Register Short Breaks

There are two registration periods for Short Breaks every year – we will put the relevant information here when available from Westmorland & Furness Council (W&F) Please read the following information supplied by W&F Council.

Please note to REGISTER on these YOU must contact W&F Council Short Breaks and not Oaklea

Registration Window – this is now closed

All families had to re-register for the 2024/25 Targeted Short Breaks year, which will run from 1 February 2024 – 31 January 2025.

Note W&F Council say a new window will open in Spring 2024 – we will update you when this happens

This page gives you an idea of how you register

All families need to re-register for this, regardless of when they last registered for Targeted Short Breaks. This is due to entering the new Targeted Short Breaks year, and to ensure correct records are maintained following Local Government Reorganisation. W&F Council are also welcoming new families who are eligible to the service.

How do I register?

W&F usually have 2 registration windows per year (the October 2023 window closed on 31st Oct). 

Once set up for each window the registration link will be made available. A reminder that Local Government Reorganisation recently took place in Cumbria. The two new councils, Cumberland Council (covering Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland areas) and Westmorland and Furness Council (covering Eden, South Lakeland, and Barrow areas), have replaced Cumbria County Council and the six district councils. This change means that families now must register for Targeted Short Breaks activities within their new council area, either Cumberland or Westmorland and Furness. 

Oaklea provision comes under W&F Council

Who is Eligible for Targeted Short Breaks?

To be eligible to access the Targeted Short Breaks service, your child or young person must:

• be ordinarily resident in Cumbria, and  
• have a disability as defined in the Equality Act 2010, and  
• have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and  
• be within the academic year groups Year 1 to Year 13.  

Although all eligible children and young people will be offered access to Targeted Short Break Activities, most of our current providers are only able to support children and young people with low to moderate level needs.*

If your child has a higher-level need, Specialist Services Short Breaks may be appropriate for you. For more information, please contact the Children with Disabilities Team by calling: 0333 2401727 or if you have a Social Worker contact them directly.

What happens next?

Once registration closes your application will be reviewed by W&F Targeted Short Breaks Team. The team will let you know the outcome of your application within a few weeks. If your child is eligible, you will receive a booking link and be able to book activities through this link. 

If your child or young person is not eligible to access Targeted Short Break Activities, W&F Council will let you know via email, and you will have the option to appeal.

If you need to know more

If you have any questions please view W&F Council’s SEND Local Offer page https://fid.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/kb5/westmorlandandfurness/directory/localoffer.page?localofferchannel=0 OR Email: mailto:shortbreaks@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Plus go back to Oaklea Short Breaks page for what we get up to! https://www.oakleatrust.co.uk/short-breaks/