Who can get Short Breaks and how to apply
Parent carers with parental responsibility can apply for Short Breaks for children and young people who:
- Live in Norfolk, and
- Are aged 5-17-years-old, and
- Have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This is defined as 'a physical or mental impairment that is substantial and has a long-term negative effect on their ability to do normal daily tasks' Equality Act 2010.
Your child does not need an education, health and care plan (EHCP) to be eligible for Short Breaks.
Currently, we do not provide Short Breaks for children under 5-years-old. You can apply for Short Breaks on your child's fifth birthday but we cannot accept applications before this. If your child has exceptional needs, a professional can refer you for family support or a social work assessment. Please be aware this would be a referral for you as a family. It will not lead to a referral for Short Breaks.
How to apply
We aim to make an initial decision on your child's eligibility for the Short Breaks service within two weeks of application.
If you are not eligible, we will let you know by post or email. We recommend that you do not reapply for three months to allow you to gather sufficient evidence to make a successful application.
If you are eligible, we will contact you as soon as a team member is available to work with you to set up your child's Short Breaks plan. There may be a delay in us contacting you at busy times but a team member will contact you as soon as they are available.
Supporting evidence
You must provide at least:
- Two detailed assessment reports from professionals who have recently worked with your child, and
- One document must show your child's educational needs
All evidence must be as recent as possible, ideally dated within the last 12 months. It must show the impact that your child's disability has on their everyday life and family life.
We need at least one piece of evidence from section A, and at least one piece of evidence from section B. See below.
Section A (evidence of learning needs)
- Most recent school report
- EHCP/Annual Review. EHCPs older than 18 months must be accompanied by a recent Annual Review
- Detailed Educational Psychologist Report
- Professional Home Education Report
- Detailed Alternative Provision Report
Section B (all other evidence)
- Occupational Therapy Report
- Speech and Language Therapy Report
- Mental Health Report (eg Starfish/CAHMS)
- ASD/ADHD Report
- SEN Support Plan
- Behaviour Support Plan
- Individual Education Plan
- Medical Needs Report
- Individual Healthcare Plan
- Detailed Medical Reports/Letters
- Paediatric Reports/Letters
- Moving/Handling Plans
- Physiotherapy Assessment Report
Evidence we do not accept
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) award letter
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award letter
- Waiting list or referral letters, which do not contain information on the impact of your child's disability
- Prescriptions
- Reports written by parent carers, family members or friends
- Supporting letters and statements from non-professionals and professionals
Please speak to the Short Breaks team before applying, if you are not sure your evidence shows the impact of your child's disability.
Identification for direct payments
Please note as from May 1 2025, if your Short Breaks Plan includes a Direct Payment including a PA you must have photo ID for us to be able to open a bank account. Accepted types of photo ID are:
- Driving Licence (must be in date and show your current name and address)
- Valid passport (must be in date and show your current name)
- Valid Citizen Card (must be in date and show your current name)
Need help?
You can always ask someone who knows your child well to help you complete the online application form. You can also contact the Short Breaks team to help with your application.
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