Local Face: Jan Bernard

Peter and Jan Bernard came from Penn to Wendover 20 years ago – a beautiful area in which to live and bring up 4 children. Older children can travel independently to its good schools and there is a friendly “villagey” atmosphere with convenient shops. Peter even managed to move his work from Wembley to Aylesbury, a much shorter commuting distance.

Jan had trained and practised as a speech therapist giving her professional experience of teaching young children with all sorts of problems. One day she was leaving a badminton game in the Guttmann Centre, Stoke Mandeville when she noticed a playgroup which was clearly devoted to special needs children. This was exactly the area she felt most drawn to work in so 17 years ago she became a voluntary helper. At the time, Opportunity Playgroup was organised by the Red Cross but in September 1995 it became independent as Stepping Stones therapeutic playgroup for children with special needs.

Stepping Stones is central to the lives of all concerned with the children it serves and it has taken over her life. She is always striving for better facilities. The playgroup meets in the Olympic Village at the Ludwig Guttmann Sports Centre, Stoke Mandeville. Over time, Jan, her team of voluntary helpers, and the Stepping Stones committee have been instrumental in improving the working space: doubling the size of the accommodation. A large proportion of the floor area is covered with soft, non-slip gym-matting – vital for those learning to balance and walk. An extra room is now rented which provides a quiet area for individual work and privacy for discussions with parents or visiting professionals. This room is also used for weekly “Music Time” sessions with Wendover’s Jan Roffe. Jan Bernard’s next ambition is to provide an outdoor play facility.

Stepping Stones is a registered charity, affiliated to Scope, which looks after 15 – 20 children per session aged 9 months to 4 years. Jan is the leader with Fran Flyn as her deputy. These are now paid workers and they lead 20 experienced volunteer helpers, many of whom are mothers of children with special needs.

The morning sessions take place from 9.30am to 12 noon. The youngest children, under 2’/2, normally attend on Wednesdays and are accompanied by a parent. The older children, over 2 1/2, come on Tuesdays and Thursdays and when they are ready, they can come unaccompanied. In fact they can be picked up by minibus with driver and escort so they are learning real independence. Another important aspect is socialisation. These children are special but wrapping them in cotton wool does not ease their passage in life. At Stepping Stones, they learn how to behave in a group and participate to their full potential.

It is not only the children who need Stepping Stones. This parental experience is typical, “Stepping Stones has been such a lifeline for me. Before Thomas started I felt so lonely and isolated; I thought I was the only person in the world whose baby had a problem. When Thomas started at Stepping Stones it was so nice to meet other people in a similar situation, where I didn’t have to explain why Thomas wasn’t walking, talking or whatever. . . or feel embarrassed that he wasn’t. I’ve made some very good friends through Stepping Stones, with people I can rely on for support when I need it. Thomas and I would like to say thank you very much to Stepping Stones.”

The children who attend Stepping Stones are usually referred by health and education professionals based in the Aylesbury Vale area. A speech and language therapist visits weekly, assesses the children individually and holds speech and language groups. Physio- and occupational therapists visit and advise as well as support teachers and many other allied professionals. The Consultant Community Paediatrician also attends regularly.

Between the ages of 3 1/2 and 4, with the support of classroom assistants, many of the children move on to mainstream nurseries and schools. Others attend Park School for children with more severe learning difficulties. The opening at Elmhurst School of the new unit for children with autism provides special tuition which has not previousiy been available in this area.

Jan and the elected executive committee have worked tirelessly to fund Stepping Stones. Many local organisations have helped, especially with fund raising for which no-one can give enough thanks. Stepping Stones has worked with a total of 85 children. Thank you Jan for all your hard work