Leisure, Activities and Short Breaks

There are only a few SEND specific clubs for SEND. But, we also encourage all universal activity and childcare providers to be inclusive for children and young people with SEND. How inclusive a mainstream activity or club can be will depend on the complexity of your child or young persons’ individual needs.

If your child has any specific interests it is always worth while contacting specific activity providers to see if they can accomodate your child or young persons’ individual needs.

We also encourage all childcare providers to be inclusive for children and young people with SEND.

So, you might want to look at:

• Early Years Childcare, which includes registered childminders who may be also able to look after primary and/or secondary aged children and / or young people
• Wraparound and holidays, which includes before and after school clubs as well as holiday clubs
• Activities, which covers a wide range of specific areas of interest

Free holiday provision available to children and young people aged 5 to 16 who are eligible for benefit related Free School Meals (FSM) or are Electively Home Educated (EHE).

The ‘Healthy Holidays’ activities commissioned for the Winter/Christmas period will be detailed on Holiday Activity and Food Programme – Torbay Council

The information will outline what is being offered in each town, who will be delivering this, the times and dates of the activities and the instructions for parents/carers on how to book places.

For children and young people who might live in Devon but go to school in Torbay, please see the Devon HAF Programme. They will contact us in Torbay to check the FSM eligibility status, but will look to offer a space where it is closer to the home address; please see Holiday activities and food (HAF) programme – Education and Families (devon.gov.uk)

Childcare is available in Torbay through a variety of providers including childminders, pre-schools and out of school care such as breakfast clubs, afterschool clubs and holiday play schemes.

See Wraparound and holidays – Family Hub (torbayfamilyhub.org.uk)

Dart Sailability is a charity that enables anybody with a physical or mental disability to enjoy sailing, boating and social activities on the beautiful River Dart. All ages are welcome. Run by volunteers (of which we never have enough), we take to the water as often as possible tides permitting, from spring to mid autumn. Some boats can accommodate wheelchairs and we have hoists to give easy access to the other boats. Our simple rule of thumb is “if you can sit you can sail”!

Please note though we do not provide personal care so please bring your carer if needed. Under 18’s need a parent or guardian’s permission, and an adult must accompany them. We run regular free taster sessions so please come and give it try (trainers, warm clothing and a waterproof are strongly recommended as well as a hat, sunscreen and water). 

Telephone: 01803 722737 / 07768 398715

Email: info@dartsailability.org

Devon FA Disability Football offers a range of football opportunities for disabled people in Devon, including the disability football league (Devon Ability Counts), wheelchair football, deaffriendly football clubs, Torbay and Plymouth mental health football tournaments and an Exeter Downs Syndrome football progamme.

Contact details:

Ashley Harris, disability football development officer

Telephone: 01626 323560 or 07912 089838

Email: ashley.harris@devonfa.com

The Disabled Sailing Association is a Torquay-based sailing charity, run for the disabled, by the disabled.

Our aim is, wherever possible, to give everybody, no matter what their disability, the opportunity to enjoy the experience of seagoing sailing in a safe and pleasurable environment, and to encourage them to be involved in an activity from which many believe they are excluded.

Disabled Sailing Association offers affordable sailing opportunities, from Torquay and the Dart, to disabled and disadvantaged people, their carers and families. The Association has a yacht which is specially adapted for people with disabilities, including wheelchair access. If desired, the Association may be able to arrange training for disabled users so that they can achieve recognised sailing qualifications.

Telephone: 07447 941724

Email:  enquiries@dsadevon.org.uk

Little Senses is a multi-sensory stay and play based support group for children aged 0-5 years with SEND.

We are based at the Acorn Centre in Torquay. Sessions are Wednesday 11.30-2.30, term time only. I ask for a small entry fee charge of £5 per family to go towards the cost of the room hire.

The only restrictions are the child must be under 5 with an additional need, no diagnosis necessary. The group is SEND specific.

The centre is wheelchair accessible, and we have use of the garden too which is also wheelchair accessible.

Contact:

Name: Kizzy Winstone – Founder and Director
Phone number: 07985536452
www.facebook.com/little-senses

Little Senses Ltd
Company number 14827712

The club provides an excellent centre for young people with disabilities in Torbay and arts, sports, drama and trips for disabled and non-disabled young people.

• Mondays nights – 7pm to 9pm, for children and young people aged 14-25
• Last Monday in the month – 9pm to 10pm in the pub for over 18’s
• Wdnesday nights from 6.30pm to 8pm, for children and young people aged 8-18

The cost is £4.00 per session

Club nights are subject to change to fit in trips and additional activities

Contact details:

Mark Thorneywork

Telephone: 07964710894

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phabtorquay.info/

Here are some photographs of us at the club doing a wide range of activities

The Play Cafe in Torquay runs a SEN exclusive session between 9am and 10m on Sundays.

Advanced booking advised but not essential, however, priority is given to those with pre booked tickets at busier sessions. Capacity Numbers apply.

Play Cafe | Book a session (playcafetorquay.co.uk)

Telephone: 01803 431363

South Devon School of Gymnastics Athletes of all abilities are welcome. Offers classes for recreational and competitive gymnasts with a wide variety of special needs. Its special needs squad competes at national level at Special Olympic competitions.

Contact details:

Nicci Tucker, head coach 

Alders Way, Yalberton Industrial Estate, Paignton, TQ4 7QR.

Telephone: 01803 523774

Email: nicci@southdevongym.co.uk. 

The Torbay Special Needs Playscheme operates every school holiday except Bank holidays.  All children attending have severe to profound physical and/or learning disabilities. The Saturday club operates every Saturday. We have a younger group for 5 to 12 years and an older group for 12 to 17 years and these operate on alternate Saturdays. All the groups are run from Brunel Academy. 

Places are available and they are both referred through the Disability Team or (MASH if not known to Children’s Services.) 

Qualifications and Training: All staff are qualified in first aid, play and or teaching/nursing qualification or are working towards them.

Access to the playscheme is by referral only, contact for more details.

Telephone: 01803 206290

Brunel Academy, Paignton, Devon, TQ3 2NA – Near to number 12 bus route.

On alternate Saturdays – The younger group is 5yrs to 12yrs and the older group is for 12yr to 17yrs

Ofsted URN: EY305705

Link to latest ofsted inspection report 

Torbay Velopark is able to provide specially adapted bikes for use by disabled people. Bikes include specially made trikes, a tandem and junior and senior recumbent bikes.

The circuit is the only outdoor closed road circuit in Devon and Cornwall and can accommodate amateur and professional cycling and a range of other sporting activities. There are three different distance options that the Velopark offers:

1. Whole Track: 1.5km
2. 1.0km
3. 0.5km

Bike and helmet hire on site, baby trailers and accessible bikes are also available. A lane system operates, similar to swimming, whereby people will have the chance to participate in the fast or slow lane. The Park offers a seated picnic area to enjoy a rest. Access to toilets and changing facilities available at the Leisure Centre.

Booking available online through the Torbay Leisure Centre timetable, or via the app 1 hour sessions.

Users must check in at the main leisure centre reception on arrival to obtain the daily entry code.  
Emergency call point on site.

Memberships available at Torbay Leisure Centre.

Parkrun (5k) and Junior Parkrun (2k) are a free weekly run community event held at the Velopark every Saturday 9am , and every Sunday 9am for the Junior Parkrun. Please register before you attend. The aim is to have fun so everyone is welcome to run at their own pace.

Torbay Velopark | Paignton | Facebook

Telephone: 01803 659711

Wheelchair football and games for wheelchair users of any age. Open to manual chair and power chair users. Those who need a push are also welcome as long as pushers accompany them. Anyone interested can turn up but it’s advisable to contact Ashley Harris before attending.

Times: Alternate Saturdays, 11am to midday.

Cost: £3 per session.

Contact details:

Ashley Harris

Paignton Community and Sports Academy, Waterleat Road, Paignton.

Telephone: 07912 089838 or 01626 323560

The Phoenix group is for young people living with learning disabilities, physical disabilities or who are socially isolated. The group offers a safe place to get together and socialise.

Phoenix meet once a fortnight to do various fun activities such as bowling, crazy golf and playing games. The group also offers young people the opportunity to share their views on issues locally and nationally to help make changes and fill gaps in services.

If you are interested, get in touch and ask to speak to the Phoenix Coordinator.

A weekly club,  social and support group for children and young people on the Autistic spectrum and their siblings, (which may or may not be diagnosed), whilst also supporting and signposting parents, reducing feelings of isolation.  The aim of the group is to encourage social interaction, cooperative play personal awareness and a better understanding of self and others.

Parents remain responsible for their child and must stay for the whole activity.

ASRUS is a place to be with friends, a place to play outdoors, a place to make music with support from music leaders and a place to chill and chat.  Each week there are different opportunities including creating crafts to take home and making delicious food to eat! 

It costs £3.00 per child and accompanying adults free

If you have a child or young person that you think would like to attend, play Torbay would love to hear from you.  Please complete the Registration form on the website and email or post to us.

Short Breaks provide children and young people with disabilities with an opportunity to spend time away from their parents or primary carers, relaxing and having fun with their friends. They provide families with a ‘break’ from their caring responsibilities; they give parents a chance to unwind rest or spend time with other children.

• Short Breaks promote the health, safety and wellbeing of children and young people with
  disabilities, ensuring they can fully participate in family and community life, enjoy themselves with
  friends and make decisions about their lives.
• Short Breaks reduce stress within the family system through the provision of the right level of
  support, at the right time.
• Short Breaks need to be fair and equitable.

Short Breaks can include any activity for a disabled child or young person from up to an hour in a universally available inclusive club or activity to attending a specialised setting for a few sessions or days as determined necessary by a specialist assessment carried out by the Children with Disability (CWD) Team (e.g. holiday play schemes and short breaks with family to family carers).

The Local Authority are required to publish a Short Breaks Statement so that children and young people together with their parents/carers and families can find out about their eligibility for an assessment to use short break opportunities available in Torbay that are funded through the Children with Disability Team.

Short Breaks form part of provision for children in need and their families; any decision for Short Breaks to be included within a plan for a child will be subject to robust assessment, which identifies that Short Breaks are a proportionate way of promoting the needs of the child and safeguarding their welfare.

Short Breaks provide children and young people with disabilities with an opportunity to engage in positive activities, potentially away from their home. Short Breaks provide families with a ’pause’ from their caring responsibilities; they give parents a chance to unwind rest or spend time with other children, in recognition of the significant of their caring role for a child with disabilities. Examples of short breaks include holiday play schemes and short breaks with high dependency carers.

It is important to note that whilst it is known that both local and national research demonstrates that short breaks are a priority for families with children with disabilities, they should be delivered as part of a much broader package of family support services in line with the SEND Reforms. This means that any staff who work with families will offer advice, guidance and information on other issues that are important to them.

Children and young people are eligible for short breaks when they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term effect on their ability to carry out day-to-day activities.

Foe example, this may include :

• children or young people with a physical or learning disability
• children or young people with a hearing or visual impairment
• children or young people with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome and
• children or young people who may have challenging behaviour as a result of their learning disability
• children or young people who have complex needs and who may have palliative, life limiting or a life-threatening condition

Short Breaks, together with other support packages, are tailored to meet the identified need of the child, and their family, through the provision of appropriate support at the right time. Not all children and families will need the same level of support or Short Breaks; some will need more than others because of the nature of their child’s disability and the impact this has on them. Some families may need more support because of their individual family circumstances. This is why there is a need to ensure services provide the right level of support with Short Breaks at the right time through the completion of a Single Assessment of need. A Single Assessment of needs for a child or young person with SEND is usally carried out by a Children with Disability (CWD) Team Social Worker.

Following a needs assessment, as described within the full Torbay Children with Disabilities (CWD) Elgibility Criteria, the Children with Disabilities (CWD) Team will usually only provide services to children and young people who have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial long term adverse effect at a severe or profound level as further explained within the full Torbay Children with Disabilities (CWD) Eligibility Criteria.  

These may include:

• Complex, profound and severe health needs that arise from the disability, that are life threatening, degenerative illness or organic disorder resulting in severe disability
• Profound and severe learning disabilities (e.g. following P levels of the curiculum)
• Profound and severe communication needs (e.g. none or very little communication used)
• Profound and sever behaviour associated with disability (e.g. frequently poses sever risks to self or others)
• Profound and severe mobility needs (e.g. unable to walk)
• Severe sensory impairment (e.g. registered blind and profoundly deaf)

Some children and young people will have disabilities but will not have needs that require the specialist support and resources provided by the Children with Disability (CWD) Team. These will usually include children and young people who:

• Present with a long-term disability at a moderate or mild level as described within the full Children with Disability Eligability Criteria. 
• Present with a disability or disabilities that are not long-term or substantial.
• Present with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties due to social or environmental factors i.e. the behaviour is not associated with a disability.

Children and young people in these categories may still receive services from the Torbay’s Children’s Social Care Service working together with other relevant services.

In Torbay, parents or carers of children and young people with disabilities who do not meet the Children with Disability Team Criteria can access Short Breaks in the following ways:

• Looking at the Torbay SEND Local Offer for general information about inclusive or universally available specialist clubs, groups, and organisations.
• Calling in to one of the Torbay Family Hubs for general advice and information about inclusive or universally available specialist clubs, groups, and organisations.
• Contacting the Early Help Service for information, advice and support to help decide what service/s may be on offer to the family as a whole or to request an Early Help assessment for further support.

In Torbay, parents or carers of children and young people with disabilities who meet the Children with Disability Team Criteria can access Short Breaks in the following ways:

• Contacting the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) to request ‘an assessment of need’, where the level of the child’s disability or the impact of the disability on family life is such that a more complex/larger package of support is required.
• Contacting the child or young persons’ Children with Disability (CWD) Team Social Worker, where a social worker has already been allocated.

If the allocated social worker identifies that some support to access Short Breaks would be beneficial for the child and family, the completed assessment will be used to identify what level and type of Short Breaks a family may need to support them in their caring role. These assessments for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and / or Disabilities (SEND) are usually carried out by a Children with Disability (CWD) Team Social Woker. A discussion will take place on the Short Breaks options available to the family and choose one or more that best meet identified needs from services available under the Local Offer. Should the family feel that nothing on offer meets their needs, they can discuss other options with their Professional and together can design a bespoke, package of short breaks.

After a Short Breaks plan has been agreed by the Access to Resources panel, as required to meet the family’s needs, they are included in a personal budget. A Short Breaks plan will only be made following a social care Single Assessment of need or review of a child or young person’s care plan.

Short Breaks, that are part of an agreed Short Breaks plan, are paid for in one of the 2 following ways:

• Torbay Council can put the short break in place and pay for it directly
• A family can choose to have a “Direct Payment”

Short Breaks that are not part of an agreed Short Breaks plan are paid for by parents / carers.

If you do not currently have a Short Breaks plan but feel your child or young person may need one, You might want to look at How do families in Torbay access Short Breaks?

What is a Direct Payment?

A Direct Payment is money given to families who have been assessed as needing social care support and would like to arrange and pay for the services themselves instead of receiving them directly from the Council.
If we say you are eligible to receive services paid for by the Council, you can choose:

• To take up direct payments
• Have the council arrange the services for you
• Have a mixture of the two above
• If you receive a direct payment, you take responsibility for:
• arranging your services;
• managing your money;
• employing staff where required;
• maintaining the paperwork involved.

Why have a Direct Payment?

Greater flexibility and more choice about:

• Which services you use to support your child;
• Who directly supports your child;
• When it is most appropriate for your child to receive support.

What can and can’t Direct Payments be used for? 

It can only be used to meet assessed needs in the ways agreed in your child’s care plan.

What direct payment can be used for?

A direct payment can only be used on items and services that are legal and that will meet your eligible assessed needs.

Some people choose to:

• Employ their own personal assistant (enabler/carer) to help them live as independently as possible and allow some respite for people who provide regular care for them
• Pay for support services from agencies
• Access social or community activities

What direct payments can’t be used for?

You cannot use your direct payments for:

• Anything that is illegal
• Anything that would bring the Council into disrepute.

This includes the following:

• gambling
• alcohol
• drugs and other addictive substances
• Housing costs or household bills – your income or state benefits allow for these costs
• Takeaways or other food and drink

If you spend the money on anything which has not been agreed then you can be asked to pay it back.

What do I do next if I am interested in receiving Direct Payments?

If you have not already had an assessment of your social care needs, you must do this first. To request an assessment you will need to contact the central Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub and specifically request an assessment of your child’s social care needs.

Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)
Tel: 01803 208100
Email: torbay.safeguardinghub@torbay.gov.uk

If you have already been assessed as needing a social care service, or you are already receiving directly provided care and wish to know more about Direct Payments contact your child’s social worker and/or the Direct Payments Officer.

Children with Disabilities Team
Tel: 01803 206280
Email: disability@torbay.gov.uk

Torbay Children’s Disability Team is working together with adult social care to make the transition from
Children’s to Adult’s Services an exciting and optimistic time for young people.

The Local Authority must support young people as they become young adults and take their place in the
world. Developing positive activities for young people and allowing them to take part in local community
activities will be at the heart of our continued transitions work.

As part of their transition moving towards adulthood your child might need a needs assessement for adult social care.