Children and young people with SEND news

Oldham Council has agreed to keep paying POINT, the local charity that runs play sessions and weekend breaks for children with special needs, for another two years. The decision, taken on 28 November, means families who rely on these short breaks to catch their breath will not see the service stop when the current deal ends.

POINT's workers take children with autism, learning disabilities and complex health needs to swimming lessons, soft-play centres and youth clubs while parents get a few hours to shop, rest or spend time with siblings. Without the extension, many parents feared they would be back to round-the-clock care with no formal help.

Council papers do not spell out the exact sum involved, but officers describe the contract as 'vital funding' that had to be secured quickly to avoid a gap in provision. The charity currently supports several hundred families across the borough, though precise numbers were not released.

The move comes while the council is still re-designing its wider special-needs support after a tough Ofsted inspection last year. Leaders say keeping POINT in place gives them breathing space to finish that bigger review without unsettling parents who already feel stretched.