We’re funding 1,200 additional inclusive activity spaces for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) this summer.
The fun activities include silent discos and sport sessions and will be available at different locations in July and August. They are open to children and young people of any age with SEND.
Spaces are free and can be booked by contacting providers directly.
The activities are part of our commitment to improving SEND support in Essex. This year we announced an additional £4.3 million funding for improvements. As well as the new summer activities, the funding is being used to create more capacity in our SEND teams and education psychologist service. It is also being used to increase the level of SEND support for schools and settings.
Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said:
We are committed to working with families across Essex to improve their experience of the local SEND system. These additional spaces are part of us delivering on that commitment, but they are not the only part.
“Our wider SEND improvement journey is ongoing. Earlier this year we announced further funding and changes to speed up the pace of change, while maintaining the quality of services on offer. We are continuing to work with local families as we make further improvements to ensure we are on the right track and are starting to see early signs of progress.”
Activities will also be available during school holidays throughout the 2024/25 academic year.
Find further SEND advice and information on the Essex Local Offer.
