Short Breaks Provision - Consultation

Consultation about Activities for Children and Young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability

Bath and North East Somerset Council are reviewing the short breaks activities it currently delivers for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disability (SEND). The Council are aiming to consult with parent carers, providers and non-providers of short break provision as well as professionals delivering specialist services asking them to share their views on the current short break provision that is on offer. Children and young people will be asked to consult on short break provision at a later date in September.

What is a Short break?

A short break is where children and young people with disabilities and additional needs participate in activities that they enjoy in their leisure time (outside school hours) for example playing sport, spending time with friends, joining a club to spending a few days away from home.

The purpose of this consultation

We typically review short breaks provision every 3 to 5 years. When we review activities and services delivered in leisure time (short breaks), we provide an opportunity for everyone to be involved in the decisions made about our commissioning intentions. We also look at what other local authorities are delivering in their areas that relate to short break provision.

COVID 19 highlighted a number of issues and gaps within the current service model of short breaks (activities and services delivered in leisure time). When the pandemic began in March 2020, short break provision had to close and it was uncertain when it would re-open. This put additional pressures on families of disabled children and those with additional needs. Going forward, we would like to avoid this from happening again.

When is the consultation taking place?

The consultation will run from 6th June 2022 until 15th July 2022. If you would like to have your say about the activities on offer for Children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/ or Disability (SEND) in B&NES please follow this link www.bathnes.gov.uk/shortbreaksconsultation