Short Breaks (EHCP+) - Updated offer from April 2026

From April 2026, the Short Breaks offer for children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is changing. The revised offer is called EHCP+, designed to give children enriching, interest led activities and opportunities to develop independence, confidence, and social skills in a safe and supported environment. 

EHCP+ replaces the previous Short Breaks voucher model, which currently uses Bookinglab until 31 March 2026. The new model reflects feedback from parents, carers, young people, and providers, and ensures Short Breaks remain modern, inclusive, and aligned with the SEND Strategy 

 

Why are we making this change?

Over the past year, we have listened closely to parents, carers, children and young people about what they need from Short Breaks. Families told us that the current model does not always meet their child’s needs and that more flexible, high quality and interest-led activities are needed.  

Parents also shared how valuable it is for their children to attend supported sessions independently, helping them develop confidence and life skills while giving families important time for themselves.  

Demand for support has increased significantly, and the current system can no longer meet this level of need. To provide a modern, inclusive offer, we are redesigning Short Breaks into EHCP+ 

 

What is EHCP+?

EHCP+ is the updated Short Breaks programme for children and young people with an EHCP. It provides drop‑off sessions, supporting skill‑building, social interaction, confidence and meaningful inclusion in community settings. This redesign aligns with the intent of Short Breaks as outlined in the Short Breaks Statement, which emphasises independence-building, social interaction, and access to a range of activities in community venues. 

EHCP+ has been shaped through: 

• Parent and carer feedback
• Engagement through the Working Group
• Findings from the SEND Review and Belonging Strategy
• Evidence of increased demand for more structured and supported activities 

 

Who can access EHCP+?

EHCP+ is available to: 

• Children and young people aged 4 to 19
• Who have a current Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) 

This age range aligns the programme with the developmental stages where structured independence building activities are most effective. 

 

Booking EHCP+ Sessions

All EHCP+ sessions will be booked through EEQU.  

For EHCP+ from 30 March you can browse and book sessions at: https://eequ.org/miltonkeynescitycouncilehcp 

 

Initial launch schedule 

For the initial rollout: 

• Sessions will be available to book up to 31 July
• In May, we will review which sessions are popular and well attended
• This will inform additional sessions for summer and the remainder of the year 

 

Suggest a provider 

Families can suggest new activity providers to be considered for the EHCP+ programme. 

We will contact each provider to explore whether their offer can meet EHCP+ requirements. Some services may not be suitable for EHCP+ due to staffing, environment, insurance or delivery model, but may still operate commercially. 

You can click here to suggest a provider for EHCP+ 

 

When a young person turns 19 

Support moves into adult pathways such as: 

• Adult Social Care
• Adult Short Breaks
• Day opportunities
• Community based adult provision 

These services are better suited to the needs of young adults preparing for adulthood and independence. 

 

What activities are available? 

EHCP+ provides a varied programme of interest-led, enriching activities, including: 

• Creative arts
• Cooking and food skills
• SportWorks activity sessions
• STEM
• Animal experiences
• Tutoring and academic enrichment
• Climbing and physical challenge sessions 

These activities reflect the wider range of settings traditionally included in Short Breaks programmes, such as arts clubs, sports clubs, leisure centres, and play schemes, as recognised in the Short Breaks Statement. 

We continue to work with new and existing providers to expand the variety of activities available throughout the year. 

 

Drop‑off sessions 

EHCP+ is a drop‑off model, allowing children and young people to attend independently with support from trained staff. 

To support regulation and transitions, providers may allow: 

• Settling‑in time
• A familiar adult to stay initially, where appropriate 

Some settings may not allow adults to remain due to safeguarding or staffing requirements. 

 

Support for children with higher needs 

Providers are being supported to: 

• Work with care agencies
• Access specialist training
• Clearly describe the support available in each listing 

Families will be able to see whether a session is suitable for their child before booking. 

 

How many sessions can we book? 

Each eligible child can access up to 8 funded EHCP+ sessions per financial year (1 April–31 March). 

 

Planning your year 

To help you make the most of this allocation: 

• Plan your bookings across the year
• Only book sessions your child can attend
• Cancel any sessions you no longer need, as all booked sessions count towards the 8 

This helps ensure your child receives the full benefit of their allocation, unused sessions can be reoffered, and the programme remains fair for all families. 

 

Commercially available sessions 

We are working with providers to make additional sessions available commercially. 

This enables children to: 

• Maintain regular participation
• Build routine
• Develop a sense of belonging within their community 

These sessions can be purchased outside the EHCP+ allocation.

 

Contact the EHCP+ Team 

For support, questions or booking help, please contact: 

📧 Ehcpplus@milton-keynes.gov.uk