Short breaks and respite for children and young people with SEND

Short breaks are available to families to provide a break from caring for a disabled child and for the child to have a break from their carers.

Short breaks are matched to meet the child's needs, interests and preferences and aim to provide:

  • extra social opportunities for the child
  • a break for the parents and child
  • time for parents to spend with other children in the family

There are three different types of short breaks available:

  • universal support
  • additional support
  • specialist support

See our short breaks statement to find out who can access a short break, what is available at different levels of need and how this can be accessed.

For more information, please visit the short breaks for disabled children and young people page.