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SEND Children Miss Summer Fun: Holiday Clubs Exclude Thousands
5 Aug
Summary
- Six percent of SEND children in England will get support this summer.
- Over 61,000 disabled children miss out on holiday club places.
- Parents are quitting jobs due to lack of affordable childcare support.
New research indicates a significant shortfall in summer holiday club provisions for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across England. The findings reveal that a mere six percent of these children are expected to receive support this summer, with over 61,000 children missing out on available places. This lack of accessible programs is creating immense pressure on parents.
Some parents are compelled to leave their employment to provide full-time care, while others struggle with the financial burden of private support, which can amount to hundreds of pounds weekly. The situation is forcing difficult choices, impacting family finances, parental wellbeing, and children's opportunities for socialization and development during the school break.
The charity Sense highlights that more than half of parent carers find it challenging to locate suitable holiday clubs. This difficulty contributes to financial strain for one in three families, with nearly a fifth being forced to abandon their jobs entirely. This situation is described as a 'stark postcode lottery,' with varying levels of support across different local authorities.
Department for Education initiatives, such as the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, aim to provide activities and food for hundreds of thousands of children. Councils are expected to ensure SEND children are included. Families can also explore the Great British Summer Saving scheme for discounts and free travel.
