Skip to content

Short breaks offer disabled children and young people the chance to spend time out with others socialising and doing fun activities, giving their families a break and providing them with the confidence their child is well supported by a trained worker.

They include holiday and Saturday clubs, and activities range from canoeing and computers skills to lego.

Important update on SBLO

Re-tendering process for the Short Breaks Local Offer (SBLO) contracts

We are currently in the process of re-tendering the Short Break Local Offer (SBLO) contracts, and are planning for the new service to start in May this year. This means we have offered existing and new providers the opportunity to propose activities and holiday clubs for children and young people with SEND across Hertfordshire.

We have been working with a wide variety of stakeholders including parents and carers on this.  By retendering we aim to improve the quality and increase the choice of SBLO providers and activities to support children and young people with SEND and their families.  Any changes to providers and activities will start on 1 May.  Families will still be able to access up to 40 hours per year.  (To access more SBLO hours, a social care assessment will still need to be undertaken by the 0-25 service).

Price increase

The current parent contribution of £2 an hour has been in place for many years and while there had been a planned increase in 2020, this was put on hold due to the pandemic.  However, we have had to make the difficult decision to increase this to £3.50 an hour from 1 May 2024.  This is important to ensure the sustainability of the SBLO service and make sure as many children and young people as possible can access support. Providers will be asked to provide a hardship policy for those families that require financial support.

Community navigation support

We are also in the process of developing community navigation support for SEND families.  This will include a database of activities and days out specifically for SEND children and young people and their families, available in Hertfordshire and beyond.  We will send further updates on this as soon as possible.

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns, or require further information: sblo@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

SEND Commissioning Team

Account guidance for parents

You can register for Short Breaks via the link above.

  1. You will be asked to enter your details. Once you've done so, the username for your Short Breaks account will display on the screen. Please make a note of this, as it will not be emailed to you.
  2. You will then need to provide your child/young persons details.
  3. When complete, you can view a summary of children you have applied for and have the ability to amend your application.
  4. You will then need to click 'choose short breaks' and you will be provided with a list of all the Short Break activities available to your child or young person. Once you have selected the ones you would like the chosen provider will contact you.
  5. Once you have received a confirmation, you will need to provide proof of eligibility to your chosen Short Breaks provider.
  6. You can log back into the portal to access your application once submitted using the account you created.
  7. You can view your child/young persons current allocation of the number of hours confirmed/claimed/remaining in your Short Breaks account. This will only appear once your child/young person has attended a Short Break session and the provider has logged the hours used.
  8. The SBLO year runs from April-March. You will need to renew your application annually and will receive an email in advance. You'll be able to renew your application in your Short Breaks account.

Login for Short Breaks providers

Access the SBLO providers portal


If you would like to apply on behalf of a parent/carer you can use the same steps listed in the parent guidance above.

2023/2024 Face to Face and Virtual Offer

You can view our 'universal' offer in our resources area, or see what your registered provider is offering for you below. 

The SBLO online system is open to register your interest in the face to face activities and playschemes (Saturday, after-school and holiday clubs). 

Please discuss directly with your chosen provider(s) the hours they can allocate to your child and their health and safety guidance. Providers' contact details can be found below.

SBLO hours will continue to prioritise access to SBLO for the most vulnerable children and young people. We also want to ensure, as far as possible that every child and young person with SEND can access at least one form of care support.

Whether you are new to the SBLO service or an existing user, please contact SBLO providers directly for expressing your interest in playschemes and booking your face-to-face sessions. Please be aware that providers may not be able to immediately offer face to face sessions.  

SPACE

Districts: Countywide

Specialism: ASD, ADHD and neurodiverse conditions

Virtual Offer

From 1 April 2023, there will be a fee for the online activities offered by SPACE.

Interactive Online Sessions

  • Monthly quiz on a variety of topics / special interests
  • Fortnightly Art sessions for children / young people
  • Art lessons
  • Lego club
  • Monthly virtual zoo
  • Monthly cookery classes
  • Show and Tell
  • Road Safety Awareness workshops
  • Staying Safe Online workshops
  • Bespoke 1:1 sessions
  • And many more activities

Online Videos

  • Bedtimes stories
  • Minecraft tutorials
  • Cooking tutorials
  • Dance tutorials
  • Learning videos on various topics such as learning to play the piano, science experiments, jewellery making, craft activities
  • And many more activities

Physical/ in-person activities

  • Karate classes
  • Lego and Free Play sessions
  • Aerial gymnastics / relaxation sessions
  • Animal meet and greet
  • Driving experiences
  • Indoor climbing
  • Pottery and crafts
  • Cooking
  • Watersports and outdoor pursuits
  • Donutting and other HDSF events
  • Outdoor free-play sessions
  • And many more activities

Find out more information on their Facebook page.

sblo@spaceherts.org.uk

Tel: 07565 255761

SPACE's website

CHIPS

Districts: East Herts and Broxbourne

Specialism: Special education needs/ASD/LD

CHIPS Holiday Club

  • Sessions will run in school holidays.
  • Complete care provided for children aged 5 – 19.

Taking place at:

  • Hertford  
  • Ware  
  • Hoddesdon  
  • Cheshunt 
  • Bishops Stortford 
  • Waltham Cross

CHIPS Saturday Club

  • Complete care provided for children aged 5 – 19
  • Saturdays 10 am – 12.30 pm (Ware 2.00pm – 4.30pm)
  • 10 sessions will run during term time from September to December

Taking place at:

  • 1st Bishop's Stortford Scout Hut, Footpath to Birchanger Wood, off, Heath Row CM23 5DH (Bishop’s Stortford)
  • Millbrook Junior Middle & Infant School (Cheshunt)
  • Hertford Children's Centre, Sele School (Hertford)
  • Forres Primary School (Hoddesdon)

CHIPS Teen Club

CHIPS have young but experienced members of staff who support and mentor the teenagers. The key objectives of the Teen Club are for the young people to learn life, social and independence skills. For example: budgeting, handling money. Where possible outings in groups. The teenagers are fully involved and make suggestions for outings and activities.  

  • For young people aged 13 - 19 years
  • Aimed at teens with moderate learning difficulties and/or limited medical needs
  • Runs once a month during term-time throughout the year and sessions at Christmas
  • 2 hours per session
  • Multiple locations

CHIPS Climbing Club

This club will be delivered from a centre with 4 main climbing walls offering 1000sqm of climbing. The centre has specialist facilities and equipment for people with disabilities, including wheel chair users. The centre will provide 2 instructors, with CHIPS supplying additional staff as required. Completing a climb will enhance a young person’s sense of achievement and bolster their self-esteem which will support other challenges they will face in their life. Weather permitting some outdoor activities may be offered.

  • Maximum 10 per session
  • For ages 10 - 19 years
  • Sundays, fortnightly 12.30pm - 2.30pm during term-time

Venue:

  • Harlow Outdoors Activity Centre

Waltham Cross Playscheme

  • Holy Trinity School, Longlands Close, Crossbrook St, Waltham Cross EN8 8LU.

CHIPS Computer/ Gaming club

A range of IT/ computer gaming equipment will be available – computers, Wii, Xbox and PlayStation, for the young people to use. CHIPS staff and volunteers will support attendees to gain skills and experience using computers and gaming equipment in a supportive and sharing environment. Sharing of knowledge and experience amongst attendees will be encouraged through mini fun competitions and tournaments

  • Maximum 12 per session
  • For ages 12 - 19 years
  • Tuesdays, fortnightly 7pm - 9pm during term-time

Venue to be confirmed

Cookery club

This is for young people with additional needs aged 12-19 years.  Young people will need an SBLO allocation in order to attend.   The Cookery club is held in Ware.

  • Maximum 9 people per session
  • For ages 12 - 19
  • Thursday evenings fortnightly 7pm to 9pm during term time. 

Places must be reserved in advance

Contact CHIPS Play

01992 804 952

Hertsmere Mencap's Holiday Club (formerly Noah's Ark)

District: Hertsmere

Specialism: Special education needs

Holiday playscheme

Holiday playscheme will take place at:

  • St Teresa's Primary School,  Brook Road, Borehamwood, 

Jubilee House Trust

Districts: East Herts, North Herts, St Albans, Stevenage and Welwyn and Hatfield

Specialism: ASD, PD and LD

Jubilee House Trust will be supporting families with day-care short breaks at Peartree short break centre.

SBLO hours linked to residential stays increasing time available to young people who also have an overnight package at Peartree and at The Pines.

Action for Children

Districts: Countywide

Specialism: LD of varying severity, physical or sensory disabilities and/or behaviours that challenge, and other additional medical needs. 

Action for Children are offering:

  • Fundays held at our fully accessible shortbreak projects (West Hyde)
  • Out and About sessions offering a range of adventurous activities at various different sites

Virtual offer

  • Story sessions
  • Cooking sessions
  • Sensory Sessions
  • Online dance classes

For activities:

Action for Children facebook page

For registration:

HAS@actionforchildren.org.uk

Tel:  01923 718939

Shared Care

**Please note that new referrals to this service are paused until further notice**

Districts: countywide

Shared care is family-based care that provides short breaks to disabled children and young people. The scheme specifically recruits carers to support children who have additional needs. Our carers are from a wide variety of ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds. They can be individuals or couples, male or female, with or without children and may have pets, some carers work and others may be retired.

All carers complete training before they are approved, will have a DBS and will continue to have regular supervision and training updates from members of the shared care team. When a service is offered each carer is closely matched to fit the needs of the child.

The breaks can be provided:

• In the child’s home as a sitting service to enable parents to go out/ have some free time, or

• As day care in the carers home, or

• Out in the community to access activities.

The support package (40hrs per annum) can be used flexibly depending upon the availability of the carer and negotiated between the family and carer to include weekdays and/or weekend support, or used during the school holidays.

This service provides peace of mind for parents, knowing their child is being properly looked after whilst away from them. It also provides the young child/person with some independence and gives them the opportunity to have fun, develop new relationships and access the community.  

The Shared Care Team can be contacted directly for further information by email SharedCareTeam@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Phoenix Group

Districts: Across Hertfordshire

Specialism: Deaf/ hard of hearing children and young people

School Holiday Activities

Visit the Phoenix Website for information on School Holiday Activities

North Herts CVS

District: Stevenage

Specialism: Special education needs/ASD/LD

Our playschemes provide an informal setting to support children and young people to undertake activities and interact with their peers, whilst providing an opportunity for parents/carers to have a break.

NHCVS Breakaway holiday clubs

Holiday clubs run during the school holidays and at half term too.

Taking place at

  • St Nicholas C of E Primary School (Stevenage)
  • Greenside school (Stevenage)
  • Woolgrove School (Letchworth)
  • for children aged 5-19 years with behaviours that challenge
  • AM Session – 9.30am to 12pm (for children aged 5-11)
  • PM Session – 1pm to 3.30pm (for children aged 12-19)

NHCVS Breakaway Saturday Club

The playscheme provides activities and opportunities for children to socialise with their peers either individually or as a group every other Saturday during term time.

  • for children aged 5-19 years with behaviours that challenge
  • AM Session – 9.30am to 12pm (for children aged 5-11)
  • PM Session – 1pm to 3.30pm (for children aged 12-19)

Taking place at:

  • St.Nicholas C of E Primary School (Stevenage)

SNAP

Districts: St Albans, Dacorum, Welwyn Hatfield and some activities in Hertsmere

Specialism: LD of varying severity, physical or sensory disabilities and/or behaviours that challenge

Children and young people will enjoy a wide choice of risk assessed and fun activities. Friendship with other users will be encouraged and supported and chill out time encouraged. Wherever possible engagement with the mainstream community will be encouraged and supported where required.

SNAP Holiday Club

Holiday clubs will only be running at Watling View School St Albans, and Hobbs Hill Wood School in Hemel Hempstead

Independent Living Services

This session will start as a Buy-Cook-&-Eat session and will develop to focus on other Independent Living Skills, reflecting the interests of the individuals attending.

  • Once a week evening activity, time to be confirmed
  • For ages 14 - 19 years

Taking place at:

  • Unit 5 181a Verulam Road, St Albans, AL3 4DR

SNAP Virtual Offer

Contact us to find out about our online activities.

Tel: 07920 426378

Kelsey Ferrari

kelseyferrari@stalbansmencap.org.uk

Contact SNAP

  

Watford Mencap

Districts: Watford, Hertsmere, Three Rivers

Specialism: LD of varying severity and can support additional needs such as epilepsy, gastrostomy

Advice service - 01923 713 632

Help and support for:

  • A friendly call
  • Getting support
  • Where to find relevant information
  • Basic essentials
  • Applying for benefits
  • Housing issues
  • Online activities

Monday to Friday 8am - 8pm, and Saturday and Sunday 10am - 4pm.

Watford Mencap Holiday Activity Schemes

This service is spread across each holiday, offering a variety of activities for a wide range of ages and abilities.

  • For ages 5 -19 years
  • Sessions are 10am - 3pm
  • Venue to be confirmed

Contact Watford Mencap directly for dates

Watford Mencap Weekend Activities

  • For children and young people with a learning disability aged 5 – 19 years
  • runs on various Saturdays throughout the year

Watford Youth Club

  • For children and young people with a learning disability aged 13-19 years
  • Runs on Friday evenings from 6-9pm during the term time

Watford Mencap Buddying Service

The buddying service will provide fully trained staff to support children and young people with a learning disability aged 5-19. The service will match staff to the interest of the young person they are supporting. The support could be offered for a short time or on a longer-term regular basis and will be offered to families as per interest. 

Please contact: agency@watfordmencap.org.uk

 

To contact Watford Mencap please see following:

CandYP@watfordmencap.org.uk

Tel: 01923 220 816

For advice please email: advice@watfordmencap.org.uk 

Tel: 01923 713 632

Call us on Monday - Friday between 8am and 8pm, or Saturday - Sunday 10am until 4pm on 01923 220 816

Watford Mencap Facebook

Watford Mencap Twitter

SEN Venture

Districts: St Albans and Dacorum

Specialism: LD and ASD, behaviours that challenge, PMLD and other additional medical needs

SEN Venture provides activities such as arts and crafts, indoor sports activities, sensory play and has access to a playground with apparatus and a soft play room. SEN Venture is located in Breakspeare School - a purpose built school for children and young people with SEND. 

The team provides support for children and young people aged 5-18.

Saturday Club and Holiday Club

  • For ages 5 - 18 years
  • Sessions are 9.30am - 3.30pm

Taking place at:

  • Breakspeare School (Abbots Langley) 

SEN Venture is offering Playscheme with on-site activities.

Booking Page | SENventure

info@senventure.co.uk

07947627599

Sportworks

Districts: St Albans and Dacorum

Specialism: Children and young people with a disability

*Please note that Sportworks SBLO will not be available during the summer holidays 2023. We will update families when this service resumes.**

Our inclusive short breaks programme, designed for children and young people with a disability is packed full of sport, games and activities to provide your child with the ultimate healthy, fun and safe experience. All sessions are run on a staff to child ratio of 1:4.

Multi-sports, arts and crafts, dance, gymnastics, fun games

At George Street Primary School,
George Street, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 5HJ

10am - 3pm

Sessions:

Sessions offered during school holidays.

Booking is essential 
Book on the Sportworks website or email: john.newton@sportworksltd.co.uk

If you require assistance in choosing the right SBLO Provider, please contact the SENDIASS on tel: 01992 555847.

Who qualifies?

You may be entitled to up to 40 hours of activities if you:

  • live in Hertfordshire
  • are aged between 5 - 19 years old (until the summer holiday of the year the young person turns 19 if in full time education) with SEND
  • receive a middle or higher rate disability living allowance (DLA) or any personal independence payment (PIP), or
  • have a letter from your GP, your school’s special educational needs co-coordinator (SENCO) or another professional, confirming that your need means you require access to targeted services for disabled children and young people. Evidence of a formal diagnosis won't be needed, just evidence that their needs are of the level to be in receipt of the above benefits, or that a professional feels Short Breaks is appropriate.

Sometimes, disabled children and their families need access to more than 40 hours. To find out if your child is eligible for more hours, you can request an assessment from the 0-25 Together Team.

How much do short breaks cost?

Activities are currently £2 per hour to attend, but you might need to pay a little more, for example entrance fees to swimming clubs, theatre trips and wildlife parks.

The current parent contribution of £2 an hour has been in place for many years and while there had been a planned increase in 2020, this was put on hold due to the pandemic.  However, we have had to make the difficult decision to increase this to £3.50 an hour from May 2024.  This is important to ensure the sustainability of the SBLO service and make sure as many children and young people as possible can access support. Providers will be asked to provide a hardship policy for those families that require financial support.

Short Breaks and Direct Payments

If you receive Direct Payments, you can not use these to pay for Short Breaks.

Direct Payments are available following an assessment of need and can be used to provide a short break through paying for services or employing a PA, but they cannot be used to pay for the community short break activities. Direct Payments are used to pay for provision for your child to meet an outcome in an Education, Health and Care Plan, or in a Social Care or Health plan.

Short Breaks is a different and separate scheme.

Applying for short breaks

If you're not registered for Short Breaks you can register for an account online. Just create an account following the guidance provided above and upload proof of eligibility. 

The SBLO year runs from 1 April - 31 March. You'll need to be flexible if you want to take up the full hours. If you apply later in the year it's unlikely you'll be able to use all of these.

If you need help you can contact:

If you need your password reset or have any questions about Short Breaks, please email:

SBLO.Online@hertfordshire.gov.uk

What happens next?

Once you have completed your application online your chosen short breaks provider(s) will contact you and ask you to show proof of your eligibility.

Your application can not be approved until this has been confirmed.

Related services

Shared care

**Please note that new referrals to this service are paused until further notice**

This is family-based care that provides short breaks to disabled children and young people from 4 - 18 years of age. Carers are from a wide variety of backgrounds and can be individuals or couples, male or female, with or without children and may have pets, some carers work others may be retired.

All carers will have completed training before they are approved, will have a DBS and will continue to have regular supervision and training updates from members of the shared care team. When a service is offered, each carer is closely matched to fit the needs of the child.

The breaks can be provided:

  • in the child’s home as a sitting service to enable parents to go out / have some free time
  • as day care in the carers home
  • out in the community to access activities.

The support (up to 40 hours a year) can be used flexibly depending upon the availability of the carer and negotiated between the family and carer to include weekdays, weekends or during the school holidays.

This service provides peace of mind for parents, knowing their child is being properly looked after whilst away from them. It also provides the child / young person with some independence and gives them the opportunity to have fun, develop new relationships and access the community.

Please note that all new requests for Shared Care are now suspended and the service will provide a review on their capacity later in the Autumn.

Read more about shared care

Overnight short breaks

Some young people with disabilities and complex health needs, may be eligible for an overnight short break (OSB) especially if they require support throughout the night.

The OSB service provides a break for parents and carers, whilst their children stay, for a short amount of time, in a safe and suitable setting. Having access to this support has important benefits for both carers and their children, helping the carer continue to care for their child and providing the child with a change from daily routine and an opportunity to develop new skills, stay away from home without their parents and mix with their peers.


How do I get an overnight short break?

An overnight short break is a specialist service, available only once a social work assessment of need has been completed. This assessment would be arranged via a referral through the 0-25 Together Service.

Where they are:

What should I expect from overnight short break providers?

  • Providers will offer a flexible and personalised offer for children and young people.  This will include 'add on' services such as Short Breaks Local Offer (SBLO) and support that can be purchased through Direct Payments.
  • Settings are now required to operate at 85% occupancy (taking into account occupancy levels and vacancies) to ensure that the maximum number of OSB nights can be delivered to children and young people.
  • Providers will develop a clear cancellation policy and complaint policy that is conveyed to all families.
  • The inclusion and participation of children and young people in the decision making is a vital part of making the service work well. Providers are to hold regular children and young people’s meetings and ensure they are able to contribute to the decision-making processes.

 

Page was last updated on: 04/03/2024 13:02:03

Cookies

Like many other websites, we place small information files called 'cookies' on your computer.

Why do we use cookies?

To remember your settings, for example your language and location. This means you don’t have to keep entering these details when you visit a new page.

To find out how you use the site to help us update and improve it.

How do I change my cookie settings?

You can change the settings of your web browser so that it won’t accept cookies. For more information visit AboutCookies.org.

But, doing this may stop you from using some of the online features and services on this website. 

Cookies we use

Cookies do a lot of different jobs, and we use 2 types of cookies:

Required functionality cookies – these cookies are essential for the website to work.

Performance and feature cookies – these cookies help to improve the performance and feel of this website, for example providing you with personalised services.


Take a look at a list of cookies we use on our website:

NameTypeHow we use itHow long we use the information for

ASP.Net_Sessions

 

Required functionality

An automatic cookie set by our software. 

Just for the time you are on our website.

ServerID

 

Required functionality

An automatic cookie set by our software. 

Just for the time you are on our website.

_ga

Required functionality

To track the effectiveness of our website using Google Analytics. 

2 years

saved-pages

Performance and feature

To save the pages that you visit by clicking the heart at the top of the page. 

1 month

geoPostcode

Performance and feature

This stores your postcode (or partial postcode) when we ask you for your location.

Just for the time you are on our website or 30 days (you choose this).

geoCoordinates

Performance and feature

This stores your location as a pair of latitude / longitude coordinates.

Just for the time you are on our website or 30 days (you choose this).

reckonerName-history

Performance and feature

This keeps a history of all answers submitted to the ready reckoner.

This is set in the control for each ready reckoner. If you haven't interacted with the ready reckoner for the set amount of days, the cookies are deleted.

reckonerName-content

Performance and feature

This keeps a history of what content cards are clicked on when using the ready reckoner.

This is set in the control for each ready reckoner. If you haven't interacted with the ready reckoner for the set amount of days, the cookies are deleted.

SQ_SYSTEM_SESSION

Required functionality

This used to track user sessions on forms hosted on eservices.hertfordshire.gov.uk

Just for the time you are on our website.


Third party cookies

There are links and content from other sites and services on our website. These sites and services set their own cookies.

Below are a list of cookies that the other sites and services use:

Service namePurposeMore information

Google analytics (_utma/b/c/z)

These are used to compile reports for us on how people use this site.

Cookies of the same names are also used for the same purpose by other websites such as Building FuturesCountryside Management Service and Hertfordshire LIS.

Visit the Google Analytics website for more information about the cookies they use.

You can prevent data from being collected and used by Google Analytics by installing Google's Opt-out Browser Add-on.

Google Translation - googtrans

This cookie is used to remember which language to translate each page into if you have chosen to do so.

It expires at the end of your browser session.

Bing

We use a Bing cookie to track the success of our marketing campaigns and make them more efficient.

Visit Bing to find out more about their cookies.

Google

We use a Google cookie to track the success of our marketing campaigns and make them more efficient.

Visit Google to find out more about their cookies.

Facebook

We have a number of presences on Facebook, which we may link to. Facebook may set some of its own cookies if you follow these links.

Visit Facebook to find out more about their cookies.

Twitter

We have a number of presences and feeds on Twitter, which you may wish to follow or read from this website. Twitter may set some of its own cookies.

Visit Twitter to find out more about their cookies.

YouTube

We have a YouTube channel, which we may link to. YouTube may set some of its own cookies if you follow those links.

Visit YouTube to find out more about their cookies.

Netloan

This ASP.NET_Sessionid cookie is essential for the Netloan secure online payments website to work, and is set when you arrive to the site. This cookie is deleted when you close your browser.

 

HotJar

This session cookie is set to let Hotjar know whether that visitor is included in the sample which is used to generate funnels.

Visit HotJar to find out more about their cookies.

Siteimprove

These cookies are set to help us report on how people are using the site so we can improve it.

Visit Siteimprove to learn more about their cookies.