Find out what short breaks are, get more information on Universal, Targeted and Specialist short breaks, and read our short breaks service statement.
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.
Universal and targeted short breaks services can be used by all children and young people with SEND. Specialist services are only available to children who have an assessment from social care.
Direct payments are an alternative means of providing families with short breaks. A sum of money is provided rather than a direct service. This means a family can buy their own short breaks, for example, by employing a personal assistant.
Some families may have a mixture of direct payments and services, whilst some will have just direct payments.
For more information on our short breaks offer, you can read our short breaks service statement.
You can also find out about help you can get if you have a disabled child on GOV.UK.
To find out how assessments work and ask for an assessment you can contact your SEND caseworker, or the social work team:
Tell us if you are worried about a child or refer a child or family to Family Hubs for early help and support.