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Hello
Welcome to the Short Break Newsletter: Issue 3
I am often asked for advice about EHCPs when talking to families about short breaks, this is not my area of expertise, so in this issue I wanted to signpost to a really helpful organisation:
IASS: Information Advice & Support Service.
They provide free, impartial and confidential information, advice and support about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) for children, young people up to age 25, parents and carers.
Please do forward this newsletter if you feel someone would benefit from it.
If there is anything specific you would like to see covered in these newsletters or you would like to talk about short break needs for you and your family or a family you work with please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.
We can talk through options and I can signpost you to other helpful resources and organisations.
Please call me on 01344 352733 or email me at
short.breaks@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
Kind regards
Becky Durrant
Short Breaks Co-ordinator
IASS stands for Information Advice and Support Service. They provide free, impartial and confidential information, advice and support to children and young people with special educational needs / disability and their parents/carers in a confidential setting so that they can make informed decisions. Whilst they are employed by Bracknell Forest Council, they are required to be at arm’s length to the LA and ICB’s
Bracknell Forest IASS aims to empower families and children, with the relevant information and advice, to be fully involved in decisions about education.
Introduction Video to the Information Advice and Support Service
Information
They can provide information and advice on a range of topics such as:
- Support for children and young people with SEND at early years settings, schools and colleges and those who are not in school.
- Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans
- EHC needs assessments
- Annual reviews of EHC plans
- Moving to Bracknell Forest with an EHC plan
- Exclusions
- Home to School Transport
- Supporting medical difficulties in school
- Social Care assessments
- Considering a change of school
- Making a complaint
- Bringing an appeal
Contact details
Website: https://bracknellforestiass.co.uk/
Confidential Helpline: 01344 354011
Email:iass@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
Support
Information and advice is provided in different ways:
- Website resources
- Telephone and email support
- Face-to-face meetings
Supporting Children and Young People
Bracknell Forest IASS also help empower children to be involved in their education journey. They understand that most children and young people with special educational needs, will rely heavily on their parents to be involved in decisions. However, you might like to know that, whatever their age, your child is also entitled to use the IASS service in their own right or alongside you, if they would like to. Please do share this with your children and young people.
The child / young person case officer Karen Shore can help your child to understand their special educational needs, help them make their voice heard in school / college meetings, help them create a profile to contribute to section A of an EHC plan or as a way of expressing their views in wider scenarios.
You can watch or read about Karen here :
IASS Young Person case officer video introduction
 
The Short Breaks Inclusion Fund is designed to support children and young people with disabilities to access play and leisure activities within universal and mainstream settings by funding 1:1 support. Children accessing these settings would typically require minimal supervision and have mild to moderate learning difficulties and may need some initial support to build confidence.
Families pay the activity cost and the Inclusion Fund will pay for additional identified needs such as a one to one support worker. The priority for this scheme is to support access to out-of-school activities and/or holiday activities, such as guides, karate, dance, youth club or a holiday club.
This support can be provided for up to one day per week during the school holidays in line with our targeted provisions or once a week for a regular after-school activity
If you have a query or would like more information, please contact Becky Durrant Short Breaks Co-ordinator on 01344 352733 or email short.breaks@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
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The Council commissions a charity called Kids to provide a targeted Saturday and Holiday Club tailored to the children and young people with disabilities who have moderate to high needs and require significant support.
Eligibility for Kids is assessed through a home visit with parents/carers and child or young person by the Kids Play and Leisure Senior Practitioner to create a care portfolio for each child and ensure their identified needs can be met. It is determined in line with the commissioned contract and based on factors such as age, type of disability, level of support needs, peer group availability and potential risks.
Sessions run from 10am to 4pm and the scheme offers a variety of activities including, swimming, bowling, trips out and centre days with cooking, arts and crafts, trips to the park, messy play
Bracknell Forest Council subsidises the play and leisure scheme. The parental contribution is £20 per session. Parents/carers can self-refer to Kids, there is no need to come through the Short Break Service. Please contact Hannah Tomkinson, Senior Practitioner at Kids on 01344 453266 or email hannah.tomkinson@kids.org.uk
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The Discovery Centre at The Lookout have added autism friendly sessions to their science exhibition on Sunday 5th February and Sunday 5th March from 9:30 to 12:30.
The sessions, will run at reduced capacity and exhibits with loud sounds will be turned down where possible or have warning signage to make our customers with autism more comfortable. Please be aware that during the final hour of this session, members of the general public will start to be admitted.
If you have any suggestions for how The Lookout could make this session even better for visitors with Autism, please get in touch with them at: The.Lookout@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
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Smiles for Sibs - Siblings Support Group on Thursday afternoons
A group run in both Wokingham and Bracknell to give siblings aged between 8 and 13 some ‘me time’, let off steam and have fun by taking part in a range of different activities.
To attend the group the family will need to become Promise Inclusion members (£15 for Jan to Dec).
The club costs £1 per evening and during the group they play games , cooking, arts and crafts. During the school holidays they organise subsidied trips as well.
Tel: 07827 340 405
Email: admin@promiseinclusion.org
Web: Activities and Services – Promise Inclusion
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The following activities are universally available to all families with children / young people with SEND and you can simply contact them directly for more information:
Ozone Ice Rink
Learn to skate with experienced coaches in a relaxed, caring and enjoyable atmosphere. Mixed abilities from ages 5 and up.
Tel: 01344 453005
Email: info@ozonerink.co.uk
Website: SEN Mixed Abilities - OZONE ICE RINK (ozonerink.co.uk)
Make Sense Theatre Creative Youth Assembly on Tuesday evenings
Weekly creative workshops exploring drama and dance for young people aged 11-25 with autism and/or learning disabilities at South Hill Park.
- Half Assembly - 6pm to 7pm
- Full Assembly - 6pm to 8pm
Tel: 0118 946 1739
Email: team@makesensetheatre.com
Web:Make/Sense Theatre (makesensetheatre.com)
Silwood Park Karate Club SEN session on Tuesday evenings
Specialist lessons for children and adults with additional needs with a number of assistant instructors who support and provide small group teaching and 1-2-1 support.
Wildridings Primary School
- Children's lessons 7pm
- Adult lessons 7:45pm
Tel: 01344 440328
Email: karate@silwoodparkkarate.co.uk
Web: Lessons | Silwood Park Karate
Coral Reef Accessible Sessions on Wednesdays
Accessible for Everyone sessions are an opportunity exclusively for customers with disabilities their families, carers and friends to enjoy Coral Reef and its iconic waterslides. Online booking only
Buy Tickets for NEW Accessible For Everyone session (digitickets.co.uk)
Dance Unite on Thursdays (Windsor)
An inclusive dance group open to young people ages 9 - 13 of all abilities. Led and facilitated by our most experienced SEN specialist dance teachers. This course concludes with a live performance
- 6pm to 6:45pm at 4Motion Studio, The Studio, Kardelto House, Windsor,
Tel: 01344 202425 Web: Our Classes | 4Motion CIC
The Wayz Youth Club SEN sessions on Fridays
- Chillout - 5pm to 6:30pm - 12 to 16 year olds
- Hangout - 7:15pm to 9pm - 16 to 25 year olds
Tel: 01344 483596
Email: admin@thewayzyouth.co.uk
Web: The Wayz | (thewayzyouth.co.uk)
GEMS Social Groups
For children with or likely to have ADHD/ASD living in East Berkshire
- Bear Cubs - 5 to 10 year olds - 1st and 3rd Friday of the month at 4pm
- Wolf Pack - 11 to 15 year olds - 2nd Friday of the month at 4:30pm
- Connectionz - 16+ years old - Last Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm
Activities are online or face to face in locations across Bracknell, RBWM and Slough.
Tel: 0800 999 1342
Email: GEMS.4health@nhs.net
Web: https://www.gems4health.com/
Chance to Dance - Term time Saturdays at Martins Heron Community Centre
A dance school for students and families in the disabled community with various classes between 9am - 12:00pm held every other week on a Saturdays.
8th and 22nd October
5th and 19th November
3rd and 17th December
Tel: 07736343570
Email: sendanceclub@hotmail.com
Web: http://www.sendanceclub.co.uk
Bracknell Trampoline Centre on Saturdays
BTC has a team of experienced coaches on hand with a passion for working with people with additional needs to ensure everyone can enjoy the amazing feeling of bouncing on the trampoline whilst remaining in a safe and positive environment.
- Saturday at 12:30pm and 1:30pm
- Holiday courses
Tel: 07977 790337
Email: lexi.lawton@bracknelltrampolinecentre.co.uk
Web: https://www.bracknelltrampolinecentre.co.uk/activities/special-needs/
Pinewood Gymnastics SEND class on Sunday
Additional Needs session give children a chance to enjoy the benefits of gymnastics and all it has to offer in a smaller, quieter class. Paid termly Parents usually remain on site for duration of class.
5 to 16 year olds at 10.10am to 11:05
Tel: 01344 773 237 https://thomley.org.uk
Email: enquiries@pinewoodgymnastics.co.uk
Web: https://pinewoodgymnastics.co.uk/gymnastics-classes/additional-needs-classes
Red Kangaroo Kanga Calm Session on Sunday (Reading)
Kanga Calm sessions are specifically for those who are aged 2+ with disabilities/additional needs.
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Tel: 03333 445 933
Email: jump@redkangaroo.co.uk
Web: https://www.redkangaroo.co.uk/
Berks County FC Inclusive Football sessions at Cantley Park (Wokingham)
Berks County are a local community charter standard football club and will shortly be running some 'inclusive' session's for children aged 12- 18 that struggle to attend mainstream sessions
Email: wayne@berkscountyfc.com
Disability Challengers (Farnham)
A Charity that gives disabled children and young people the opportunity to play, have fun, and make friends in a safe and supportive environment. Supporting children and young people aged 2 – 18.
Saturdays | Wednesday Youth Nights | Half-term | Easter & Summer Holidays (Mon – Fri)
Tel: 01483 230 939
Email: FarnhamYouthscheme@disability-challengers.org
Web: Play - Challengers (disability-challengers.org)
Camp Mohawk (Wargrave)
Camp Mohawk is a multi-functional day centre for children with special needs and their families, set in 5 acres of beautiful countryside, just outside Wargrave. Throughout the year the centre provides a range of activities, facilities and natural space to encourage children with a variety of special needs to play, socialise and learn in a secure and caring environment.
Tel: 0118 940 4045
Email: info@campmohawk.org.uk
Web: https://www.campmohawk.org.uk
Thomley (Buckinghamshire)
Thomley is an activity centre for people with disabilities and their families/carers. It has the skills, experience and expertise in providing a wide range of active and creative activities/workshops contributing to the development of social and general life skills to enhance the physical/emotional well-being of people with disabilities throughout their lives.
Tel: 01844 338380
Email: enquiries@thomley.org.uk
Web: https://thomley.org.uk
Thames Valley Adventure Playground (Maidenhead)
A charity that offers a unique range of adventurous, therapeutic and educational play activities in a safe, caring and stimulating environment, catering for both children and adults with all types of disability, however mild or profound.
Tel: 01628 628599
Email: theplayground@tvap.co.uk
Web: https://www.tvap.co.uk
Swings and Smiles (Thatcham)
Swings & Smiles offers play sessions for children with special needs and their whole family at their specialist centre. They have specialist play resources to enable children with a wide range of disabilities to play with siblings and other family members in a secure and safe environment.
Tel: 01635 285170
Email: office@swingsandsmiles.co.uk
Web: https://www.swingsandsmiles.co.uk/what-we-do
Our House (Wokingham)
Wokingham based, parent led charity providing activities, support and therapy for children with disabilities and/or additional needs and their families. They are based at Our House - fully accessible play centre, where families can meet, and all children are celebrated.
Tel: 07967 105842
Email: admin@bftf.org.uk Web: https://www.bftf.org.uk/
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