Short Breaks

We are required by law to provide Short Breaks as part of the Local Offer to meet the needs of Children and Young People aged 5 to 18 with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities and their families within Dudley.

Short Breaks vary depending on the needs of the child, young person, and their family. A short break could last a few hours, a day, an evening, overnight or for a weekend. They could take place in or away from the home. It could range from an activity like an afterschool club to an overnight stay with a carer or at a short break unit.

They provide opportunities for children and young people with disabilities and Special Educational Needs to experience positive experiences, activities, and clubs, ideally within their community, that they would not ordinarily be able to access due to their additional needs.

Short Breaks enable Children and Young People to spend time away from their family, develop new friendships, new skills and enjoy different activities in a safe and supportive environment.

Short Breaks provide carers of disabled children a break from their caring responsibilities, time to spend with family and friends, to access their own hobbies or to catch up on day-to-day tasks.

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CDT’S Short Breaks Statement (PDF 0.50MB)

Universal Short Break Activities

Universal activities are open to all our families with disabled children. Our families should be able to access fun activities, and parents receive a break from caring.

Activities can include:

leisure and sports services
youth and play services
public spaces, for example, parks and adventure playgrounds
Early Years services and children’s centre
extended services in school including after-school and holiday clubs
voluntary and community facilities
Scouts, Guides, Brownies
sports and games clubs

Targeted Service Activities

Targeted short break activities, you need to:

live in Dudley
have a diagnosed disability, and
be in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA)

There is no further assessment needed to access targeted short breaks. There may be age restrictions applicable dependent on the qualifying criteria, or the nature of the activity.

Active zone – Disability Sports – Crystal & Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre

Disability sports for children and young adults and siblings during school holidays.

aged 5-8 years 10.00am-12.00
aged 9-18 years 1.00pm-4.00pm.

Children can take part in various sports such as trampolining, bouncy castle, wheelchair sports, basketball, dodgeball, archery etc..

Please contact Dale Rudge on 07970 259921 or email dalerudge@outlook.com

Sassy Sensory Surprise CIC – Sensory Family Swim

Inclusive SEND Family Relaxed Swim Sessions in Dudley - Until March 2026 Held monthly at Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre, these sessions offer families the chance to enjoy the pool in a calm, sensory-friendly environment. Our friendly team will be on hand to provide support, ensuring everyone feels comfortable, supported, and included.

Please contact Toni Leigh or email - toni@sassysensorysurprises.co.uk

Website https://sassysensorysurprises.co.uk/

Kids Orchard

Office open Monday-Friday 9.00am-4.00pm (answerphone in operation if staff are not available). Services take place at the Centre Monday to Friday. Youth Clubs are held in Stourbridge and Halesowen. Session times vary depending on day and activity taking place. Monday-Transitions, Tuesday and Friday - After School Clubs, Monday and Wednesday - Youth Club

Please contact KIDS Orchard Centre on 01384 897489 or email enquiries.orchard@kids.org.uk

Website: https://www.kids.org.uk/

You can also find information about the SEND offer via the Holiday Activities Fund (HAF).

Specialist Short Break Services

Specialist short break services are for our families with the most complex needs, who require more support than is offered through play and leisure services.

Specialist overnight residential short breaks (staycations) are a break for the parent from their caring role and the opportunity for the child or young person to experience or expand their independence in a supported way. This type of short break can be provided following a Child and Young Person’s Assessment by the Children with Disabilities Team under s17 of the Children Act.

Staycations in short break children’s homes that provides overnight breaks to children, aged 5-18 years, who have unmet social care needs who require specialist support to meet their holistic needs and reach their full potential. This provision is joint funded by the Integrated Health Board and Dudley MBC.

Staycation Foster Scheme

This scheme provides overnight staycations to disabled children, whose needs can be best met by individual care within a family-based setting. This can be provided for children aged 5 to 18 years.

You can find out more about specialist short breaks, and check if you are eligible, by speaking with your child’s allocated practitioner in the Children with Disabilities Team.

Where services are required to meet the child’s needs in the community, the assessment may identify provision of support through the offer of a personal budget including Direct Payments.

Children/young people and their families who, despite their disability, are assessed as not being eligible for Specialist Short Breaks will be signposted to Universal and Targeted Short Breaks, these are services that a family can self-refer to. There are a variety of Universal and Targeted Short Breaks available to children with SEND, and most children's needs can be met within these services. We recognise that needs can change throughout a child's life and should needs or circumstances change then it may be appropriate for a new assessment to take place. A new assessment will take place at key transitional times in childhood, for example at around 16 years old in preparation for adulthood or at times when there is a significant change in children's needs.

Transport can be challenging for families with both disabled and non-disabled children. Travel Assistance for Short Breaks is ordinarily not provided for any Short Break services.

Families are encouraged to consider if the child is eligible for the mobility element of Disability Living Allowance (up to 16 years old) or Personal Independence Payment (16 years old onwards) and whether this could support their travel.

Last updated: 27/02/2026