6th July 2017

• You may feel a sense of relief at no longer having to iron school shirts and make packed lunches… until you start to wonder how on earth you are going to entertain the kids for six long weeks! Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of specialist and affordable holiday provision for children with additional needs this year.

  Anything that we are aware of, we’ve listed below, and we’ll keep adding more events and activities as we hear about them. Please help us by letting us know about anything that we’ve missed!

  Clubs

  The Burton Street Foundation offer daily holiday and Saturday activities for young people with learning disabilities aged 8-18 years. Activities include yoga, trampolining, messy crafty stuff and water play. These are based at the Burton Street venue, but they also offer forest workshops at Ecclesall Woods, inclusive sports days, trips to Clifton Park, the cinema, Hathersage outdoor pool, and lots more. Most children are referred to the service via SNIPS, but they also accept self-funders. For more information, call the Burton Street Foundation on 0114 233290 and ask to speak to Laura Westmorland.

  Endeavour are running free summer programmes for young people aged 18-25 years with mild to moderate learning difficulties. Programmes will run as two-week blocks, between 10 July and 17 August, from Endeavour on Earl Marshal Road in Sheffield. Download a flyer

  Ignite Imaginations run free weekly art clubs for children aged 8-11 at four libraries over the summer holidays and into the autumn. These are broadly aimed at “children in need”, but not specifically designed for children with additional needs. Download flyers for Darnall, Crystal Peaks, Firth Park and Parson Cross
  For more information, please email e-mail vicki@igniteimaginations.org.uk.

  Kids Together Club hold fortnightly play sessions on Tuesdays (6.30-8.30pm) at Jungle Mania Play Centre. The cost is £3.50 per child, and there is no age limit. To find out when the next session will be held, join their closed Facebook group.

  Events

  16 July, 10.30am-3.30pm, at Handsworth Grange Sports College: Go Kids Go are running a free wheelchair skills workshop.

  23 July, 12-4pm, at Norfolk Heritage Park: Whizz-Kids are running a family fun day for young wheelchair users aged 2-25 years.

  24 July & 7 August, 6-7pm, at English Institute of Sport: Multi-sports session for children with physical and/or learning disabilities aged 10-18 years. Booking required: call 0114 2235620 or email charlotte.rogerson@siv.org.uk

  2 August, 10am-3pm, at Paces School: Whizz-Kidz and Paces Sheffield are running a wheelchair skills workshop for wheelchair users aged 5-18 years

  8 August, 10.30-11.30am, at Sheffield Central Library: Razzamataz Theatre Schools are running a session specifically for children with special educational needs aged 6-10 years. Aspects of street dance and drama activities focusing on building confidence and making new friends. Booking required: call 07979 189177.

  9 August, 12-5pm, at English Institute of Sport:  Special Olympics Activity festival for people with a learning disability aged 11 and over

  18 August, 10am-3pm, at Hillsborough Sports Arena: Our very own Sheffield Parent Carer Forum Family Fun Day! Activities include bouncy castle and slide, bungee trampolines, petting zoo, nails and tattoos, arts and crafts, dance and drumming workshops, and lots more.

  21 August, 3pm-4.15pm, at Magna: Autism-friendly session at “Magna Mayhem” – Yorkshire’s largest indoor inflatable adventure zone. Cost £9.95 for 4-15 year olds, £4.95 for 2-3 year olds. More info

  Please note: Sheffield Parent Carer Forum does not recommend or endorse any of the organisations, services and activities mentioned in this article. The information contained in this article is subject to change without notice.