionals both at school and at home, creating familiarity and stability.

For families, this reduces stress. For children, it builds trust and confidence.

Supporting children who are schooled at home
Some children are unable to attend school due to medical complexity, anxiety, recovery from injury, or long-term conditions.

We can support children who are educated at home by:

• Assisting with personal care during learning hours
• Supporting therapy programmes
• Helping facilitate online learning
• Providing structured support routines
• Ensuring clinical needs are safely managed

This can be particularly valuable for families navigating Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) or working alongside South Gloucestershire Council to secure appropriate provision.

Complex & clinical children’s care
Our children’s services extend beyond standard domiciliary care. We are experienced in supporting young people with:

• Cerebral palsy
• Acquired brain injury
• Spinal injury
• Autism and sensory processing needs
• Epilepsy
• Genetic conditions
• Physical disabilities
• Life-limiting conditions

We understand that children are not simply “small adults.” Care must be age-appropriate, sensitive, empowering and built around the child’s personality and aspirations.

Working alongside South Gloucestershire Council
We work collaboratively with:

• South Gloucestershire Council
• Social workers
• Continuing Healthcare (CHC) teams
• Case managers
• Occupational therapists
• Physiotherapists
• Speech and language therapists

We understand the importance of safeguarding, compliance, reporting, and working within EHCP frameworks.

Our team is fully trained, DBS-checked, supervised and supported — providing reassurance to families and commissioning professionals alike.

If you are visiting our website as a commissioner or local authority professional, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can support children with complex needs in both education and home settings.

Why choose Bluebird Care South Gloucestershire?
Families and schools choose us because:

• We are an established, trusted care provider
• We are experienced in complex and clinical care
• We provide continuity and consistency
• We focus on dignity, safeguarding and child-centred care
• We work collaboratively with education and healthcare professionals
• We understand local systems and referral pathways

Our other offices, including Bluebird Care Winchester and Bluebird Care Hook & Newbury, have successfully delivered educational enabler services within schools — demonstrating how effective this model can be when delivered correctly.

We are proud to bring that same approach to South Gloucestershire.

Putting the child at the centre
At the heart of everything we do is the child.

Not the diagnosis.
Not the paperwork.
Not the funding stream.

The child.

We believe every young person deserves:

• Safe access to education
• Support delivered with dignity
• Opportunities to build independence
• A consistent, caring presence in their life

When care is done well, it becomes invisible, simply enabling the child to learn, grow and flourish.

If you are a parent…
If you are exploring children’s care services in South Gloucestershire, whether for school support or home care, we understand how important this decision is.

We are happy to:

• Talk through your child’s needs
• Liaise with schools
• Support EHCP discussions
• Provide tailored care plans
• Offer wraparound support

You do not have to navigate this alone.

If you are a school or SENCO…
If you need professional support for a pupil with complex medical or personal care needs, we can provide trained educational enablers who integrate seamlessly into your setting.

We understand the pressures schools face — safeguarding, budgets, staffing shortages — and we are here to help.