Haringey Council has approved a new open framework for short breaks services for disabled children and young people — the decision was made at Cabinet Member Signing on 15 October 2025, and the framework commences 1 November 2025.

This brings new after-school, weekend, holiday and outreach activity contracts into place and may create fresh or restructured transport needs for short-break activities outside normal school hours.

Quick facts

  • Decision date: 15 October 2025.
  • Framework start: 1 November 2025.
  • Scope / Lots: After-school, weekend, holiday, outreach and other short-breaks.
  • Initial term: 4 years with options to extend (up to 2+2 years).
  • Travel: Transport is not automatically provided for short breaks, though some providers include transport as part of their offer – families should check with each provider. Haringey runs travel-training and “travel buddy” schemes to support independence.

Why this matters for SEND transport

Short breaks are usually scheduled outside school hours (evenings, weekends, holidays). As the new framework rolls out, providers and commissioners will deliver a wider range of activities – this can change when, where and how children need to travel.

Expect:

  • more trips at evenings/weekends and during school holidays;
  • varying pick-up/drop-off locations (community venues, residential and outreach locations);
  • a mix of providers who do or do not include transport in their service packages.

Practical checklist – for transport operators and providers

  1. Monitor the framework onboarding – identify which providers and lots are active and where their sessions will run.
  2. Offer flexible availability for evenings, weekends and holiday windows – these are core short-break times.
  3. Confirm whether a provider includes transport in their offer before quoting families – if not, present tailored options (shared minibuses, bespoke bookings, travel buddies).
  4. Plan accessible, specialist transport (wheelchair access, trained escorts, medical equipment storage) for complex needs.
  5. Engage commissioners and providers early to become an approved supplier or to form partnerships when the framework re-opens (the framework will be re-opened periodically so new entrants can apply).
  6. Build travel-training and independence support into offers (partner with local travel-buddy schemes) to reduce long-term reliance on escorted travel.

Practical checklist — for families

  • Ask your short-break provider whether transport is included and how children are collected/returned.
  • Check personal budgets / direct payments — these can be used to fund transport to short-breaks if transport isn’t included.
  • If you want independence development, look into travel training / travel buddying for holiday schemes.

Opportunities for operators

The framework creates procurement and partnership opportunities:

  • providers who offer reliable, inclusive transport may be more attractive partners to short-break providers;
  • there will be recurring demand during term-time evenings and across holiday seasons;
  • the framework is open and will be re-opened 12–18 months after establishment (and periodically thereafter), giving new providers a route to join.

Where to find more detail

Full Cabinet Member report (award and contract details) and the Haringey Short Breaks Statement (eligibility, types of short breaks, travel assistance and personal budgets) are the primary sources for these changes.

Find more details here and here.

Let Jimac Cars provide safe and reliable transport for families and young people with SEND transport, making every journey easier and stress-free.