Government funding to boost short breaks services in 10 local authority areas in England

2 mins read

Wednesday 12 April 2023

Tags: short breaks, government funding

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced funding for 10 new areas in England to deliver short breaks for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Each of the 10 areas will be given up to £1 million each for a year to work with families to develop innovative experiences that would otherwise be inaccessible to children because of their disability, as well as covering the costs of providing the activities.

The funding comes from the government’s Short Breaks Innovation Fund – a total of £30 million over three years for local authorities to deliver short breaks. Local authorities receiving new funding this year in the second year of the programme are:

  • Bristol City Council
  • Cambridgeshire County Council
  • Camden Council
  • Derby City Council
  • Norfolk County Council
  • Nottingham City
  • Plymouth City Council
  • Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
  • Southwark Council
  • Suffolk County Council
  • Sunderland City Council
  • Surrey County Council
  • Wakefield Council

Find out more about the funding on the government’s website. The funding follows the recent publication of the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan.

Short breaks are vitally important to families

Research shows the fundamental importance of short breaks to the well-being of families with disabled children. They enable parents to have a break from caring and spend time with siblings. And they allow disabled children to do fun activities with their peers.

Take a look at our information on short breaks – a way of getting a break from your caring responsibilities.

Read more about play, leisure and recreation for your family including short breaks on our website.