How to Request a Short Break Assessment

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Before requesting a Short Break Assessment, it’s really important to check the eligibility criteria first.

Short breaks are designed for children and young people with higher levels of need, so not all SEND needs will meet the criteria.

Taking a few minutes to check this can help you understand whether a short break is the right support for your family, or if there may be other services that better meet your child’s needs.

Find out more 

Click here to go to the eligibility criteria page 

• Evidence of a SEND Support Plan or Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
• Documents that explain your child’s needs (for example, assessments, medical reports or school reports)
• Evidence of an Early Help Assessment or plan completed within the last 12 months

As part of your request, you’ll be asked about the support your family has already tried.

This helps us understand what’s working well and what additional support might be needed. It’s important to tell us about any universal services you have accessed or tried to access, such as local activities, groups or community support.

Documents are shared by email when you make your request for service.

If you’re unable to use email, don’t worry — you can bring paper copies to the Multi-Agency Drop-In session, held on the first Wednesday of every month. Staff there will take copies and send the documents to the Integrated Front Door on your behalf.

To make a request for support, parents and carers need to contact the Integrated Front Door and ask for a Short Breaks Assessment or “request for service.”

Making a request for service is the first step in getting the right support in place, and it allows the team to understand your child’s needs and decide what help may be appropriate. If you are assessed as requiring a short break, it will progress to panel.