Short break is a time out from caring that can help a child with a disability to recharge their batteries, spend time with friends and pursue interests. They can last from a few hours to a few days and take place at evenings, weekends, school holidays and during the week. Some short breaks are for all children and young people, others are for specific groups of children with particular needs or interests.

In Hillingdon we offer a range of short breaks for children with special educational, developmental and health care needs. If you think your child may be eligible, we will ask some initial questions about your child’s current situation and carry out a Short Breaks Needs Based Assessment. We will let you know the outcome of this panel in writing.

A recent survey by Contact a Family revealed that many disabled children and their families are not accessing short break services. This is largely due to service closures, reduction in available hours and changes to eligibility criteria. It is estimated that 1 in 5 disabled children in England don’t get the support they need to have a short break.

The impact of a break can be felt for up to a week after returning to work. The brain starts to reset and becomes more efficient. This can help you tackle challenging tasks and improve your performance at work. It can also lead to new ideas and perspectives, helping you see things from a different perspective and create fresh, creative solutions.

Studies have shown that taking a short break can help you return to your normal functioning faster than just a longer vacation. This could be because a short break is closer in duration to your natural rhythms, allowing you to feel rested without having to deal with the post-vacation transition back to your usual routine.

Using Attention Restoration Theory, this paper applies the model to a tourism context, exploring how various attributes of a short break and vacation influence cognitive (Stroop test) and self-report (Perceived Destination Restorative Quality scale) measures. Results show that short breaks, compared to the no break control group, significantly increase ability to focus attention. These effects are stronger for shorter breaks than for longer vacations, suggesting that the psychological detachment from work and familiarity with the destination are more important for restorative outcomes than duration alone.

The benefits of a short break for children and young people with disabilities and their families can be wide-ranging, and are a vital source of respite for carers. In fact, local authorities are now legally obliged to make clear what short break services are available and how they can be accessed. Families in England can find out what’s on offer by contacting their local authority, and those in Scotland should visit Shared Care Scotland.