Recommissioning the short breaks service for children and young people

Overview

Achieving for Children, which run the borough’s children’s services, is asking for views on the provision of Saturday, holiday and after school club activities, referred to as ‘Aiming High Short Break’ schemes. 

Short breaks provide children with disabilities and young people with fun, enjoyment and a chance to be with friends while their parents and carers get a break from caring. They come in many different forms, ranging from an overnight stay in a residential centre or a carer’s home to attending a youth club, leisure centre, holiday club or getting involved in a sports activity.

The main reason for the consultation is that the contracts with the organisations that currently deliver these clubs will come to an end in August 2025 and so Achieving for Children are planning what will happen after that.

There are two surveys on the Achieving for Children webpage, one for families and one for professionals that support children with special educational needs and disabilities. 

Why your views matter

It is really important that your views are included in this planning, as the number of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities living in our borough is increasing and councils across the country are facing very challenging financial situations. Your views will help make an Aiming High Short Breaks service that is fit for the future.

What happens next

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. The feedback received will help shape the provision and commissioning of this service. The findings of this engagement activity will be published on Achieving for Children's Local Offer website and the council's Let's Talk engagement platform.