Cumberland SEND Partnership

24/08/2026

🌞The Cumberland Neurodiversity and Emotional Wellbeing Service Social Media Summer Takeover continues! 🌞

🌳The Barnardo’s 5-4-3-2-1 Nature Challenge 🌲

https://educators-barnardos.org.uk/uploads/grounding-exercise-2.pdf

Spending time outdoors can help children slow down and regulate their emotions. Challenge children to identify five things they can see, four they can touch, three they can hear, two they can smell and one they can taste safely.

This simple grounding activity encourages children to engage with their environment, develop mindfulness skills, and can help reduce feelings of stress, anxiety or overwhelm while supporting emotional wellbeing.

You could try it at:

Room on the Broom trail at Whinlatter Forest | Forestry England: https://www.forestryengland.uk/whinlatter-forest/room-on-the-broom

For further information, advice and guidance on a range of other topics, please visit the Cumberland Neurodiversity Service's Digital Offer.

For further information, advice and guidance on a range of other topics, please visit the Cumberland Neurodiversity Service's Digital Offer: https://cumberlandfamilyhubs.org.uk/neurodiversity-and-emotional-wellbeing

11/08/2026

🌞The Cumberland Neurodiversity and Emotional Wellbeing Service Social Media Summer Takeover continues! 🌞

Parents can find the long summer school holidays a stressful period, often juggling childcare and work, and coming up with activities to keep the children entertained. In amongst all this, it is so important to remember to look after your own wellbeing.

Check out the Best for You guide on Ways to Wellbeing: https://bestforyou.org.uk/guides/self-care-and-wellbeing/five-ways-to-wellbeing/

The 5 ways outlined are:

🫂Connection

🏃Being Active

🧠 Learning

👀 Noticing

🎁 Giving

A catch-up with a friend, having a dance to the radio in the kitchen or going for a short walk, spending a few minutes doing a new type of puzzle e.g. Wordle, Waffle or Nerdle, noticing what is going on e.g. what do you see, smell, hear, taste or touch when you are out for a walk, and doing a random act of kindness such making a food bank donation are all great examples of activities you can do to practice self-care and build your resilience over the summer months!

For further information, advice and guidance on a range of other topics, please visit the Cumberland Neurodiversity Service's Digital Offer: https://cumberlandfamilyhubs.org.uk/neurodiversity-and-emotional-wellbeing

Explore the five ways to wellbeing, evidence‑based actions that can help in flexible, everyday ways.

11/08/2026

09/08/2026

❓What matters most to young people in Cumberland? ❓

This survey is available for children and young people with SEND up to the age of 25 to complete - get your views heard! 📣

Make sure your child's voice is heard! 📣

What matters most to young people in Cumberland? What would they like to see more of in their communities?

We're asking children and young people to share their views through the Cumberland Youth Matter survey. Their feedback will help shape services, activities and opportunities for young people across the area.

If you're a parent or carer, please take a moment to share the survey with your child and encourage them to get involved. It only takes a few minutes, but their opinions could make a real difference.
👉 Complete the survey here: https://consult.cumberland.gov.uk/cumberland-youth-matter

06/08/2026

➡ Introducing our new Cumberland Local Offer Rolling Survey.

📈 This survey will remain open on a rolling basis to gather feedback from Cumberland families when they would like to provide it, and on the topics that matter most to them. We are asking families for their feedback on the Local Offer website, as well as any SEND services they would like to provide feedback on: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/XceJGruBGn

We will review the responses to this survey regularly and keep families informed on how we are actioning feedback through our newsletters and our 'You said, We're Listening' pages on the Local Offer.

05/08/2026

🌞The Cumberland Neurodiversity and Emotional Wellbeing Service Social Media Summer Takeover continues! 🌞

🚽Toileting can be a sensitive area for children and young people with additional needs, including those who are neurodivergent. Learning, sensory processing, communication and routines can all affect bowel, bladder and toileting needs. 🧻

ERIC has useful advice for families, including guidance on toileting for children with additional needs: https://eric.org.uk/children-with-additional-needs/

They also have the Pants4School training programme:https://eric.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/12096-Pants4School-Training-Programme_v4.pdf

Local information is also available through the Cumberland Family Hub’s bowel and bladder support pages: https://cumberlandfamilyhubs.org.uk/neurodiversity-and-emotional-wellbeing/physical-wellbeing/bladder-and-bowel

If you are worried about your child’s bowel, bladder or toileting needs, please also seek advice from your GP or another health professional.

For further information, advice and guidance on a range of other topics, please visit the Cumberland Neurodiversity Service's Digital Offer: https://cumberlandfamilyhubs.org.uk/neurodiversity-and-emotional-wellbeing

Home

30/07/2026

💭Research Opportunity - parent/ carers of children with EBSA 💭

❓Are you a parent or guardian supporting a child who struggles to attend school due to Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA) and is enrolled in a mainstream primary school in Cumbria? ❓

The University of Cumbria are conducting a research study exploring parental lived experiences of supporting children with Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA). Your insights will help contribute to research on this under explored area, helping to improve our understanding of what life is like and what might support families like yours.

EBSA is currently not recognised as a clinical diagnosis. For the purpose of consistency and clarity, this study has elected to use the following definition of EBSA.

A child is considered to have EBSA if:

➡ They are persistently absent from school (over 10% of school days missed)
➡ This absence is due to emotional distress and/or anxiety, and not related to other unauthorised absence reasoning such as illness, holiday etc.
➡ They exhibit behaviours related to emotional distress and/or anxiety regarding school. This will look different for every child, however, may include:
➡ Excessive crying,
➡Saying they feel sick when they otherwise appear to be well
➡ Refusing to get out of bed on school days
➡ Refusing to get ready for school
➡ Refusing to leave the house
➡ Refusal to get in and/or leave the car
➡ Aggressive outbursts


These are only examples, and a child does not have to exhibit all these behaviours.

💭 What participation involves:

➡ An approximate 1-hour semi-structured interview (online, on Microsoft Teams).
➡ Sharing your experiences, challenges, and perspectives as a parent/ carer on EBSA.
➡ Discussing what you think could help you and your family.


💭Who can take part:

➡ Parents/guardians of children aged between 5-11 years of age, enrolled in mainstream primary schools across Cumbria experiencing EBSA.

❗️Please note: The researcher, Steph, is employed by Cumberland Council and is currently on a secondment within the Education, SEND and Inclusion department. This research project, however, is conducted in her capacity as an independent researcher, not as part of her operational role within the Council. While the study is funded by the Cumberland Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), the research process including recruitment, data collection, analysis, and interpretation is carried out independently from her line-management structure and day-to-day responsibilities.

The findings of the study only may be shared with Cumberland Council to inform strategic learning, but no identifiable information about participants will be shared, and Steph’s employment position will not influence how data are collected, analysed, or reported.

Taking part in this study is completely voluntary. Choosing to participate (or choosing not to participate) will have no impact whatsoever on any current or future services you receive from Cumberland Council. Your decision will not be shared with Council staff involved in service delivery, and it will not affect your relationship with the Council in any way.

Find out more about the research and how to participate here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/5vJrFriduk

Any questions can also be sent to [email protected]

30/07/2026

🌞The Cumberland Neurodiversity and Emotional Wellbeing Service Social Media Summer Takeover continues! 🌞

🍧Sun Safety for Children with Autism ⛱️

Summer can be a challenging time for autistic children and young people, as sensory sensitivities, routines and personal preferences can make standard sun safety advice harder to follow. Family Action has created a practical guide packed with helpful tips and strategies to support families in keeping children safe, comfortable and protected in the sun this summer: https://family-action.org.uk/self-help/sun-safety-for-children-with-autism/

For further information, advice and guidance on a range of other topics, please visit the Cumberland Neurodiversity Service's Digital Offer.

For further information, advice and guidance on a range of other topics, please visit the Cumberland Neurodiversity Service's Digital Offer: https://cumberlandfamilyhubs.org.uk/neurodiversity-and...

We will also remain open and available to continue supporting you through our support service.

💡If you have any ideas of things you’d like to see, drop a comment and we’ll have a dig for resources that might be useful!

❗Remember not to comment any personal info as we can’t reply to these and they will be public.
Please note, Cumberland Council does not officially endorse any of the published organisations and the resources shared are for information and guidance purposes only. Make sure that you fully consider whether the information shared is suitable for you and your family. See less

We’re looking at some of the potential struggles parents face and some ways to tackle sun safety for children with autism.

28/07/2026

🌞The Cumberland Neurodiversity and Emotional Wellbeing Service Social Media Summer Takeover continues! 🌞

VAT is being reduced from 20% to 5% on family days out from 25 June – 1 September 2026, right across the UK!

From cinema and theatre tickets to attractions, and children's meals out there are lots of local options to enjoy. Find out more here: https://summersavings.gov.uk/

Children aged 5-15 will also be able to travel free on buses throughout August.

For further information, advice and guidance on a range of other topics, please visit the Cumberland Neurodiversity Service's Digital Offer.

Discounted family days out and meals near you this summer.

23/07/2026

🌞The Cumberland Neurodiversity and Emotional Wellbeing Service Social Media Summer Takeover continues! 🌞

📆 This time we are sharing a resource on supporting neurodivergent children with routines in the holidays.

🌤️The summer holidays can be an enjoyable time, but changes to routine can be challenging for some neurodivergent children and young people. The Witherslack Group has created a helpful guide with practical advice on maintaining routines, using visual supports, preparing for activities and building flexibility into the day: https://www.witherslackgroup.co.uk/advice-and-support/resources/supporting-neurodivergent-children-with-routines-in-the-holidays/

The article offers a range of simple strategies that families may find helpful in supporting wellbeing and reducing anxiety throughout the holiday period.

For further information, advice and guidance on a range of other topics, please visit the Cumberland Neurodiversity Service's Digital Offer: https://cumberlandfamilyhubs.org.uk/neurodiversity-and-emotional-wellbeing

We will also remain open and available to continue supporting you through our support service. https://cumberlandfamilyhubs.org.uk/neurodiversity-and-emotional-wellbeing/neurodiversity-and-emotional-wellbeing-service

💡If you have any ideas of things you’d like to see, drop a comment and we’ll have a dig for resources that might be useful!

❗Remember not to comment any personal info as we can’t reply to these and they will be public.









Please note, Cumberland Council does not officially endorse any of the published organisations and the resources shared are for information and guidance purposes only. Make sure that you fully consider whether the information shared is suitable for you and your family.