The summer holidays can bring mixed feelings. No more school runs! No more homework! On the flip side, with round-the-clock parenting and no fixed schedule, the summer may not always be a picnic in the park.
How can you work out the best route for children with SEND for the next six weeks?
“Sometimes the best plans are the simplest; a bus ride, a walk to the park or playing in the garden.”
https://www.kirkleeslocaloffer.org.uk/information-and-advice/holiday-and-travel-information/holiday-guide-for-children-and-young-people-with-send/
Organise, Plan & Prepare in Advance
Planning ahead will give you confidence as you navigate your way through the six-week stretch. Consider the following as you prepare:
Talk to your children – what do they enjoy? Factor in their wishes wherever possible. As the holidays begin, let them know:
- What’s happening tomorrow?
- What time will we get up?
- Is anyone coming to visit?
- Are we going out? Where? What time?
- Will we travel by car, train, bus or on foot?
- Where will we have lunch/dinner?
- When is bedtime?
Colourful Visuals – a colourful visual of the day ahead is helpful, either on paper or a computer screen.
Maintain a routine – provide a sense of routine each day; it will help their mental preparedness.
Daily Activities
Consider the most effective activities for your children. For example, high energy plans for a child who might have regulation difficulties.
Sam lives in Pinner and is mum to Lachie, aged 6, who has ADHD. She shares some thoughts for the summer:
“I plan lots of activities. Some are very unstructured, such as an hour-long kickaround in the park or a local bike ride.
“More structured activities like planning a specific walking route, ending with a hill climb, followed by a wind-down in a café work too.”
“One of Lachie’s favourite activities is visiting the nearest trampoline park. It’s a great way to burn off excess energy.”
Planning a mix of structured and unstructured activities each day will allow the days to fly by more quickly.
Public SEND Facilities & Camps
Natasha is a dance teacher/playworker who works at a holiday camp in Brent, Greater London. She shares examples of the activities, “We do a lot of arts and crafts, which is particularly popular with SEND children. Tasks are created with modifications so that any child can join at their appropriate level; leaders would then guide them as required.”
“We use many textures/materials, which can be particularly appealing for SEND children. On the other hand, if we are aware a child may not like a specific texture, it would be avoided.”
Dance is also factored into the day. “The children with SEND are not at all left out. They frequently join in and tend to love the movement.” Natasha adds, “If a child with SEND can attend a summer camp linked to their school, then the familiarity would be good, particularly if the school work well with SEND children.”
“With any summer camp, I would recommend that questions be asked about inclusivity and SEND, to help you gauge whether it will work for your child.”
Local arts centres and libraries frequently put on inclusive activities during the holidays, which are free.
Another option that is dedicated to children with SEND is “SENDhelpUK”, offering sensory rooms, SEND activity centres and leisure activities across the UK over the summer holidays.
Day Trips
For day trips, a social story to prepare is a great activity and can help your child know what to expect. Fill your bag with a sensory toolkit and snacks so there is plenty to satisfy rumbling tummies en route.
Miranda Lewis-Brown is a musician and storyteller from North London. Her theatre company, ‘Feathered Fables’, will be performing ‘The Pigeon and the Peacock’, running in Islington, London, during the summer holidays.
“The show is inclusive,” Miranda explains, “I really want SEND children to come. For the previous run of the show, there were many neurodivergent audience members. We have a touch tour before the show for neurodivergent and partially sighted/blind children so they can touch the puppets; it helps them to feel included in the show.”
View more information on Feathered Fables on 19th Aug – 21st Aug 2025 for 5-11 year olds.
‘Frameless’ in London’s Marble Arch offers an immersive art experience, with four galleries that foster a multisensory, interactive environment. Their popular chilled sessions are specifically designed for SEND children, offering a space that is fully inclusive.
View more information on their Chilled Session in the summer on 7th Aug from 10am-12pm.
Incorporate some Learning – and then Relax!
Why not turn learning into fun? For example, measuring the amounts when doing a baking recipe, or finding natural items in the park. Or possibly after a visit to an animal park, you could create a project about one of the animals your child particularly liked.
It can be demanding over the summer, and it’s important to have a break. Try to arrange some help to allow you time out, even if just for a couple of hours a week.
Look after yourself as well as your children; save time for a coffee with a friend or an evening chat. Stay connected to the people who care about you.
Remind your children (as well as yourself!) what went well throughout the day. Praise always goes a long way. It won’t always be a breeze, and the summer will come and go. In the meantime, hopefully you can enjoy some special times ahead.
More Summer Resources
https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/resources/all-resources/filter/inclusion-send/send-summer-support-hub https://positiveyoungmind.com/summer-holiday-activities/
https://www.campbeaumont.co.uk/parents-info/special-educational-needs
https://www.gov.uk/local-library-services
Please note: The information provided within this blog, by SENsational Tutors, is for general information purposes only. We appreciate that every person is unique and any advice/experiences mentioned within the content of each blog may not be reflective of your own personal experience. All information on the site is provided in good faith and is for educational informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with appropriate professionals.
