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Short Breaks

Short Breaks

Sign up for Free SEND Short Breaks!

Sign up for Free SEND Short Breaks!

Caudwell Children’s Short Breaks give children and young people with Special Educational Needs and disabilities living in Staffordshire and Cheshire East the opportunity to discover new interests, try out different activities and make new friends in a safe and welcoming environment. 

Parents and carers can leave their children with our highly experienced Short Breaks team, providing them with vital respite and the freedom to go shopping, catch up with friends or take some well-deserved “you” time. 

To find out more about our Short Breaks and eligibility criteria, please select your relevant area below.

You can contact our Short Breaks team for more information, call 0345 300 1348 or email short.breaks@caudwellchildren.com

Short Breaks FAQ's

These sessions are a fantastic way for your child to have fun, make new friends and build confidence in a safe and welcoming environment. Your child will have freedom to try different activities and find new interests while providing you with vital respite so you can go shopping, catch up with friends or take some well-deserved “you” time.

Young people aged 8-18 who have a registered disability. Children or young people who are on the autism pathway will also be eligible to attend.

Baking, Art and Craft, Games

Our sessions are suitable for all age ranges, and we have the experience to enable us to tailor our activities to the group and/or specific person on the day.

They can attend an unlimited number of sessions per month.

Cheshire East: Taking place every Saturday

Newcastle-under-Lyme: Taking place every Saturday

Newcastle-under-Lyme sessions take place at the Caudwell International Children’s Centre on Keele University Campus.

Caudwell Children
Caudwell International Children’s Centre
Innovation Way
Keele Science & Innovation Park
Newcastle-under-Lyme
ST5 5N

Cheshire East sessions take place at Astbury Village Hall in Congleton:

Astbury Village Hall
Peel Lane
Astbury
Congleton
CW12 4RQ

We only offer weekend day-time short break options.

Yes, our short breaks are suitable for all children with a registered disability.

We do not offer food during our 3 hour Short Breaks sessions. We ask children to bring a drink and a snack.

Cheshire East: You can sign up for a Short Breaks session by completing our sign-up form.

Newcastle-under-Lyme: You can sign up for a Short Breaks session by completing our sign-up form.

All places are offered on a first come, first served basis.

All our short break sessions are free of charge.

We are unable to offer transport to and from our short break sessions.

Each session has an Activity Lead and Sessional Workers present – the number of staff at each session is dependant on the number of children attending the session.

Yes, family members can participate, and siblings can attend if we have spaces available.

All our short breaks staff are first aid trained and have experience of working with children with a disability.  You will be asked to complete an Initial Assessment prior to your child attending their first session – this will cover allergies, like/dislikes, mobility needs, how they like to communicate, etc.

If parents wish to stay during the session, they can do this.

We do not provide personal care, or administer medication – but if your child/young person requires this, then a parent or carer can stay for the duration of the session.

Meet Fred

Meet Fred

Fred aged 9, is autistic and finds some social situations extremely difficult. Fred is susceptible to peer pressure and influence at school, and struggles with his siblings.