October 2025
Welcome to the latest CAN Network News, full of ideas for accessible activities this upcoming half-term and beyond.
We would love to hear about topics you'd like us to cover in future - along with any feedback, ideas, or info about accessible activities your family have enjoyed. Do get in touch.
In this issue:
- Spooky goings on and Halloween fun
- Prospect Model Railway additional needs session
- Sport Together Berkshire's Festival of Inclusivity
- Children's activities at Wokingham Libraries
- Book ahead SEND Santa visits and Christmas lights
- Play and activity sessions running through October half term
 Halloweeen Fun
First Days are having a Pumpkin trail at The Look Out Discovery Centre, Bracknell on 25 October.
Follow the 2km trail around Swinley Forest, find the letters that spell out a secret word, then head back to The Look Out Discovery Centre to be rewarded with a treat.
As the path is through the forest please consider whether this activity is appropriate to your access needs.
Beale Wildlife Park are holding a Pumpkin Patch on various dates in October:
- Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October
- Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October
- Saturday 25 October to Saturday 1 November
Visit the website for prices, description (including access) and to book tickets.
Please note: tickets to the pumpkin patch do not include entry to the main park, but you can take your CAN card as proof to qualify for a carer’s ticket for the park.
Dinton Pastures are holding a Spooktacular Pumpkin Fair on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October from 10.30am to 3.30pm.
Activities include pumpkin decorating, Halloween-themed face painting, pumpkin hunts and more.
Suggested entry £1 per person, with collection buckets on entry. Please note this is a cash event.
California Country Park are hosting a free Halloween fun day on Tuesday 28 October from 10am to 3pm. There will be lots of activities, including:
- Wicked duo performances and meet & greets
- Craft stalls
- Children’s rides
- Food and drink
- Face painting
- Costume competition
Entrance is free but usual parking charges apply.
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Additional needs session at Prospect Park Railway
Enjoy train rides on the miniature steam trains. Rides are usually offered for donations toward the upkeep of the railway during these special sessions.
Thursday 30 October from 1.30pm to 4pm.
 Festival of Inclusivity at Cantley Park
On Thursday 30 October a multisport event, run by Sport Together Berkshire CIC, will be at Cantley Park in Wokingham for children and adults with physical disabilities, learning or neurological conditions.
From 10am to 2pm you can enjoy sports, including:
- cricket
- football
- hockey
- inclusive cycling
- rugby
- wheelchair basketball
- wheelchair tennis
- wheelchair rugby
- 'start together finish whenever' 1 mile event.
Registration from 9.30am
 Children's activities at Wokingham Libraries
There are lots of events happening across Wokingham Libraries this half term.
For paid events please bring and show your CAN card as discounts/free tickets may be available:
- Meet the Guide Dogs at Wokingham Library, 27 October from 10am to 12pm (drop in)
- Making Nature workshop at Woodley Library, 27 October from 10am to 11am (booking required)
- ark-K workshop at Lower Earley Library, 27 October from 2pm to 3pm (booking required)
- Get Arty, Woodley Library, 28 October from 10.30am to 11.30am (booking required)
- Get Arty at Wokingham Library, 30 October from 10.30 to 11.30am (booking required)
Wokingham Children’s Book Festival will be held on the weekend of Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October.
There will be 13 events, aimed at a range of ages, where you can meet authors giving sessions.
 Book ahead for Christmas
Wrap up the year with an evening of lights and lanterns in the museum garden.
Choose from two versions: the main event from 6pm to 7.30pm or an earlier session with sensory provisions for neurodivergent visitors and their loved ones from 4.30pm to 5.45pm.
Booking opens from Friday 24 October.
Enchanting storytelling and a captivating hologram show will form part of the journey to Santa’s woodland grotto.
Each child will receive a special gift to take home as a keepsake of their visit.
Dedicated SEND sessions are available.
Journey through a winter wonderland to the North Pole and enjoy a special, heartwarming visit with Father Christmas.
Dedicated SEN only Christmas Cracker experience sessions:
- Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 November
- Sunday 7 December
- Friday 12 December
- Sunday 14 December
Please note: guests with additional needs are welcome to attend on any date and time, however our dedicated SEN sessions are set aside for families with children with additional needs, where extra provisions will be in place.
Although there are no dedicated SEND sessions, train enthusiasts may enjoy a train ride to visit Santa.
Visit the webpage to book and to see a video of a previous Santa Special event to help gauge whether this may be accessible for your child.
Play and activity sessions running through half term
Please click on the links below to find out more about facilities, registering, and booking:
Swings and Smiles in Thatcham run their family play sessions throughout half term.
Thames Valley Adventure Playground have family sessions throughout half term.
Camp Mohawk are running family sessions throughout half-term.
Building for the Future - Our House accessible play centre are holding a SEND stay and play session on 27 October 10am - 12pm. No booking required. No charge. For more information visit their website or contact nicki@bftf.org.uk.
Loddon Valley Leisure Centre will be running SEN soft play sessions on:
- Tuesday 28 October at 9am
- Sunday 2 November at 8.30am
There's also a SEN session at the inflatable fun day on Friday 31 October from 2.15am to 3.45pm.
Did you know unpaid carers discounts at your local leisure centre?
Places Leisure centres across the borough offer discounted pay as you go and memberships for unpaid carers. You can use your CAN card as proof of carer status.
Useful contacts
Parenting Special Children - set up to help other parents/carers navigate the world of SEND. Empowering families whose children/young people are neurodivergent and/or have special needs and/or disabilities including early life trauma.
Promise Inclusion - a local charity that supports people with learning disabilities and their carers. Weekly, term-time Youth Club for young people aged 13 to 19 with learning disabilities and/or autism. Activity clubs for siblings aged 8-13 years old. Family liaison team offering emotional and practical support to carers; from support in meetings, to advice and information on benefits, form filling, housing, supported living, transition, education, mental capacity, power of attorney, deputyship and more. Monthly carers coffee/lunches, carers respite trips and information events.
SEND Voices Wokingham - an independent parent carer forum. Set up to ensure that families and carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and disabilities in the Wokingham Borough, can have a voice and participate fully in the development of services.
Wokingham Carers Partnership - A partnership of three commissioned local charities: Age UK Berkshire, Berkshire Youth and Promise Inclusion. Offering information, advice, and support to people throughout the borough who are caring for a child or adult family member, partner or friend.
What is the CAN Network?
The CAN (Children with Additional Needs) Network provides an information and support service for families and carers of children and young people (aged up to 25) with additional needs and disabilities.
The CAN Network also maintains Wokingham Borough Council’s Children with Disabilities Register and CAN Card.
The Children with Disabilities Register is a voluntary, confidential list of information about children with diagnosed disabilities in Wokingham Borough.
The information shared with us is used anonymously to help plan and improve future services to meet the needs of local disabled children and young people.
Those eligible to join the Children with Disabilities Register can receive a free CAN card.
The CAN card is a photo ID card which can be used as proof of diagnosed disability. It's accepted by many local attractions as proof for concessions or free carer tickets.
Find out more about signing up to the register and receiving a CAN card here.
Get in touch
For support using our online application or for any other enquiries please email.
Disclaimer
By sharing information with you the CAN information network is not providing a recommendation or endorsement of a service/organisation.
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