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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Easter with SPACE, MPCF and 4CT

ONLINE BOOKINGS

Cinema visit - NEW!

'The Minecraft Movie', Thursday 17th April, 11am at Cineworld Disbury, Wilmslow Rd, M20 5PG. Free for children aged 4-16 only (under 3s not permitted at cinema performances), £5 per adult. Please arrive 15 minutes before the performance time. Check film certification nearer to release date. Booking essential using the Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/minecraft-cinema-trip-cineworld-didsbury-thursday-17th-april-1045am-tickets-1307772987209

Coach trips

Trips include coach transport and lunch. Everyone must book a place as coach restrictions mean everyone must have a seat regardless of age. PLEASE READ this important information about coach trips: 

Dunham Massey, Altrincham

Thursday 10th April, 10.30am-4.30pm. Coach leaving St Nicolas Church, Kingsway M19 1PL at 10.30am, returning at 4.30pm. Free for children age 3-16, £5 per adult. Eventbrite link for booking:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dunham-massey-trip-thursday-10th-april-1030am-st-nicolas-pick-up-tickets-1299780100269

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal

Tuesday 15th April, 10.30am-4.30pm. Coach leaving St Nicolas Church, Kingsway M19 1PL at 10.30am, returning at 4.30pm. Free for children age 3-16, £5 per adult. Eventbrite link for booking:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/quarry-bank-mill-trip-tuesday-15th-april-1030am-st-nicholas-pick-up-tickets-1299843720559

TEXT BOOKINGS

Ten pin bowling - NEW!

Bowling, Tuesday 8th April, 11am or 12 noon, at Tenpin Printworks, Manchester Printworks, M4 2BS. Please arrive 15 minutes before to book in and be ready to start your game. To book, send one text to MPCF 07708 932215 after 6pm on Wednesday 2nd April: BOWLING, preferred time, house number and postcode, FULL Names of ALL attendees, date of births of children, ethnicity and if they are SEND Yes (Y) or No (N).

SAMPLE TEXT:

BOWLING, 12 noon, 123, M40 1AB, John Smith, Jane Smith; Simon Smith, 03/06/13, White British, Y; Sarah Smith, 25/10/19, White British, N

Simply Cycling

Adapted cycling with Simply Cycling at two sites: 

Boggart Hole Clough

Mondays 7th and 14th April, 2-4pm, Athletics track, Charlestown Road entrance, Manchester, Greater Manchester M9 7BR. To book, send one text to The SPACE Group 07749 116211: BOGGART, preferred date, house number and postcode, FULL Names of ALL attendees, date of births of children, ethnicity and if they are SEND Yes (Y) or No (N).

Wythenshawe Park

Wednesdays 9th and 16th April,12-2pm, Athletics track, Wythenshawe Rd, Manchester M23 0PH. To book, send one text to The SPACE Group 07351 498755: WYTH, preferred date, house number and postcode, FULL Names of ALL attendees, date of births of children, ethnicity and if they are SEND Yes (Y) or No (N).

SAMPLE TEXT:

BOGGART, 7th April, 123, M40 1AB, John Smith, Jane Smith; Simon Smith, 03/06/13, White British, Y; Sarah Smith, 25/10/19, White British, N

Stay and play

Join Manchester Parent Carer Forum (MPCF) for a free Early Years Stay and Play session on Monday 7th April, 10.15-11.45am with Martenscroft and Rusholme Children's Centres. It’s a morning of fun for families of children with additional needs or disabilities aged 0-5 years living in the city of Manchester. There’ll be lots to do, including an Easter egg hunt, outdoor play (weather permitting), art activities, bubbles, and tactile and messy play. There’ll also be healthy snacks, nibbles, and refreshments for all to share. Young siblings (aged 0-5) without SEND are welcome to join in. Book your places. 

Relaxed cinema

The next free relaxed cinema showing with Manchester Parent Carer Forum is Saturday 12th April, 11am to 1pm, with a showing of the award-winning Moana 2 (PG). Siblings without SEND are welcome to join this SEND-friendly screening where guests can get free popcorn. It’s at GRUB, 50 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, M4 4HF. This activity is for SEND families living in the Manchester City Council area. 

Community Kitchen - NEW!

The Community Kitchen will be returning for Easter with a free session on Monday 14th April, 2.30-5.30pm. It’s an invitation for young people with SEND and/or social emotional and mental health needs (SEMH), living in the Manchester City Council area, to come with the family and cook (and eat!) together. Learn about healthy food and cooking, including BBQ skills in an alfresco style. The theme is based on traditional Caribbean foods and drinks, with ackee and saltfish, gunga peas and rice, BBQ chicken and Dutch pot lamb, steam fish and vegetarian/vegan options on the menu. All food and tuition provided. The sessions are for SEND families living in the Manchester City Council area and are at Procter Learning Centre, Hulme Street, Off Jackson Crescent M15 5EF. Please arrive on time. Parking available. Booking essential - call Roger on 07970 922132.

Cycling skills for 11-16s

For the next couple of 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 from 4.30-7.30pm, meeting at the Procter Learning Centre in Hulme, funded by the Targeted Intervention Group. These are in addition to the regular riding sessions as part of the SEND Community Offer, every Saturday 11am-3pm. Learn more.  

Sensory rooms

Spend time in the Sensory Rooms at Redbank House in Cheetham Hill over the Easter holidays. There are slots available at various times between 9am-4pm (on the hour for 50 minutes) during weekdays from Monday 7th to Thursday 17th April. This includes the additional bigger room, bringing all the sensory equipment together with some soft play. For SEND families living in the Manchester City Council area. Book directly with Redbank House on 0161 214 5959.

Other stuff to do

Easter with libraries

It’s holiday time at Manchester Libraries from Saturday 5th to Thursday 17th April. Join your local library for a fun programme of activities for the whole family, with craft sessions, Lego clubs, and more. Contact your local library to find out what’s on. For Central Library events, check out Library Live.  

Holiday HAF activities

Manchester has hundreds of free places for children’s activities over the school holidays, including a meal during the day. Eligibility is based on benefit-related free school meals. Your child needs to be registered for these, and you’ll also need to create a Family MCRactive GO account. This MCRactive guidance takes you through the steps. Search for activities using ‘MCR – Holiday activity’ in the categories.

Free swimming 

Manchester residents aged 16 and under can swim for free during any ‘Swim for All’ session during school holidays and at selected times at the weekends during term time. Find out more.

Basketball tickets

Manchester Parent Carer Forum have free tickets to Manchester Basketball home games at the National Basketball Performance Centre over the next few weeks. Keep an eye on their basketball webpage.

Loads to do

Check out Loads To Do for what's going on in your local area and across the city during the Easter holidays. There's plenty on offer across parks, sports, libraries, galleries and more to keep you and your family entertained without breaking the bank.

Over the half term, there are lots of places where kids can eat for free or for a £1. See Money Saving Central.

See the Stuff to Do Highlights in our SEND Information Hub for more to do over Easter.

Our April drop in

Our next drop in is on Wednesday 30th April, 10am-12pm at Manchester Youth Zone, 931 Rochdale Road, Harpurhey M9 8AE. Look out for a bulletin nearer the time. 

Our monthly free events are for parents/carers and young people with SEND up to 25 in the Manchester City Council area. They offer a chance to talk to a range of services and get support. Your children don’t need to have a diagnosis. All welcome – including professionals.

FUTURE 2025 DROP INS, 10am-12pm

Wednesday 21st May, Crossacres Hub, Wythenshawe

Wednesday 18th June, Moss Side PowerHouse

Autism assessment

Manchester Local Offer has new information about autism assessment and diagnosis. It takes you through the process, from getting an assessment to what happens afterwards. It also helps you decide if a diagnosis will be helpful for your child. In UK schools, a child or young person doesn’t need a diagnosis to be assessed for extra help or to get an education health and care (EHC) plan.

There is also information on autism assessment in Manchester, called the Social Communication Pathway (SCP) and based in Manchester’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). As part of the offer, there are free workshops for parents/carers whose children are either on the waiting list for assessment or have a formal diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition. See Manchester Parent Carer Forum’s website for upcoming sessions.

The service has an Autism Navigator, Karen Woodhouse (pictured), who supports and signposts parents/carers of children and young people involved with the SCP. A parent/carer herself, she regularly attends the Local Offer drop ins. Come along and have a chat.

Find more support from organisations in the Local Offer SEND Information Hub.

News round up

Logo competition

Manchester Parent Carers Forum invites children and young people from Greater Manchester to design a logo for the Neurodiversity in Education (NiE) project. The winning design will be used as branding for future NiE communications from schools, Parent Carer Forums and other local partners. The winner will receive a £50 Amazon voucher and their artwork will be featured across all the 10 Greater Manchester boroughs involved with the NiE. Deadline is Friday 4th April.

National Siblings Day

Join Sibs in celebrating National Siblings Day on 10th April 2025, a global awareness day recognising brothers and sisters. It’s a great opportunity to shine a light on the valuable role siblings play in the lives of their disabled brothers and sisters and to recognise and celebrate them. Find out why National Siblings Day is important and how you can get involved.

I AM

The charity I AM supports autistic people aged 10 and upwards, as well as their parents/carers. Previously the Autistic Society of Greater Manchester, I AM has been empowering the autistic community of the area for over fifty years. Take a look at their website to see what’s on offer. This includes a regular newsletter – use the ‘Keep in touch’ box towards the bottom right of the newsletter page to sign up. They also have a Facebook page.

Healthy Child Event

There’s a Healthy Child Event at Woodville Family Hub on 28th April, 9.30am-12pm. It includes lots of freebies and is a chance to talk to health visitors, family workers, and the immunisation and dental teams, plus find out what’s happening at the Hub. No need to book – just drop in to the Woodville Family Hub on Shirley Road, Cheetham Hill M8 0NE.

Welfare changes

The government have proposed sweeping changes to financial support for people of working age who have limiting health conditions. The decision to restrict PIP payments may cause carers to lose a range of financial support. Contact, the charity for families with disabled children, have information about the proposals, as well as a FAQ to answer some of the most pressing questions from worried parents. The proposals are not yet set in stone. None of the changes would come into effect until April 2026. See Carers Manchester’s blog with a call for action to try and stop the cuts.

Have your say

The Department of Education (DfE) has opened a number of consultations for parents, carers and professionals to share their views on proposed changes:

• Feedback on changes to how schools are held accountable.
• Proposals to improve education inspections. These would apply to early years settings, state schools, independent schools and further education settings.
• Proposed changes to the use of reasonable force and other restrictive interventions guidance for England.

All these consultations close towards the end of April 2025.

Spirit of Manchester

Help celebrate Manchester's local voluntary and community sector by making a nomination in this year’s Spirit of Manchester Awards. Do you know someone or a group that should be acknowledged and thanked for their outstanding efforts over the last year? It can be anyone – friend, neighbour or local community group. They just need to live in the city of Manchester or have delivered their support here. See the categories and find out how to nominate. Closes 6th May.

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

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