Sleep Scotland

General information

The Challenge

Children with additional support needs are far more likely to have serious sleep problems than other children. They may not settle, or wake frequently throughout the night or very early in the morning. Children can be very noisy or distressed and cannot be left unattended. Often parents have to sleep in shifts for months or years.

It’s not just the children ­ sleep deprivation has a devastating effect on the whole household. It affects the health of the parents and how well they look after all their children. It is often the cause of family break-up where children end up in care. There is little night-time respite care available.

The Solution

Sleep problems can be effectively treated using specially adapted behavioural and cognitive techniques. This reduces stress levels for the parents which in turn leads to improved health and quality of care for the whole family. Parents and carers can look after their children better, and make the best decisions about care for their children with additional support needs.

The Way Forward

Our aim is to work in partnership with Local Authorities and Health Trusts to establish locally controlled services. Sleep Scotland’s vision is to establish sleep counselling as part of a package offered to families with children with additional support needs.

Sound Sleep

Sound Sleep is an education programme that raises teenagers' awareness of the importance of sleep for their health and wellbeing, and helps them implement positive sleep habits in their routines. Developed by Sleep Scotland and launched in 2011 throughout the UK, Sound Sleep consists of a training day and teaching pack for secondary school professionals.