The Yard Edinburgh

“As a carer of children and young people with additional support needs I have found the yard to be a great place go. It is a good place to connect with other parents and carers who have children with ASN. It has trained staff to support activities and help your child feel safe and secure while exploring play and learning to play alongside others. The young people I have taken to the Yard have all had positive experiences and have had regular return visits. The facilities at the yard are excellent. The building is wheelchair accessible and it has zoned areas for different activities, high spec sensory room, art room, adapted kitchen, soft play and a large area for outdoor play. Outdoors they have a large spacious play area with a climbing net, up to a fort, a 'bed swing' (I've seen many children in wheelchairs experience going on a swing, for the first time) there are bikes and trikes and a painted roadway with a proper pedestrian crossing, a river - which is regularly flowing bubbles, a glass dome, a sandpit, a sensory garden area for making music and much more. There are all sorts of facilities to encourage and develop sensory play within a safe environment. During term time the yard is used through the day by young people with additional support needs from various schools. Some come to experience independent play in a safe environment, while other groups come with a specific topic in mind which their play activities are directed towards. I think the staff at the yard are brilliant. I have found their knowledge and experience makes them invaluable to parents and carers visiting the yard.”

“This place is such a gem… a refuge in the storm for families with young people with additional support needs. Tucked away in a little nook in Canongate, this is the rare spot where kids with special needs can do almost anything. If the staff can safely support it, kids can bake, craft, build forts, ride standard and accessible bikes, dress up, make music, build, pretend, swing and be active. There is a sensory room, an art room, an outdoor dome, a big outdoor play area with a paved track and little water features, things to climb, a kitchen for helping kids create and snack… even the occasional therapet. It feels like there are no limits! They run family play programs, respite clubs, they work with schools, and much more. Love this place.”

“I have been bringing my son for years to the yard, its a great, safe environment for the kids and a good place for parents to meet, chat and have a cuppa. All the staff are well trained and absolutley wonderful with the kids. Theres lots to do there for the kids, indoors and outdoors, my son and I would be lost without the place. We both look forward to many more years there. Its a magical place, nowhere else quite like it.”

“Great to finally make it to the yard post covid and things have become more safe with social distancing and having numbers of kids in one session. Will still recommend anyone who has a disability and would like to use their free access spaces it’s worth the visit. Do call office before as they have restrictions for numbers in a day. My child loves the place.”