Summer activities for children and young people with SEND

A range of accessible activities for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Brighton & Hove is running throughout the summer holidays.

The activities include:

  • Yoga
  • Art
  • Cookery
  • Magic
  • Multi-sports
  • Music and singing
  • Science, including colour changing and bubbles.

Activities are being held either face to face or online. Face to face activities are in line with Coronavirus guidelines. See here for full details.

The activities programme has been put together by Brighton & Hove City Council working with local disabilities charity Amaze, the city’s Parent and Carer Council (PaCC) and local activity providers.

In addition, families of children and young people with SEND are being given priority access from 10am to midday in parts of three parks in the city. These are:

  • The scented garden in St Anne’s Wells Gardens
  • The Secret Garden in East Hill Park
  • The ball court area in East Brighton Park (off Warren Road).

The deputy chair of the council’s children, young people and skills committee, Councillor Elaine Hills, said: “We’ve worked hard with our local partners to deliver the widest possible range of opportunities for children and young people within the current restrictions.

“I’m really grateful for their support, and also for all the hard work PaCC, Amaze and the local organisations and charities have done with us on this in such a short period of time.”

Fiona England, chair of the city’s Parent and Carers’ Council (PaCC) said: “Many families are desperate for more support or activities over the summer holidays. So we’re really pleased to have been able to work closely with the council and other groups to come up with a range of creative activities that can be accessed virtually, but also really importantly face to face.”

Rachel Travers, chief executive of Amaze said: “We’re really pleased the council has supported our idea for dedicated outdoor spaces in parks. We hope these will help some families feel more confident to get outside this summer. 

“We are also encouraging families to see what Compass Card partners are now open (see https://www.compasscard.org.uk/compass-card-offers/) and read ideas in our leisure in lockdown guides: https://www.compasscard.org.uk/leisure-learning-and-lock-down/.”