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

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Have your say

There is still time to have your say about the experiences of children and young people who are not in school*. 

(*Children who are not registered at a school or do not attend school full-time because they are flexi-schooled, are on a part-time timetable or are absent more than 50% of sessions; also children receiving education otherwise than at school (EOTAS))

Why do Ofsted/CQC want your views? 

Manchester has been selected as one of 6 local areas for a thematic visit by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The views of children, young people and parents/carers is an important part of this review. It will help inspectors better understand the local experience. This includes: why children with SEND leave full-time education, what schools are doing to support them to remain in school, and how the needs of children out of school are being met.

Who do they want to hear from?

The inspectors want to hear from as many people as possible who have accessed services provided for children with SEND at statutory school age (age 5 to 16) and are not in school.

There are two surveys: one for children and young people, the other for parents, carers and professionals.

The survey closes at 5pm on Thursday 13th March 2025. Your support and contributions are very much appreciated. 

If you would like more detail about this thematic review, please see this Local Offer webpage.

We wanted to find out what’s important to parents/carers of children with special educational needs and/or a disability (SEND) in the city's mainstream schools. We recently asked a question:

What changes or improvements in mainstream schools would make you feel more confident your child is receiving the right support?

Thank you to everyone who answered. You can read a summary of the results on the Local Offer. 

Your responses have highlighted the need for a holistic approach involving training, resources, communication and inclusive policies. They will help inform the next stage of the DfE SEND and Alternative Provision Change Programme Partnership that we are leading for the North West. We will also share the results with schools.

Thank you again – your input makes a difference!

Our March drop in

Our next drop in is this Wednesday 12th March, 10am-12pm at Manchester Settlement, New Roundhouse, 1328-1330, Ashton Old Road, Openshaw, Manchester M11 1JG. (PLEASE NOTE: We’re not at The Manchester College as previously advertised.)

FUTURE 2025 DROP INS, 10am-12pm

Wednesday 30th April, Manchester Youth Zone

SEND Community Offer

Free cycling for 11-16s

For the next three months, there are extra cycling and bike maintenance sessions for Manchester young people aged 11-16 with SEND and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. They are every Wednesday after school from 4.30-7.30pm, meeting at the Procter Learning Centre in Hulme. These are in addition to the regular riding sessions as part of the SEND Community Offer, every Saturday 11am-3pm. Learn more.  

SEND-friendly swims

Central

There are free inclusive swims at Moss Side Leisure Centre as part of the SEND Community Offer. Sessions are every Sunday 9-11.30am and are for families living in the Manchester City Council area. The swim provides a calm environment and a clear process from entry to the pool for children and young people with special needs and disabilities. Families can access the small pool and floats for family fun or use the main pool for lane swimming, when available. There’s no need to book – just turn up at the leisure centre. Free to all the family.

North

There is a free weekly inclusive swim at the Abraham Moss Leisure Centre, Crescent Road, Crumpsall, M8 5UF, for families living in the Manchester City Council area. There are two sessions every Saturday between 12-2pm. Booking is arranged through The SPACE Group. It opens every Monday at 9am and closes on Wednesday at 6pm for the swimming session on the Saturday that week. (For example, 9am Monday 10th March to 6pm Wednesday 12th March for the swimming session on Saturday 15th March.) Text the word SWIMMING to 07749 116211 with the full names of anyone going in the pool, the children’s date of birth, postcode and preferred time 12-1pm or 1-2pm. Swimming is popular, so if you turn up without a confirmed booking you may not get in the pool.

Discover more activities in Manchester in our Stuff to do highlights in the SEND Information Hub.

News round up

Coffee morning

Join Manchester Parent Carer Forum (MPCF) on Monday 17th March, 10am-12 noon for a coffee morning at Martenscroft Nursery and Sure Start Centre in Hulme, 33 Epping Street, M15 6PA. It’s an opportunity to meet and chat to fellow parents and carers of children and young people with SEND in a relaxed and friendly setting. You will also learn about the work of Manchester Parent Carer Forum and find out how to get involved. Please book through MPCF's Eventbrite page.

Parent/carer workshops

The Social Communication Pathway in Manchester offers free workshops for parents/carers whose children are either on the waiting list for assessment or have had a formal diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. Topics cover:

• Understanding Neurodiversity and Wellbeing
• Understanding Communication Differences
• Understanding Sensory Differences
• Understanding and Working with the Education System

Check out Manchester Parent Carer Forum’s website for sessions coming up in the next few months.

We have new information on the Local Offer about autism assessment and diagnosis. There is also Autism assessment in Manchester: Social Communication Pathway.

Access the Local Offer

Did you know you can easily translate Local Offer web information into other languages? When you’re in the Local Offer, open the ReachDeck facility. How to do this can depend on the device, but look for the orange circle with the white stick figure. It usually appears to the top right. (If it’s hiding, select ‘Accessibility’ from the top menu – that might help.)

There are lots of other accessibility features, including having the text read out loud (including translated text), magnifying it and creating an MP3 of the content. This short ReachDeck video gives you an idea. We suggest having a play to familiarise yourself with it. 

Contact, the national charity for families with disabled children, also has a language and accessibility toolbar at the top of their website. It’s in the menu options on mobile devices.

Digital support

Manchester’s Digital Champion volunteers provide free phone or email support tailored to your needs. Whether it’s help with reading emails, looking up information online, keeping connected to loved ones or anything else digital, don’t hesitate to reach out. Text your name to 07860 064128 or email digitalinclusion@manchester.gov.uk.

Find more digital support in the Household and equipment section of our SEND Information Hub.

Money matters

Water bills

Household water bill prices in England and Wales will rise on average £10 a month from April, according to new figures from Water UK. Read this information from Contact to find help with water and other household bills.

Universal Credit webinar

The charity Contact recently ran a webinar looking at rules that determine which young people in education can claim Universal Credit. It’s available to watch on their YouTube channel. They have also answered questions they weren’t able to deal with on the day.

Find more support around money matters in the Household and equipment and Benefits and grants sections of our SEND Information Hub.

Fostering opportunity

There is a shortage of foster carers in Manchester, especially for short breaks and respite carers of young people. The Fostering recruitment team at Manchester City Council are always on the lookout for people who have experience of children with additional needs. If you have the skills, experience and time to help looked after children, whether for one day, one weekend in four or more, please feel invited to reach out to the team - enquire@fosterforgm.com, 0300 303 0321. Find out more. 

National Siblings Day

It’s National Siblings Day on Thursday 10th April 2025, a global awareness day recognising brothers and sisters of disabled people. Sibs leads the day in the UK –  learn more about them. 

Many siblings are young carers. Some children give a lot of physical help to a brother or sister; emotional support, too. Manchester City Council has information on Young Carers. There is also a video showing Young Carers Achievements in 2024.

Young adult carers

Manchester Carers Centre's 'I CAN' service provides a range of emotional and practical support for Young Adult Carers (aged 16-25) living, or caring in, the Manchester City Council Area. This includes one to one appointments and regular group activities. Sign up to the Young Adult Carer e-bulletin.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025 is from Monday 17th to Sunday 23rd March. It brings more online panel discussions than ever before, with inspirational speakers from a range of backgrounds and professions. All events are free of charge and open to all. Sign up to as many events as you like. You can also register to access the library for the 2024 events.

Young people

ADHD youth voice

There’s a new ADHD Youth Voice group in Manchester bringing young people together to have a say in the NHS services that affect them. It’s for 13-25 year olds with lived experience of ADHD, with or without a diagnosis. Find out more. 

Recruitment fair

Are you or do you know or support a young person who has an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)? The Manchester College has a supported internship recruitment fair on Friday 14th March, 10.30am-12pm at the Openshaw Campus, Ashton Old Road M11 2WH. See what support is available to enable you to progress into the world of work. If you would like to go to the event, please email Ben Metcalfe at bmetcalfe@tmc.ac.uk to book your place.

Employment skills sessions

There’s a free employment skills drop in on Monday 17th March, 4-7.30pm at The Studio, 51 Lever Street, M1 1FN. Offered by the disabled people’s organisation Real, it’s for disabled and neurodivergent young people who are 16 to 25 years old. The aim is to boost skills and confidence around CVs and interviews. For more information and to sign up, contact Amris on 07412 236758 or amris.sahota@real.org.uk. There’s also a free online ‘CV and interview Bootcamp – Fun edition’ on Monday 24th March, 10.30am to 1.00pm. Find out more and sign up.

For more on work and training, see our section in the Local Offer SEND Information Hub.

localoffer@manchester.gov.uk / 0161 219 2125 Welcome to Manchester Local Offer  Local Offer SEND Information Hub

If you would like to get our newsletters, find out how to sign up