Break Time short break activities

2. Criteria

The criteria to attend Break Time is: 

• Children will be able to access Break Time from the start of the academic year (September) in which they turn age 5 to the end of the academic year (July) in which they turn 18. 

Childs date of birth	When they will be eligible to attend
1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020	from 1 September 2024
1 September 2006 to 31 August 2019	from 1 April 2024
1 September 2005 to 31 August 2006	from 1 April 2024 until 31 August 2024

• A child or young person has special educational needs and/or disabilities meaning they are unable to access universal services and activities; and the parent and carers are in receipt of child benefit for that child or young person.
• Children will live in Lancashire (excluding Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool council areas).

Children are not eligible to attend Break Time if:

• They are looked after children and live with their parents, in a foster family or in a children's home (however children living with special guardians or someone who is in receipt of carers allowance for that child, are eligible)
• They have had a social care assessment and receive Day Time or Night Time short breaks following this, through a social care plan of support.
• They attend a residential school or receive short breaks as part of school support to families.

Break Time activities and groups are for children and young people who do not receive short breaks following a social care assessment of need though a social care plan of support.  These children and young people, including looked after children, and their parents and carers can receive short breaks a different way.  From 1 September 2022, Break Time Plus will start which will enable children and young people with a social care plan of care and support to access Break Time activities. These will be funded through their social care plan of care and support. 

Why there needs to be criteria

Children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities often have less opportunity to attend groups and activities. The criteria makes sure that Break Time activities and groups are only accessed by children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities who don't receive short breaks through a social care plan of support. The criteria also makes sure that only children who live in Lancashire attend. Unfortunately, this means that brothers, sisters and children and young people who don’t live in Lancashire are not able to attend Break Time activities.