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The latest news and updates for parents/carers
and children and young people 0-25 years with special educational needs
and disabilities (SEND) in the Manchester City Council area
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Our next Local Offer drop in is on Wednesday 20th November, 10am-12noon at a new venue - the Ladybarn Community Hub, Royle Street, Withington, M14 6RN. It’s a great opportunity to meet services and other parents/carers. Professionals welcome! Look out for our drop in newsletter nearer the time.
Future Drop Ins, 10am-12 noon:
Wednesday 11th December – Manchester Youth Zone, Harpurhey
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Sensory room slots
There are still free slots at this half term's sensory room in Wythenshawe! It’s a different venue than usual - Benchill Children's Centre, 22 Lyndene Road, M22 4PZ. The room is a calming space filled with controllable sensory lights, soft cushions and a small box of toys. Hour slots are available for up to 4 people this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9am until 4pm. Please call 0161 529 0080 (option 5) to book.
Relaxed cinema
The next SEND Community Offer Relaxed Cinema Screening with Manchester Parent Carer Forum is on Saturday 9th November, 11-1pm at GRUB in Cheetham Hill, 50 Red Bank, M4 4HF. The poll is still open for the next film, closing at 12pm on Sunday 27th October - vote now. Booking opens at 3pm on the same day - use this link to get your tickets. The cinema is for families living in the Manchester City Council area as part of the SEND Community Offer.
Free travel training for 14-25s
Manchester Local Offer’s free Travel Training Programme offers opportunities for young people to gain confidence and independence in travelling around Manchester and beyond. It’s for disabled and neurodivergent young people aged 14-25 who live in the Manchester City Council area, offering one-to-one support in accessing leisure activities. That might be the cinema, going to the shops or meeting up with a friend. There are up to six sessions, each session lasting around three hours, depending on where the young person wants to go. They will also get useful information, like travel cards, CEA cards and Our Pass. Apply through the Short Breaks/Local Offer team. Please email shortbreaks@manchester.gov.uk, putting ‘Travel training’ in the subject line. You can also phone 0161 219 2125 or text Olivia at Greater Manchester Youth Network on 07708 028312.
Cycling for 11-16s
Did you know there are free weekly cycling sessions for young people aged 11-16 with SEND or emotional and mental health needs, living in the Manchester City Council area? They’re every Saturday 11am-3pm, meeting at the Procter Learning Centre, Hulme Street, Off Jackson Crescent M15 5EF. Bikes, helmets and other safety equipment are provided for cycle routes across Greater Manchester, along with regular bike maintenance sessions. All young people take part in a pre-ride induction before attending Saturday rides but need to be competent riders. Contact Roger Newell at MANCCYCLES for more information and to book places – info@manccycles.co.uk, 07970 922132.
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Sports taster - this Friday!
There’s a free SEND Sports Taster Day at on Friday 25th October at Belle Vue Leisure Centre, Kirkmanshulme Lane, M12 4TF, 10am to 1pm for families living in Manchester. Offered by Manchester Active in partnership with Better UK, activities are suitable for all abilities, including wheelchair users. The event will take place mainly indoors with a few sports outside, weather permitting. It’s a great opportunity to try out a variety of sports in a safe and inclusive environment and learn more about regular SEND sporting activities offered in Manchester. No booking required, just turn up! Find out more, including travel information. Please feel welcome to contact Rebecca with your questions: r.kemp@mcractive.com, 07736 918 676.
Stay and play
Manchester Settlement run a weekly Stay and Play during term-time for children with SEND. It’s on Thursdays 10am-11.30 at St Clements Children’s Centre, Melville Close, Openshaw, M111LR. It's a warm and friendly group, aimed at pre-school children, with some flexibility for children up to 8 where they are struggling to find a school place. No need to book, just drop in. Any enquiries, call reception on 0161 974 1300.
Halloween in the city
Celebrate Halloween in Manchester with free events across the city for all the family. The Manchester Monsters are back from Friday 25th to Thursday 31st October, then it’s the Halloween in the City Weekender. Find out about individual events and activities in this special newsletter.
Alternative Bonfire Night
Traditional fireworks events can be overwhelming for some people, so Manchester Printworks are offering an alternative. On Bonfire Night, Tuesday 5th November, they’ll be showing stunning displays on their digital ceiling, the largest in Europe. The event runs from 5-8pm with a ‘relaxed hour’ 5pm–6pm hosted by CBeebies’ presenter Nigel Clarke who will be reading campfire stories, with the option for children to listen with headsets. The event includes a chill-out zone featuring comfy beanbags and cosy blankets, as well as free toffee apples and fibre optic wands (first come, first served). Find out more.
Meet Santa
There will be Santa sessions for children with additional needs on Tuesday 3rd December, 3.30-5.30pm, at Martenscroft Children’s Centre, 33 Epping Street, Hulme, M15 6PA. Spaces limited. Please call the centre on 0161 226 1266 to book your places.
Relaxed concert
Chetham’s School of Music November relaxed performance is fully booked, but there are tickets for Wednesday 4th December, 1.30pm. To get your free tickets, book through this link. Here is more information on the relaxed concerts.
Festive sing-a-long
There’s a free Festive Sing-a-long relaxed performance on Friday 13th December, 1.10pm (doors open at 12.30pm) at The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, Bridgeford Street, off Oxford Road, M13 9PL. Manchester University Music Society hosts this annual 50-minute musical treat, open to everybody. It’s inclusive in many ways – audience can move about the concert hall, go in and out, make noise, dance and join in the songs, and use the quiet room. Lights are also left on throughout the event and there’s a team on hand to assist with all your access needs. No need to book (except for groups of 10 or more). The capacity of the venue is 350. Whilst the event has been popular in previous years, they’ve never had to turn people away. For individual requirements, please contact the box office - boxoffice@manchester.ac.uk, 0161 275 895. Here’s information on visiting the centre, as well as access guidance.
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Have you heard about the Family Hubs? There are four of them across the city. The hubs bring together services for families with children of all ages (0-19) or up to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). They take a whole family approach, acting as one-stop-shops where you can access the help you need, when you need it, including debt and welfare advice, play activities, help with food, getting online and much more, including SEND support.
Crossacres Family Hub (Wythenshawe)
Poundswick Lane, M22 9TA, 0161 529 0080, Facebook page
Longsight Family Hub
1A Farrer Road, M13 0QX, 0161 248 1500
Sacred Heart Family Hub (Gorton, Abbey Hey and Openshaw)
Glencastle Road, M18 7NE, 0161 245 7180
Woodville Family Hub (Cheetham)
Shirley Road, M8 0NE, 0161 234 3000, Facebook page
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Arlo’s New Friends is an engaging new resource aimed at helping primary-age young carers share their experiences. Featuring stories from young carers in the city, it raises awareness, inspires support, and encourages young carers to feel proud of their roles.
There is lots of information around Young Carers on the Manchester City Council website. This includes a video about the Young Carers strategy 2024-28. Together we can support young carers and put their rights into practice.
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MPCF news
Coffee morning
Join Manchester Parent Carer Forum on Monday 18th November 2024, 10am-12pm, for a coffee morning at Martenscroft Children's Centre in Hulme. It's an opportunity to meet and chat with fellow parents and carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) in a relaxed setting. You will also learn about the work of Manchester Parent Carer Forum and find out how to get involved. Please book through MPCF.
Autism workshops
Free workshops are offered to parents and carers of children or young people who have received a formal diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. The workshops rotate monthly between four topics: Autism and Well-being, Communication Workshop, Sensory Workshop, Understanding and Working with the Education System. Check out Manchester Parent Carer Forum’s website for sessions coming up in the next few months.
Speech and Language Therapy review
There is still time to take part in the survey for the Children’s Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT) service review. If you are a parent/carer who is a past or current user of the service, you’re invited to take 5 minutes to complete it. This will help the service learn what is working well and how things can be better. Although the survey has been written for parents/carers, responses from children and young people are also welcome. Closes end of October.
School applications 2025
The deadline for secondary school applications in Manchester is Thursday 31st October. Here are some helpful resources:
The deadline for primary school applications is 15th January 2025.
Winter vaccinations
Viruses common in winter can make some people very unwell and result in serious problems that may need hospital care. They can even be life threatening.
That’s why this autumn and winter the NHS is offering free vaccines to those most at risk of being unwell if they catch flu, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Check out this Greater Manchester information.
Training and awareness
Autizma have a free online training session this November. ‘Autism Understood and Behind the Behaviour’ is on Tuesday 12th November, 10am-1pm. There is also ‘Sensory Sensations ‘ on Wednesday 15th January 2025. Find out more and how to book.
Greater Manchester FASD Network Allies Training is a free online event to empower carers, parents and guardians to advocate for young people with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. If FASD is not diagnosed early and a child does not receive appropriate support, they are more likely to experience challenges associated with the condition. The event is on Thursday 21st November, 9.30am to 12.30pm, and is one of a number of forthcoming events in the Greater Manchester area for professionals, parents/carers and young people with FASD.
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ADHD project
NHS Greater Manchester wants to improve children’s Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder services and would like to hear from people living with ADHD, their family members or carers, and professionals. They're looking to address some of the issues, including long waiting times, the referral and assessment process, how cases are prioritised, and making sure that children and young people who are most in need get help quickly. There are several ways you can have a say:
- Do a survey
- Join a lived experience group – regular online sessions from December to February
- Attend a focus group - Tuesday 19th November, 5-7pm, online; Thursday 28th November, 10.30am-12pm, face to face in central Manchester.
Find out about the lived experience group and focus groups in this project information. It also has copies of the Children’s ADHD Review, including an easy read version. The project is part of a bigger piece of work called the ‘Neurodiversity Programme’ to improve how children with conditions like ADHD and autism are cared for in Greater Manchester. Closes 29th November.
Autism strategy
Greater Manchester Autism Consortium (GMAC) have the go ahead to extend the work around the ‘Greater Manchester Autism Strategy – Making Manchester Autism Friendly’ (Easy read version). They want help in deciding what to carry on with after April 2025. They would love to hear from autistic people of all ages (diagnosed, waiting or self-identifying), family members and friends and professionals. They also encourage contributions from people from ethnically diverse communities, people from LGBTIQ+ communities, older people and anyone who has never heard of this work but wants to get involved. There are different ways to take part:
Parent carer survey
Dingley’s Promise Inclusive Practice Training is offered free to settings, like schools and hospitals, in five different Local Authorities, including Manchester. It’s important that local families help to shape this training. There are two short surveys:
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Thank you for your input. It helps to improve access to high quality childcare and early learning for children with SEND in Manchester. Closing date: 31st October.
Child friendly Manchester
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