Break Time short break activities
Registration for Break Time activities
Registration is now open.
Both new and existing members must register to access the service from April 2025.
2. Criteria
The criteria to attend Break Time is:
- Children will be able to access Break Time from the start of the academic year (September) in which they turn age 5 to the end of the academic year (July) in which they turn 18.
| Childs date of birth | When they will be eligible to attend |
|---|---|
| 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2021 | from 1 September 2025 |
| 1 September 2007 to 31 August 2020 | from 1 April 2025 |
| 1 September 2006 to 31 August 2007 | from 1 April 2025 until 31 August 2025 |
- A child or young person has special educational needs and/or disabilities meaning they are unable to access universal services and activities; and the parent and carers are in receipt of child benefit for that child or young person.
- Children will live in Lancashire (excluding Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool council areas).
Children are not eligible to attend Break Time if:
- They are looked after children and live with their parents, in a foster family or in a children's home (however children living with special guardians or someone who is in receipt of carers allowance for that child, are eligible)
- They have had a social care assessment and receive Day Time or Night Time short breaks following this, through a social care plan of support.
- They attend a residential school or receive short breaks as part of school support to families.
Break Time activities and groups are for children and young people who do not receive short breaks following a social care assessment of need though a social care plan of support. These children and young people, including looked after children, and their parents and carers can receive short breaks a different way. Break Time Plus enables children and young people with a social care plan of care and support to access Break Time activities. These will be funded through their social care plan of care and support.
Why there needs to be criteria
Children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities often have less opportunity to attend groups and activities. The criteria makes sure that Break Time activities and groups are only accessed by children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities who don't receive short breaks through a social care plan of support. The criteria also makes sure that only children who live in Lancashire attend. Unfortunately, this means that brothers, sisters and children and young people who don’t live in Lancashire are not able to attend Break Time activities.
Lancashire Short Break Services Statement
Information about the short breaks services available to meet the needs of children and young people aged 0 to 18 years with additional needs and/or disabilities.