Additional Needs, Disability and Special Educational Needs

There is lots of information and support services out there to help deal with Additional Needs, Disabilities or Special Educational Needs.

Short Breaks

Short breaks come in a variety of formats and each one can last from just a few hours to a few days and occasionally longer. They include day, evening, overnight and weekend activities and can take place in a community setting, the child's own home, the home of an approved carer or a residential setting. They provide disabled children and young people with enjoyable experiences away from their primary carers, thereby contributing to their personal and social development and reducing social isolation. They can also provide parents and families with a necessary and valuable break from caring responsibilities.  The list of commissioned short break projects (PDF, 135KB) in Cheshire East shows those funded by the local authority to provide this targeted support.  Each service may operate its own eligibility criteria and, in order to understand what support is required, may undertake its own assessment or for more information, email the Aiming High Team.

Other Useful Information

• The Family Fund are the UK’s largest provider of grants to low-income families raising disabled and seriously ill children and young people.
• Parasport has been designed to inspire, educate, inform and signpost disabled people, and those interested in disability sport, to high quality opportunities.  
• The Council for Disabled Children ( CDC ) is the umbrella body for the disabled children’s sector in England, with links to the other UK nations.  The CDC works to influence national policy that impacts upon disabled children and children with special educational needs ( SEN) and their families.
• Special Educational Needs (SEN) - A Guide for parents and carers (PDF, 1.2MB) is a booklet aimed to help parents understand what SEN means; what to do if you are worried, how you can help your child and you and your child's rights. It also has a section on definitions to help explain what different things mean and what different bodies do. It then finishes with a useful contacts section with organisations that can offer advice and assist you through the whole process.
• Contact a Family is a UK-wide charity providing advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children.  Contact them on 0808 808 3555 (Textphone: 0808 808 3556) or e-mail helpline@cafamily.org.uk
• Ican  – information for parents relating to children's speech, language and communication needs.
• GOV.UK have a section on their website specifically for parents caring for a disabled child.
• Direct Payments - what they are and who can access them.
• The Daycare Trust has produced a useful document called 'A Guide to Childcare for disabled children' (PDF, 1.5MB).
• A booklet has been developed by the Department of Education to assist families with caring for a child with a neurological disorder (PDF, 2.35MB) and is based on useful experience of such families.  
• The Carers Emergency Card and Emergency Response service aims to provide peace of mind should a carer have an emergency such as being admitted into hospital, have a accident or be unavoidably delayed.  Once a carer is registered with the scheme, emergency support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  For more information, contact emergencycard@cheshirecarerscentre.org.uk or 0800 085 0307.