Join us at Manchester Art Gallery (MAG) for a relaxed creative session especially designed for children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) living in Manchester!

The session will be facilitated by the wonderful Nadia from Autism for the Arts, who led the Open Doors sessions at MAG.

Children will explore different arts and crafts, including clay modelling and using a projector to create patterns with coloured materials, among others.

Siblings and additional carers are also welcome to join.

This event is also a great complement for families who want to visit the Manchester Day celebrations but are unsure whether their children can easily manage the busyness of peak hours city centre.

What makes it SEND-Friendly?

Manchester Parent Carer Forum (MPCF) is committed to making the event as welcoming and comfortable as possible. You can expect:

• This event is exclusive to families and groups with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) that are accompanying children and young people aged 0 – 25 years.
• Peace of Mind – All MPCF staff and volunteers have lived experience of SEND, and Autism for the Arts has a proven experience of working with autistic children, so you can rest assured that there will be a level of empathy and understanding with any needs or quirks that may arise on the day. Please speak to a member of the team if you have a request to make for a better experience.
• A Quieter Experience – The learning studio where we will be based is separate from the main art gallery, ensuring that your visit will not be too overwhelming. There is also a separate quiet room that individuals can use if needed.
• Wheelchair Access – The learning studio is accessible to wheelchair and buggy users.
• Wider Arrival Window – No need to rush and bustle. Whether you are coming late or have to leave early, it’s okay with us.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

You will remain responsible for your family’s safety and well-being during the session. Please ensure that your children are supervised by a responsible adult at all times during the session.

This session is part of Manchester’s SEND Community Offer. The event is exclusively for families of children and young people with SEND living in a ward/area covered by Manchester City Council.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

Much thanks to the SEND Local Offer for making this possible.

We’d also like to thank Autism for the Arts for facilitating the session and Manchester Art Gallery for hosting the event.

LOOKING FOR OTHER SEND-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES?

This family event is part of Manchester’s SEND Community Offer.

To find out more about the SEND Community Offer and stay up-to-date with everything SEND in Manchester, please subscribe to the Local Offer newsletter and/or follow us on social media.

What is Manchester Day?

Manchester Day is an annual civic festival and parade designed to celebrate our city’s rich history, diverse culture, and community spirit.

This year, in particular, celebrates Manchester’s cultural links with Barcelona as well as the National Year of Reading.

It will be held on Sunday, 26 July, and there will be plenty of free family fun in the city centre, including a colourful parade, captivating street shows, live music, have-a-go activities, and loads more. There will also be guest performers from Barcelona, who will bring a taste of Catalan culture to our city streets.