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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

center parcs?

42 replies

JoMaman · 12/02/2011 19:50

Has anyone been to center parcs with their SN children? We're thinking of taking a week off at Easter to take a breather from the endless rollercoaster of assessments, diagnostic tests, intensive therapies and battling for provision... but don't know where to go. We think staying in UK would be best as ds1 is on gfcf diet plus he only eats puree and at least we know where to buy stuff here. Ds2 is only 1 so we would need it to have stuff to do for young families, and center parcs seems like a good idea - any views or other suggestions? Ds1 has autism and GDD... thanks in advance

OP posts:

Marne · 12/02/2011 19:58

I havn't been but a lot of people have told me 'its very good for sn children' and a friend took her dc's (one with adhd and asd) and seemed to like it.

amistillsexy · 12/02/2011 19:58

We went last year when we had had enough of all the 'input'. We had the most fantastic time. It is great to be able to 'roam free' without worrying about traffic too much (although it seems some people are allowed to drive there now .
I was determined not to cook but we couldn't afford the hassle of taking DS1 with his asd to restaurants, so I raded the 'short dated' section of the supermarkets for a couple of weeks beforehand, stacked everything into the freezer and then took the whole lot (plus a massive sack of cous cous! ) with us. It was the easiest weekend's cooking I've ever had! .

In fact, the kids keep begging me to take them again...I wonder if I could sell a kidney before half term?

tibni · 12/02/2011 20:01

We did centre parcs for ds (severe ASD) 6th birthday.

Overall we had a good time. Ds couldn't cope with the pool at night (lighting and sensory issues) and was too young and severe to do some of the activities but the place had a calm vibe and he loved the jacuzzi bath!

It was the first place we let ds walk without holding hands (no sense of danger and a runner) and he loved his "car" (the trailer on the back of the bike).

As a family we needed a break and this was a good place to go. It was expensive and we tend to go different places now (with boundaries and gates) but we did enjoy centre parcs.

silverfrog · 12/02/2011 20:03

yes, we have been a few times.

it is great. lots of outdoor space, great for tiring out energetic children

ime, they are also great at teh activities too. very understanding of differences, and really do their best to be inclusive (I haven;t left dd1 at a kids club since she was a toddler, I always stat with ehr - she is 6.6)

when we go, I tendo tbatch cook beofrehand (we have dietary issues, so can't eat in restaurants that easily), and take the lot frozen, so can just reheat with a bit of pasta/rice.

the swimming pools are ace, and it is lovely at Christmas time (although a bit of a wait fo rthat now )

growlybear · 12/02/2011 20:04

Absolutley fantastic we go every year.Brilliant because dd who has profound disability uses the disabled bikes and loves swimming as its nice and warm in the water.Her brother can do do whatever he likes.He is the adventurous type.So everyone is happy.

Machakos · 12/02/2011 20:05

You could try talking to the school and asking if you could go during term time, using the fact that your DCs need less busy times when on holiday. Should count as extenuating circumstances.

growlybear · 12/02/2011 20:07

i forgot our daughter only does purree we just batch cook before we go.Or you could take a blender with you.

Eveiebaby · 12/02/2011 20:14

We have been to Centerparcs a lot (DD 4.8 ASD diagnosis). The pool is great but activities/restaurants can be busy-ish during holiday times. DD does not have any problems with noise or crowds so it is not so much of an issue for us. The accommodation is nicely laid out with a certain degree of privacy and you can usually find a quiet area of woodland to walk around even in busy times. Not sure how old your DS is but DD loves the trailer that attaches to the bikes - I think they can be used up until 5/6 years of age may depend on the weight of the child.

lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs · 12/02/2011 20:56

We go every year with dds who both have ASD. They love it. They get worn out during the day and sleep well. Apartments are well equipped and plenty of space.
My girls love the pool, the park, the soft play at restaurant and the tennis. We don't use the childrens club because dd1 won't leave us and I don't trust they could handle dd2!
We go out of school holidays so not as busy :)

amistillsexy · 12/02/2011 21:18

Forgot to say we went during school time as well as less expensive. At the weekend though, and fully booked! Also bumped into two other families from our (small!) school, who had come independently of each other, so don't know what school made of it!

DS1 (ASD Dx) refused to go to the events, but was very when DS2 went to a pirate party that he'd refused and had a whale of a time, coming out laden with cool piratey toys!

Some of the activities are a bit of a rip off, though. I felt sorry for DS3 who was only 1 at the time, and booked onto a couple of the baby things, but tbh I could have done them myself in the chalet, and he fed all the way through anyway!

We never got to the pool at night-kids were all in bed by 7 as tuckered out!

Fedupandfuming · 12/02/2011 21:28

We go every year too, it's one of the only places on earth where we can all have a great time, and a decent break! The fact that it's self catering is v helpful, and all the kids adore being in the forest and getting around by bike. They love the pool too, and DD and DS2 can do so many different activities every time we go.

Best of all for us is that the kids club offers free 1 to 1 for SN kids, and DS1 really enjoys his time in there. The woman who was allocated to watch him
last time was actually the mother of an ASD child herself, which was v reassuring. It's just great that we can rotate the kids in the club, so we can spend time with 1 or 2 of them at a time, giving them special time.

And if I'm really lucky, I get to have a 3hr session in the spa there while DH babysits. That alone is worth the trip

newname0601 · 12/02/2011 21:50

We've been a few times. We've been really pleased with the kids club. We left ds there twice and they automatically gave him 1:1 (I had to say when I booked). The activities are very inclusive and they have so much time for all the children. Our only problem with it is their own vehicles are electric and nearly silent, not great with a deaf child who is also a runner. DS is on a very restricted diet and I just precooked everything and took it all with me and was just having to heat things up or cook a few potatoes and veg. Always an easy week on the cooking. We couldn't possibly eat out with ds. We struggle in the swimming pool because of the deafness and his persistance to get underwater and stay there so we have to allocate 1 adult to him and we take it in turns to have that full responsibility whilst the other has a break. We've also been with friends and gave each other a child free morning / afternoon. Our friends are ones who we totally trust and who totally understand ds and can communicate with him. Such good holidays .

Agnesdipesto · 12/02/2011 22:01

DS loves it. He is an adrenaline junkie and a big water slide fan. We have done Whinfell - the toddler slides there were a bit tricky as you had to go up the steps to the top of the slide then run back down (via lots of waiting kids) to catch him at the bottom - but they let him go on my other kids knee. If I did not go to the top of the slide he could wander off elsewhere - so 2 adults would be a bonus. More recently we went to Sherwood and again loved that esp as now big enough to go on faster slides.

All our kids love it. But if you can take an extra adult with you that helps as it can be hard to keep track of them.

Also in winter while the water is ok temperature wise if you are just stood around watching kids (and can't swim much) it can get cold so we wear wetsuits or jackets. That way the kids can stay in for hours and if I am just stood around in knee high water it does not matter. In summer they tend to be warm as its a glass roof.

You can take your own food into the pool areas - lots of tables and chairs dotted around. I think we took the pushchair right in by the pool too.

Go out of school hols if you can its crazy money for school holidays. DS likes the bike trailers as well.

Agnesdipesto · 12/02/2011 22:03

Oh and try and get an evening in the spa. If you just go in the evening and don't have treatments its not expensive I went from 6-9 or something and was a real treat

Original poster

JoMaman · 12/02/2011 22:45

Wow - know what I'm doing tomorrow now - am going to book it! Thanks ladies x

OP posts:

lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs · 12/02/2011 23:26

Which one? I always take my parents, the extra hands are great and means me and dh get an evening at spa.

Spinkle · 13/02/2011 09:29

Darn.

We had decided to be all sensible and save up for some double glazing instead of a holiday.

Now I've read all this I am yearning to go. We've been 4 times.

Found a great price for a posh villa too. We restricted to school hols because of the job.

Hmmm........

Spinkle · 13/02/2011 09:29

We've been to Longleat and Elveden.

I really liked Longleat but Elveden is closer.

Fedupandfuming · 13/02/2011 11:04

We've been to Longleat but then tried Elveden and much preferred it. Horses for courses, but it's a lot smaller, so you can walk/ cycle everywhere and there's no need to watch out for the land trains that are going round.

Also the facilities seem a lot newer and cleaner (think there was a huge refurb after a fire there 10 yrs or so ago) and it's less busy, even in school hols. Longleat just seems like the main center parcs hub and so most people head there and it can seem a little crazy in peak periods.

superfantastic · 13/02/2011 11:48

Were really close to Sherwood....I really want to go now!

mole1 · 13/02/2011 13:54

We've been once with dd2 who has severe learning disabilities, including limited mobility. Found getting around difficult as the land train was not geared up to wheelchairs. You are only allowed to have your car parked at your villa if the driver has a blue badge, not one of your passengers. Otherwise it was very peaceful, beautiful wooded setting and was a lovely break. You can self-cater for the whole weekend, the restaurants and activities are pretty costly.

NorthernSky · 13/02/2011 15:19

This reply has been deleted

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lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs · 13/02/2011 15:21

thats terrible mole!! having said that, when we went to book our 4th visit this year we cant take Dads car, he has a blue badge, unless we are willing to pay an extra £120 because they only do parking at certain villas

MarioandLuigi · 13/02/2011 15:32

We have been three times now and are off again in three weeks. We love it and always have a great time, especially DS2 (ASD) who loved being able to roam free.

The only problem we have had is that in the pool area they sound a tarzan style shout when they are about to put on the wave machine which DS doesnt like (this is at Sherwood, dont know if its the same everywhere else).

growlybear · 13/02/2011 15:43

We go to elveden its a lot flatter especially if you have wheelchair of buggy.You can park outside in the villa if you have adapted accomodation otherwise it is just if the driver has a blue badge.

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