Short Breaks and Support Services for Children and Young People with SEND

Staffordshire County Council is conducting market engagement to redesign its Aiming High programme, which provides short breaks and support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) aged 0-25 and their families. The new service is expected to launch in April 2027. The Council is seeking feedback from providers who can deliver inclusive, outcome-focused activities that improve independence, promote community participation, and support family resilience. Services will run during school holidays and non-school hours, offering a mix of indoor, outdoor, and community-based activities suitable for different ages and abilities. The Council is particularly interested in market capacity for: - A General Targeted Offer: community-based short breaks for children and young people with lower to moderate support needs - An Enhanced Targeted Offer: specialist provision for those with complex disabilities requiring enhanced supervision, higher staffing ratios, specialist skills, and adapted environments - Coordinated delivery models where a lead organisation manages bookings, coordinates multiple providers, monitors quality and outcomes, and ensures equitable access across Staffordshire Providers should demonstrate knowledge of relevant legislation including the Children Act 1989, Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Code of Practice 2015, Equality Act 2010, and Staffordshire's SEND Strategy. The Council welcomes engagement from organisations interested in direct service delivery, specialist provision, lead/coordinating roles, provider networks, or innovative solutions that improve access and outcomes. Priority areas include rural and underserved locations and services for children with complex SEND. This is a preliminary market engagement exercise to inform future commissioning; no final decisions have been made regarding service design or procurement approach.