1. Overview

Break Time has replaced the previous Lancashire Break Time service. 

Break Time short break activities provide a range of activities and groups for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities who meet the criteria to attend and who do not receive short breaks following a social care assessment of need.

Please check your child meets the criteria before you register.

Each eligible child or young person can access up to 78 hours of Break Time activities and groups each year which can be used between one or two Break Time providers.

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. 

• 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.  From 1 September 2022, Break Time Plus will start which will enable 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.

You can register for Break Time activities online. You will need to register each year.

Break Time memberships run from 1 April until 31 March.

Once you get confirmation that you are registered, you will get a membership number (unique identifier number) to use to book your child or young person onto activities and groups.

Registrations for 2024/2025 are open from 23rd October to 21st December 2023.

Help

If you need any help registering please contact us or ask a professional involved in supporting your child or young person to help you.

If you've lost your child or young person's 7-digit membership number (unique identifier number) please contact us for a copy.

What happens next

We'll need to check your child or young person meets the eligibility criteria to attend Break Time. As part of this we'll check Lancashire County Council's records. This will include checking if your child or young person is on the SEN Register or is known to the Inclusion Service.

We may need to contact you to discuss how your child or young person meets the eligibility criteria.

Once you have completed the form, you will receive a letter within six weeks to tell you the outcome of your registration.

• If your child or young person is allocated 78 Break Time hours, the letter will explain what you need to do next.  
• If your child or young person is not allocated Break Time hours, the letter will explain why this is.

Where the demand for Break Time exceeds the availability of the service, eligible children and young people will be prioritised for Break Time by the date on which their registration form was received.

Once you have registered, you'll need to make arrangements directly with each provider to book your child or young person onto activities and groups.

Children and young people can use their hours with one provider or split them between two providers.

If you want to purchase more Break Time hours over the year then please speak to the provider or providers and make these arrangements directly with them. (You are not restricted to two providers if making arrangements directly with the provider).

Providers will need information about each child or young person to make sure they understand and can meet their needs and have contact details of parents and carers. The registration form does not replace the information providers will need. 

Some providers may want to meet your child or young person before they join a group or activity to get to know them first. The provider will agree with you when you want your child or young person to attend groups and activities and how you want to use your 78 Break Time hours over the year.

Find Break Time activities

Your child or young person can use their 78 Break Time hours at any time in the year between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 (subject to eligibility and availability of groups and activities). 

Children and young people can use their hours with one provider or split them between two providers. 

Hours can be used over holiday periods or during term time or a combination of both. 

To help you keep track of how many Break Time hours you've booked, we'll send you a Break Time hours tracker with your acceptance letter.

You can also download this as spreadsheet below:

DOWNLOAD TRACKER

We've asked Break Time providers to have arrangements in place so parents and carers can pay for additional time at Break time activities and groups if they need them. Please speak directly to the provider about this.

You can also request a social care assessment of need. This is so we can fully understand the needs of the child or young person, parents and carers and family and identify the best way to meet any assessed needs.

Other short breaks, activities and groups for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities and their families

Break Time is part of a range of available activities and groups. The Lancashire SEND Directory lists more activities and groups provided or commissioned by Lancashire County Council as well as by other organisations and groups including sporting, voluntary and charity organisations and parent carer groups.

Some of these groups and activities will offer a short break to parents and carers, children and young people. Some are activities families can do together and get involved in.

Some schools provide holiday and after school clubs which can provide short breaks. Please check your child or young person's school website or speak to the school about what they offer.