SEND Local Offer Newsletter Spring 2025 (Issue 37) - Click here to view the newsletter

It’s here! The Spring edition of the new look SEND Local Offer Newsletter 2025. It’s packed with lots of information including blogs from:-

• Blog – Lara Patel, Lara Patel Executive Director Children’s Services
• Blog - Carly Price, Strategic Lead for SEND Brighter Futures for Children

• News items, what’s on/events available throughout the Easter holiday’s
• Early Years – updates from the sector
• What’s on, events and workshops
• Preparing for adulthood – 16-25 updates
• Short breaks, support services and much more…  please remember, this is just a snapshot of the wealth of information that can be found on the www.readingsendlocaloffer.org   

Please feel free to give us feedback on this latest edition, all suggestions are welcomed! If there are any topics you would like us to include in the next newsletter, please do let us know. We will continue to update the newsletter, as new events and activities are sent to us up until the end of April.

Information can also be found here SEND Local Offer - Newsletter | Reading Services Guide

Short Breaks for the Christmas holidays can be found here - SEND Short Breaks (all ability activities & overnight breaks) | Reading Services Guide

SEND Local Offer 16+ Guide - SEND Local Offer 16+ Guide | Reading Services Guide

Please keep visiting the SEND Local Offer for updates on local services www.readingsendlocaloffer.org

• Parenting Special Children have a number of workshops and events coming up. For more details go to:  parentingspecialchildren.co.uk

• The national charity Contact have a number of virtual workshops for families of children with additional needs from finances, educational support and handling meetings effectively as a parent. See for more details Family workshops | Contact

• The Reading Family Carers Card

Many people are family carers and support someone who relies on them to collect shopping, prescriptions and other essential items. You may not identify yourself as a carer because you are firstly a parent, a wife, husband, daughter, son, grandchild, friend or neighbour.

Reading Mencap have produced The Reading Family Carers Card it’s available to carers for FREE and it will identify you as a family carer in order to help shorten the time you might have to spend queueing for a shop, a pharmacy or even a health appointment. It is supported by Reading Borough Council.

Please click on the link below to the Reading Services Guide information page about the Reading Families Carers Card.

https://servicesguide.reading.gov.uk/kb5/reading/directory/advice.page?id=FiM1gU0NzYk

• Reading Information, Advice & Support Service for SEND (Reading IASS) 

This service was formerly called the Parent Partnership Service. It offers free confidential and impartial advice and support to Reading parents and carers who have children (up to the age of 25) with special educational needs or disability. Here is a link to their website where you can find further information.          https://www.readingiass.org/                      

Reading Short Breaks funded by Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC)

SEND Short Breaks.

Please click on the links for bookings and further information.

SEND Short Breaks Easter Holiday Sessions 2025

Chance to Dance - (dates include March, April, May & June 2025) 

Short breaks are available for Reading children aged 5 years to 18 years old.

Reading Directory | SEND Short Breaks -Chance to Dance Stars CIC - Dance and Multi Activity Program (includes half terms & holidays)

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SEND Short Breaks - Easter Holidays - Reading FC SEND Play Camp

SEND play camp at The Avenue School from 10:00-13:00.

Age 5-10yr olds

Reading Directory | SEND Short Breaks - Easter Holidays - Reading FC SEND Play Camp

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SEND Short Breaks - Easter Holidays - Reading FC SEND Sports Camp

SEND Sports camp at The Avenue School from 10:30-2pm.

Age 8-17yrs

Reading Directory | SEND Short Breaks - Easter Holidays - Reading FC SEND Sports Camp

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SEND Short Breaks - Reading Play - Easter Holiday 2025

The Reading Educational Play and Support Team welcomes you to The Ranger Station as one of your SEND short break providers, we will be holding four sessions this half term. 

Reading Directory | SEND Short Breaks - Reading Play - Easter Holiday 2025

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SEND Short Breaks - Make Sense Theatre Easter 2025 SEND Holiday Clubs

Make/Sense Theatre run SEND specific holiday clubs with different approaches so that we can meet the needs of all young people. This includes clubs where we provide 1:1s and can cater for all behavioural, communication, personal care and medical needs.

Reading Directory | SEND Short Breaks - Make Sense Theatre Easter 2025 SEND Holiday Clubs

Further information regarding SEND Short Breaks can be found here Reading Directory | SEND Short Breaks (all ability activities & overnight breaks)

Holiday Activities and Food scheme (HAF)

Brighter Futures for Children co-ordinates the Holiday Activities and Food scheme on behalf of Reading Borough Council, funded by the Department for Education.

Please note: HAF registration is only open to children eligible for pupil premium free school meals.

Further information and booking details please click on the link Holiday Activities and Food scheme (HAF) - Brighter Futures For Children

Link to Short Breaks page Reading Directory | SEND Short Breaks (all ability activities & overnight breaks)

For parent carers who need information on childcare, holiday clubs, childminders etc for the school holiday – www.readingfis.org/childcare