Short breaks and fun activities

Short Breaks are fun activities for children/young people with SEND.

Leeds City Council is committed to delivering a range of Short Breaks for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), their parents/carers and families. Our aim is to ensure that children and young people with disabilities and their families are supported well and have their needs met.

To do this we:

  • Listen to and respond to the voice of the child in all that we do.
  • Use restorative practice to inform all our work.
  • Think Family Approach.
  • Focus on Early Help.
  • Support to take part in and enjoy local community life wherever possible.

Short Breaks are activities for children and young people with SEND that enable them to have fun, spend time with friends and build their confidence and skills in a safe environment. As well as promoting best outcomes for the child, the Children Act 1989 Schedule 2 requires Local Authorities to provide services designed to assist family carers of disabled children 'to continue to [provide care], or to do so more effectively, by giving them breaks from caring'.

Read the full short breaks statement here


Short Breaks Statement - Easy Read
 

Click here for a list of fun activities for young people in Leeds.

Short breaks and fun activities

Short Breaks Offer in Leeds

Short breaks give children and young people with special education needs or disabilities (SEND) the chance to have fun and socialise away from home.

Who is eligible

Short Breaks in Leeds are available to children and young people who:

  • have a special educational need or disability
  • are aged between 0 and 18 years old
  • live in Leeds

Types of short breaks

In Leeds there are lots of different short breaks to give children with SEND a chance to try new experiences, have fun and make friends. They also give families the chance to enjoy a break from their caring responsibilities.

Universal clubs
Universal clubs offer children with SEND the opportunity to join sport or youth groups. Find your local group on the Leeds Local Offer.

Specialist short breaks
Specialist short breaks are for disabled children with the most complex needs. To apply your child must have a social worker. You will need to contact them and ask for an assessment.

Targeted short breaks
Targeted short breaks are for children with specific SEND needs. Short breaks include:

  • weekends away
  • holiday activity schemes
  • residential and evening activities

Who we work with

If you would like your child to take part in a targeted short break, you will need to contact the provider directly to register your interest.

Watch our short video to explain what a short break is and how to access them in Leeds.


 

Catalogue of short breaks and fun activities

Catalogue of short breaks and fun activities

This catalogue lists in detail fun activities and short breaks currently available to children and young people aged 0-18 in Leeds.

click here to download the Short Breaks and Fun Activities catalogue 2024/25

If you would like your child to access a targeted short breaks / fun activity please complete the expression of interest form.

Support to access fun activities

Activities for All are commissioned to challenge and develop universal activity groups (football, gymnastics, drama, arts classes, and others) to be welcoming and inclusive to disabled children 4 to 18 years old in Leeds.

Scope does this in two ways.

  • Scope employs a team of sessional workers to support children in universal activities on a short-term basis. These are not a one-to-one workers, they provide a bridging service where both the disabled child and the universal activity group receive support and establish a relationship. This is a short-term basis approach where the sessional worker withdraws, the child can continue to attend and is supported by the activity. Click here to self-refer.
  • Secondly, Scope works directly in supporting universal activity providers in completing Scope's Inclusive Activity Award. These services are signposted to families as inclusive activities and great places to attend for short breaks and activities.

Contact details: 

Email: leeds@scope.org.uk