We support pre-school children with physical disabilities and their parents, helping children develop skills across all areas of their development while supporting parents through the emotional journey of raising a disabled child.
Page last updated
Small Steps is based in the Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames and is open to families from anywhere.
At the heart of Small Steps are two key aims: supporting children to develop skills across all areas of their development and supporting parents through the emotional journey of raising a disabled child.
Pre-school children attending Small Steps work across all areas of their development using the principles of Conductive Education. Children who attend our sessions may have cerebral palsy, other forms of motor impairment, syndromes, or sensory impairment. Group sessions are holistic and focus on all areas of a child’s development. Children attend once a week with a parent or carer, in small groups of up to six children who are working on similar skills. Parents are supported to learn how to incorporate tasks into everyday life at home, helping their child to reach their full potential.
We pride ourselves on offering a welcoming and supportive environment for parents. At Small Steps, parents can meet others with shared experiences, build strong friendships, and feel less isolated or alone. We provide a wealth of information for families and run regular parent workshops, which inform and empower parents while offering a valuable space for discussion and social connection.
Small Steps is free for families to attend. As a registered charity, we do not receive any statutory funding and rely entirely on grants, donations, and fundraising to generate the income needed to operate. We depend on the kindness and support of our community and gently encourage families who are able, to support us through fundraising so we can continue to be there for others.
We work with children whose primary need is physical. If you are unsure whether Small Steps is right for your child, please do get in touch — we would be very happy to talk things through with you. Who can join? Small Steps works with children if:
they are under 5 years old,
they have a predominantly physical disability or a significant motor delay,
they are not attending a Special School full time,
they are likely to benefit from the Conductive Education approach,
parents or carers commit to attending sessions and incorporating tasks into daily life at home,
they are not yet walking independently.
How can we apply to join Small Steps? No formal referral is required. When you are ready, you can complete a referral form online here.
There is lots of information on our website about travelling to and from Small Steps and parking.
We have absolutely loved our first half term at Small Steps. We are blown away by how many things happen in each session and L clearly enjoys it all
service
The dedicated NSPCC child protection specialist you talk to will know what to do next and will take any necessary action. It’s never too soon to speak out when a child needs help. Even if you’re unsure, if you’re worried, the best thing to do is to talk to a trained professional. Your call could pro
service
Struggling to get your child back to school? Access & Attend helps you address the root causes of school absence. Gain proven strategies to rebuild confidence, improve attendance, and work effectively with schools. Empower your child to thrive in education again.
service
My mission is to make a difference in people’s lives, especially for those who already face so many challenges dealing with routines and daily tasks. The tools I am able to teach people to learn will help minimise the challenges they face and help them to cope better in everyday life.
