Summertime is a period of fun and excitement for many families. For parents, it is a time to strengthen bonds with our kids through play and togetherness.

We do recognise that it can be a stressful and anxiety-filled time for many. Some parents find it challenging to find suitable activities for their children with complex needs, and many children may find it difficult to visit new places or to manage the change in routine brought by the school break. This is why we constantly work with local partners to ensure that there are plenty of opportunities available to families of children & young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) in Manchester during the summer holidays, and to make the info available to parents and carers.

Below are blog posts and events relating to the summer break.

Happy, Active, Healthy SEND Summer Family Packs

Happy, Active, Healthy SEND Summer Family Packs

This summer, we have partnered with 4CT Limited to deliver "Happy, Active, Healthy SEND Summer Family Packs" to families in Manchester. It's like the paper bag sensory and activity kits that many families loved last summer and Christmas - but with an Explore Manchester

By Jordan @ MPCF|2021-08-02T16:39:10+01:00July 11th, 2021|Categories: Projects|Tags: 4CT Limited, Free School Meals, Holiday Activity Fund, Local Offer, Manchester City Council, Paperbag Sensory and Activity Packs, Short Breaks, summer, Summer 2021|

Co-production: Summer Community Offer

Co-production: Summer Community Offer

To celebrate Co-production Week, Maureen Howell, Manchester City Council's SEND Engagement & Young Carers Lead, shared with us her thoughts on the importance of working in partnership with families. Do you want to learn more about the SEND Local Offer? Here, she

By Jordan @ MPCF|2021-07-28T12:07:26+01:00July 7th, 2021|Categories: Celebration|Tags: co-production, Local Offer, National Co-production Week, SEND Engagement Lead, summer, Summer 2021|

Holiday Activity and Food Packs Design Session

Holiday Activity and Food Packs Design Session

We are currently working in partnership with 4CT Limited to deliver activity, information and healthy eating packs to families of children or young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) who receive Free School Meals (FSM) in Manchester, and we would like to

By Jordan @ MPCF|2021-07-28T12:08:30+01:00June 26th, 2021|Categories: Projects|Tags: 4CT Limited, consultation, Paperbag Sensory and Activity Packs, summer, Summer 2021|

Q&A from the July Virtual Local Offer Drop-in

Q&A from the July Virtual Local Offer Drop-in

We asked participating organisations/teams in the last Virtual SEND Local Offer Drop-in to collate questions that parents asked them so we can share the information to more parents & carers. Below are the questions that parents asked at the July SEND Drop-in (click or

By Jordan @ MPCF|2020-09-09T11:03:21+01:00September 9th, 2020|Categories: Information Sharing|Tags: coronavirus, Covid-19, Family Fund, IAS, IASM, Local Offer, Short Breaks, Specialist Resource Team, summer|

Twinkleboost Explorers – Virtual Session

Twinkleboost Explorers – Virtual Session

This is an online interactive sensory storytelling session for children with additional needs, telling the story of Peter Rabbit. Everyone will receive your own free box of equipment through the post to join in with the session. Please register with your address to receive

By Jordan @ MPCF|2020-08-27T16:03:55+01:00September 1st, 2020|Categories: Coronavirus, Family|Tags: speech and language therapy, summer, The Charity Service, Therapeutic Forest, Twinkleboost|

Boating At Heaton Park for SEND Families

Boating At Heaton Park for SEND Families

This summer, Manchester's SEND families can have some boating fun at the Heaton Park lake every Monday morning in August. Sessions last 25 minutes and can be booked between 10am-12noon. There’s a choice of swans (four-seater pedalos), dragons (two-seater pedalos) and rowing boats (seats four).

By Jordan @ MPCF|2020-08-07T15:44:45+01:00August 7th, 2020|Categories: Events, Information Sharing|Tags: co-production, coronavirus, Covid-19, Heaton Park, Local Offer, Manchester City Council, Manchester Parent Champions, Specialist Resource Team, summer|

Groundwork Outdoor Sessions for SEND Families

Groundwork Outdoor Sessions for SEND Families

These outdoor sessions from Groundwork will take an Emotional Wellbeing theme. It is a 4-week programme over the summer holidays that will engage young people aged 10 -14 in unique outdoor nature-based play activities. Activities will take place twice a week for 3 hours a

By Jordan @ MPCF|2020-07-29T20:10:53+01:00July 29th, 2020|Categories: Information Sharing|Tags: co-production, coronavirus, Covid-19, Crumpsall Park, emotional wellbeing, Groundwork, Local Offer, Manchester City Council, Manchester Parent Champions, Specialist Resource Team, summer|

Creative Ceramics for SEND Families

Creative Ceramics for SEND Families

Venture Arts has two creative projects that over 100 SEND families in Manchester can do at home this holidays. The first is to join artist Dominic Bennet in creating ceramic weasels. Dominic was inspired by The Wind In The Willows as a child and has

By Jordan @ MPCF|2020-07-23T13:10:20+01:00July 23rd, 2020|Categories: Information Sharing|Tags: co-production, coronavirus, Covid-19, Local Offer, Manchester City Council, Manchester Parent Champions, Specialist Resource Team, summer, Venture Arts|

Pedal & Picnic for SEND Families

Pedal & Picnic for SEND Families

Join Simply Cycling staff for an all-ability guided ride and picnic on Manchester’s green routes, off-road trails and parks. The 2hr activity is for two families at a time (max. 10 people) and the routes will be geared around needs and abilities. This photo

By Jordan @ MPCF|2020-07-23T12:37:51+01:00July 23rd, 2020|Categories: Information Sharing|Tags: co-production, coronavirus, Covid-19, Local Offer, Manchester City Council, Manchester Parent Champions, Simply Cycling, Specialist Resource Team, summer|

Treetop Trek for SEND Families

Treetop Trek for SEND Families

Two hour sessions of tree-riffic bouncy adventure in the high trees are on offer at Tree Top Trek in Heaton Park. Enjoy free play high up in the trees on huge bouncy nets with super-fast slides and aerial walkways. These special sessions for Manchester's SEND