Find short breaks for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

Find short breaks for all Apply for a Compass Card

About short breaks

Short breaks are leisure or social activities that support children and young people with special needs and disabilities (SEND).

They give children the opportunity to have fun, learn new skills and socialise while parents or carers take a break from caring. This is sometimes called respite care.

Some short break services can be used by all children and young people with SEND and some are only available to children who have an assessment from social care.

To find out how assessments work and ask for an assessment contact the social work team:

• send an email to frontdoorforfamilies@brighton-hove.gov.uk
• phone 01273 290 400

You can also contact your SEND caseworker.

Find short breaks

On our website you can find:

• our interim short breaks statement
• short breaks that don't need an assessment, often called universal short breaks, such as after-school clubs and holiday schemes
• targeted short breaks
• short breaks that need an assessment from social care, often referred to as specialist short breaks such as:
  • services where your child is looked after overnight
  • where children and young people get support to take part in social and leisure activities

You can also find short breaks and get information about short breaks on the Amaze website.

Get discounts and save money

Children and young people who live in Brighton & Hove, and who have special educational needs or disabilities can get a Compass Card. You can use this card to pay less for leisure activities and get special deals.

Parents and carers, including young carers, can get a Carer’s Card for discounts.

More information

Find out about help you can get if you have a disabled child on GOV.UK.