The following links are for some ideas of SEND friendly activities or sessions we have found in the local area that you may want to try. We try update and monitor these links regularly but do check with the places before visiting that they are still running these sessions just in case!

Additionally if you know of any places or ideas, please drop Ellie an email on e.jennings@lanterns.hants.sch.uk so that this can be shared with other parents!

• Merlins Magic wand, apply for a funded day out for your family, please read the terms and conditions and eligibility criteria as they require certain evidence https://www.merlinsmagicwand.org/

• Nimbus Access Cards (for queue assist, toilet pass, essential companion etc. https://www.accesscard.online/ You then have to link the Nimbus card to Merlin’s Ride Access Pass. You also have to pre-book the ride access pass tickets for the actual day of your visit e.g. https://www.legoland.co.uk/plan-your-day/before-you-visit/accessibility/

• Hampshire Gateway Card- The Gateway Card and Gateway Card+ are free and give you access to community activities, play schemes and buddy schemes through the short breaks programme- see the following link for more information, criteria and how to apply- https://www.hants.gov.uk/socialcareandhealth/childrenandfamilies/specialneeds/shortbreaks/gatewaycard

• Winchester sports and Leisure centre: On a Monday 4:45 PM and a Saturday 10:30 AM the leisure centre is running one hour SEN swim sessions for you and your child. You can book you and yourself onto this session at just £5 per person and there is a maximum of 12 people on a session at one time. There is a separate entrance located on the left side of the building to avoid the busyness of reception with disabled and non-disabled parking outside the entrance. There is a communal changing facility just for hydrotherapy pool users and a couple of separate individuals changing facilities with adult sized changing tables and a hoist leading to the pool. To book onto the session call the front of house team on 01962 848700 -Option 3 for hydrotherapy pool.

• Pavilion on the park, ‘sensory 4 all’ Community multi-sensory space for babies through to adults, The Sensory room can also be booked for exclusive use by individuals, families or groups in 1 or 2 hour time slots, or hired for birthday parties. https://paviliononthepark.org/activities-clubs/sensory4all/?portfolioCats=39

• Pavilion on the park, ‘Cycle 4 all’ Inclusive outdoor cycling for all ages and abilities £5 per session, they have a range of different bikes including 2 seater ‘trailer’ like bikes which you can have your children strapped into the back so they can enjoy the ride! https://paviliononthepark.org/activities-clubs/cycles4all/?portfolioCats=39

• Pavilion on the park ‘Sensecere’.  SenseCere offers great sensory activities for Children and Parents. We operate activity days to focus on the Child’s and Adult’s sensory experiences. We want to make these experiences real for children and offer great insights for Parents. https://paviliononthepark.org/activities-clubs/sensecere/

• Spectrum holidays- ‘We work with holiday home owners around the UK to make their properties more accessible to autistic people, their families and/or carers.  All holiday homes listed on our website will have our Spectrum Pack of sensory toys and resources available for your exclusive use!’ https://spectrum-holidays.com/

• Look out for ‘relaxed’ performances at the theatres/cinemas, these are SEN friendly performances where there is no pressure for your child to sit throughout the whole performance! E.g. the Vue cinema : ‘We host autism friendly screenings on the last Sunday of every month at all sites except West End.  These autism friendly film screenings are sensory friendly with the sound reduced, lighting dimmed and no adverts or trailers. It is okay for guests to move around and make noise in autism friendly cinema ‘ https://www.myvue.com/legal/accessibility

• Marwell Zoo- One FREE carer will be admitted with one paying guest with accessibility needs. Supports the sunflower lanyard scheme to reduce queuing. They are Makaton friendly, ‘Our daily talks are Makaton  friendly and we have Makaton symbols available on request in Cafe Graze.’ https://www.marwell.org.uk/plan-your-visit/guests-with-accessibility-needs/

• YMCA Eastleigh- School holiday SEN activity sessions “Crafted especially by SEN parents with multiple activity stations suitable for children & young people who want to have fun together in a non-judgmental environment. This is a parentally lead multi station activity session with the likes of: Crafts, Pool, Air Hockey, Beach volleyball, Wii, Lego, Toy station and more. £2 per family (you only need to buy 1 adult ticket). We are especially interested in families feedback and input into this session, so please let us know your thoughts, positive and negative, so we can make this session be the best we can realistically achieve.” https://widget.eola.co/3ahxe/activities/sen-activity-morning

• Winchester sports and leisure- ‘Inclusive football’ https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/winchester-sport-leisure-park/#activities

• The Arc Winchester- Inclusive sports for all children. ‘Experience the excitement of inclusive sports for kids’ https://www.arcwinchester.org.uk/event/inclusive-sports-all-children

• The Qube sensory room (A quiet space/ sensory room available for use) and soft play at the Carol Youth Centre Winchester https://thecarrollcentre.org/qubesensory/ 

• Active Nation- ‘Our short break activities begin at just £3 per child. Siblings, parents and friends are welcome to join in with most sessions too, however preference will always be given to children with SEND.’ Various locations including Southampton. https://activenation.org.uk/active-communities/southampton/disability-and-inclusion/childrens-send-activities/

• Injoy Southampton- ‘SEN sessions every Thursday evening all year round- SEN & Additional Needs Sessions with reduced sound, adjusted lighting where necessary, removal of strong scents, and fewer people around will help our visitors fully InJoy their time in our centres. Carers can accompany free of charge* Please bring proof of eligibility, we accept but not restricted to: MAX, Gateway Card, DLA Letter. £7.50 for 2 hours’ https://injoycentres.com/?activity=sen-sessions

• North Walls Park- 3 Park Avenue, Winchester, SO23 8DJ- have just redone the park to make it more inclusive for children with SEND- includes a wheelchair friendly roundabout! 

• Peter Ashley Activity Centre- Fort Purbrook Portsmouth- offer bespoke activity mornings for young people with additional needs and their families through the school holidays, keep an eye on their social media pages for information on this! Their activities look more suited for older children but thought I would add this in there for those with multiple SEN children! https://peterashleyactivitycentres.co.uk/sen-disability-groups/

• Peter Ashley Activity Centre- Fort Widley Equestrian centre- Portsmouth- Riding for the Disabled (RDA) at Fort Widley Equestrian Centre, Portsmouth. ‘Fort Widley is an affiliated Riding Centre where we undertake lessons and walkouts for a variety of disabilities. Each lesson or walk out is tailored for the individual, considering their needs and ambitions. We can supply leaders and side walkers to ensure that each and every rider feels as secure as possible. We can further support riders by offering the use of two mechanical horses. The mechanical horses can be left stationary for those riders that want to build up their confidence gradually and just to experience being on the horse. Once the rider is ready, we can then progress the horses through walk, trot and canter, enabling these riders to experience the thrill of being on a horse when they possibly thought they never would. Not everyone wants to or is able to experience being on the horse. In this situation, we offer grooming and stroking time with the horses. The rider will be able to spend time progressing to what feels comfortable for them. This may be grooming or it may be just standing close enough to the horse to feel their breath. Each session can be tailored for each individual person’. https://peterashleyactivitycentres.co.uk/riding-for-the-disabled/

• Atmosphere- Basingstoke- All-inclusive parties- Our All Inclusive parties are specifically designed to let jumpers with special needs enjoy Atmosphere to the full. These parties are strictly for visitors with disabilities and special needs and their carers. Siblings are also welcome. We want you to have the opportunity to experience our trampoline park without having to contend with everyone else – our Jump Marshals will make sure you have a great time as you enjoy the 70+ trampolines that we have on-site! https://activenation.org.uk/venues/atmosphere/parties/

• A million senses- A Million Senses is a social start up created by a team of three autism professionals to design holiday experiences in Greece fully adapted to people in the autism spectrum and their families. https://www.autism.org.uk/directory/a/a-millionsenses

• Flip Out Eastleigh (Trampoline park)- SEND jump sessions- reduced lighting etc. https://www.flipout.co.uk/locations/southampton/prices

• Kids2day- SEN session, Thursday 18th July, Kids2Day will be closing in order to offer a SEN event.Entry is £6.99 for a SEN child and 1 accompanying adult. Please bring proof of sen if you are not already registered with us. Siblings and additional adults are welcome at normal entry price. Our Shepherds Down school meet up will also be within this session in order for us to provide a more calm environment for those wanting to get to know their new classmates. https://kids2day.co.uk/events/sen-session/

• Southampton city farm- Autism hour- first Sunday of every month 10-11 (Children £1 Adults £2)- https://www.southamptoncityfarm.com/community-events.html

• SEN partyman sessions at Party man world https://www.partymanworld.co.uk/location/eastleigh/admissions/sen/

• Finkley Down Farm SEND early bird entry https://www.finkleydownfarm.co.uk/event/send-early-bird-access/

• Jungle Jeans- Soft play area- Free SEN entry or £3.50 at busy times- https://www.junglejeans.co.uk/tariff.asp

• Winchester science centre- provides sensory backpacks and ear defenders. https://www.winchestersciencecentre.org/visiting/accessibility

• Sensory movement for fun basingstoke Our fun, friendly and inclusive movement and dance classes for children with disabilities and/or additional needs. Sensory Movement classes are ideal if your child enjoys wiggling to music and exploring sensory props. Classes are a gentle introduction dance, consisting of activities exploring movement with sensory props such as scarves, bean bags, shakers and bubbles together with your child. These classes are perfect for dancers on the start of their journey in following instructions and participating in shared activities.Activities are designed to help dancer's ability to co-operate, follow simple instructions, express themselves, build confidence, increase body awareness and develop more independence, while in a safe and inclusive environment with their carergiver(s) Thursdays 5 – 5:30pm, £6.60 per class (half termly blocks), Guidance age 3 years+, No diagnosis necessary https://collectivemotiondance.com/dance-classes-in-basingstoke-hampshire/

• I wanna be role play village, Romsey, SEN sessions. ‘Part of our ethos has always been to make our village inclusive.  We welcome all types and ranges of disabilities and understand that everyone's needs are different. As part of our aim of making fun happen for all, we will be holding SEND sessions. During this session we will turn off the music and coffee grinder, and reduce the number of people we let in our village in order to help make the children more comfortable. Our aim is for everyone to enjoy fun activities and socialise in a safe and welcoming environment.’ https://iwannabe.co.uk/send-sessions-2/