Disabled children's activities

What are short breaks?

Short breaks are fun breaks which may be for a few hours or a few days and offer enjoyable leisure experiences for children and young people with disabilities, and a break from caring for the parent(s) and family.

A short break may be attending an after school club, a holiday play scheme or a weekend activity. It could be a break within the home, in a carer’s home or in a residential setting.

It could also be an extra pair of hands to support a young person on an outing of their choice or on a family outing. Short breaks can take many forms but must be positive experiences, age-appropriate and fun!

Who can receive Short Breaks?

These are the target groups:

Group A

Children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD).  They are likely to have other impairments such as Severe Learning Disabilities or behaviour which challenge.  Children in this group will display behaviour which challenges, or behaviour which causes injury to themselves or others.  Not all children with ASD will require specialist additional short break services.

Group B

Children and young people with complex health needs including those with disability and life-limiting conditions, and/or those with associated impairments such as cognitive or sensory impairments, and who may have moving and handling needs or require specialist equipment. 

We also provide some services for children and young people from lower priority groups or those not specified in groups A and B. 

The level of short break package will be based on the level of need.

Group C

Children and young people who receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) medium/high rate and/or:

• have a statement of special educational needs (SEN)
• are eligible for Early Support.

Our Short Break Menu, which is included in the Choice Bulletin, details the list of activities available from 1 January 2012 to 31 March 2013.  To help you decide which activity will be more suited to your child/children’s needs a brief description of the services on offer has been included (places are subject to availability).

Short breaks can be accessed by:

• contacting the short breaks team 
• via your child/ren’s school Special Education Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO)
• by completing a short breaks application form
• if you are already receiving support from the Disabled Children’s or Transitions Team please contact your social worker.

Short break services available in your area and their criteria

The short break services available in your area and their criteria are set out in the Barnet Short Breaks Duty Services Statement 2011. 

How to apply for a short break

A short break application form  should be completed and sent to the Short Breaks team. We will then consider the applications and may phone parents for further details or to suggest other options.