Sleep Scotland s a charity which supports the parents and carers of children and young people with additional support needs and sleep problems. 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.