The Birches, West Didsbury

The Birches has 45 minute play slots for SEND families in two areas:

• The slide playground with trim trail and forest area
• The Meerkats playground and swings

There’ll be juice, milk cartons and biscuits, and access to toilets. For your safety at this time, both areas will be cleaned down each time after use. Sessions are available Monday 27th July to Monday 3rd August, between 10am-2pm, Monday to Fridays. Booking essential - call 0161 234 1946, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

Melland High School, Gorton

Melland High School’s playing field is open to SEND families for three weeks of the holidays - Monday 27th July to Friday 14th August, between 10am-3pm, Monday-Friday. It’s a huge, enclosed space - ideal for energetic children to run around safely. Up to 50 people can be in the field at any time so it’s an opportunity to meet up with other families. You’d be welcome to take a picnic, just be aware that toilets aren’t available. Booking essential - call 0161 234 1946, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

Community Market Garden

These free 2hr sessions for Manchester SEND families with the Community Market Garden in Platt Fields, includes seed balls and bug hotels, painting plant pots and pebbles, Garden Bingo, and sowing seeds to take home. Sessions are 1-3pm every Thursday in the holidays - 30th July & 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th August. Booking essential – call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

Family Dancing

No booking needed for these free, fun dance sessions for SEND Manchester families at Alexandra Park in Whalley Range. They’re led by local dancer and choreographer, Ruth Jones, and supported by local dancer, Dom Coffey. Expect a warm up, before a chance to invent your own dance grooves with your family. Please wear suitable clothing and shoes to move in, and keep in your bubble group, 1 metre away from other families. Sessions are 45 mins, twice a day – 10.15-11am and 11.30am-12.15pm on Tuesday 28th, Wednesday 29th and Friday 31st July, and Tuesday 4th, Wednesday 5th and Friday 7th August. Gather at the flat ground by the Russell Street entrance, Alexandra Park.

Family Tree Top Trek

Free two hour sessions of tree-riffic bouncy adventure in the high trees are on offer at Heaton Park with Tree Top Trek. Enjoy playing high up in the trees on huge bouncy nets with super-fast slides and aerial walkways. These free special sessions for SEND families take place every Tuesday in the summer holidays, 11am-1pm, starting Tuesday 28th July, age 3 and upwards. See the website for FAQ, including what to wear. Booking essential - call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

Platt Fields, Sunday 2nd August, 12.30pm

Meet at the lakeside near the children's play area

Alexandra Park, Sunday 23rd August, 12.30pm

Meet at the main entrance on Princess Road

Heaton Park, Sunday 6th September, 12.30pm

Meet at the car park near the children’s play area

There are more parks activities to come. In the meantime, check out this page for up to date information on the facilities opening up in Manchester's parks, including children’s play areas, toilets, cafes and ice cream vendors.

Join Simply Cycling for an all ability guided ride and picnic on Manchester’s green routes, off-road trails and parks. The 2hr activity is for two families at a time and the routes will be geared around needs and abilities. They can be local or a bit further afield if you’d like to be more adventurous.

Simply Cycling meet you at a pre-arranged location and bring bikes that all the family will be able to ride or be supported to ride - including wheelchair accessible bikes, family cargo bikes, tag-along trikes, trandems etc as well as ordinary two wheeled bikes. The aim is to get the whole family out and about in the fresh air and in local places of interest and beauty. You’ll ride for a while and then stop for a picnic or snacks and continue the ride or return to the meeting point. These weekday cycles are available through August. Booking essential – call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

Venture Arts have two creative projects that over 100 SEND families can do at home this holidays. The first is to join artist Dominic Bennet in creating ceramic weasels, inspired by the characters in The Wind In The Willows. Dominic would love you to help expand a weasel army to be exhibited across the country! He will send you a box containing all the clay, tools and step by step guidance you need to create some weasels to join his army – plus one for you to keep. You'll have a couple of weeks to work on your creations before they get collected, put in kiln and then returned to you again for glazing. You can also use the clay to make your own creation if you want to! Booking essential - call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

Later in August, you can join artist and story teller Louise Hewitt in making your own ceramic garden monster. Louise creates stories and ceramic monsters to teach children about nature, the environment and gardening. Louise will send you a box containing everything you need. More info to follow.

BikeRight are taking bookings for Bikeability holiday courses over the summer break. These inclusive full day courses run from 9am to 3pm and are run by qualified trainers and follow social distancing and hygiene guidelines. They’re ideal if your child missed out on Bikeability due to school closures and a great way to boost confidence and skills. Courses are very popular and fill up quickly so book online now through the BikeRight website. Children must be 10 by August 31st 2020. Bike and helmet needed. 

It looks like most of the city’s museums and galleries won’t be re-opening until at least September. But there are two exceptions! If you like footie, the National Football Museum is welcoming visitors from Thursday 23rd July, and the Museum of Science & Industry is opening its doors on Friday 14th August. Check their websites for visitor information at this time.

Pencils, pens, and paintbrushes at the ready...PAPYRUS is launching a brand-new competition for children aged 4 to 18 to get creative with a work of art that depicts ‘Hope’. One winner will be chosen from the primary school age category, and another from the secondary school category. The winning artworks will appear on the official 2020 PAPYRUS Christmas cards. Competition closes: 28th August 2020. Winners announced mid-September. Visit their website to find out how to enter.