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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:

Original poster

JoMaman · 13/02/2011 23:35

Thanks for all the advice - I've booked elvedon... Went for end of march as all the april ones were £££!

OP posts:

Eveiebaby · 13/02/2011 23:37

Brilliant - It's nice to have something to look foward to - hope you all enjoy it!

EllenJane1 · 14/02/2011 00:24

We've been to Sherwood or Longleat every year for 10 years, even before DX. I'd recommend going term time and mid week so the pool is less busy. No-one has even seemed to notice DS2 is ASD!

amberlight · 14/02/2011 08:40

Been to three of the UK ones - brilliant! Not cheap, but so relaxing and much safer than many other options (provided you don't have a runner who likes leaping into ponds, lakes and streams but isn't a good swimmer... (not that this reminds me of my ds when he was younger at all )

MarioandLuigi · 14/02/2011 13:17

For those of you that have been to more than one, are they very similar?

amberlight · 14/02/2011 14:16

Longleat is hugely hilly, the others seem flatter. Apart from that, they're very very similar indeed.

EllenJane1 · 14/02/2011 14:37

Longleat has a whole large section of mainly cheaper accommodation way over on the far side from the pool. To walk or cycle involves a large hill down then up the other side. There is a land train every 20 mins or so. The side nearer the pool is much easier, but tends to be more expensive for obvious reasons. In Sherwood everything seemed much closer, more central. Can't comment on Elveden, but I do remember the fire on the news...

waitingforgodot · 14/02/2011 15:08

can i ask a question about the locks? Silly I know but DS has a habit of opening doors if he can. A lot of hotel rooms can be opened from the inside by just pushing the handle down. This is a disaster where our little houdini is concerned. Can anyone remember what the locks are like at Whinfell?

MarioandLuigi · 14/02/2011 15:13

They are key locks in Sherwood - dont know if they are the same in Whinfell though (so not very helpful, sorry)

growlybear · 14/02/2011 15:36

There are key locks at longleat and elveden

waitingforgodot · 14/02/2011 17:02

thanks guys. Anyone been to whinfell?

Eveiebaby · 14/02/2011 19:34

Probably doesn't help but at Longleat and Elveden they have key locks which you can double lock.

EllenJane1 · 15/02/2011 00:08

Longleat and Sherwood (so probably Elvedon, also) have large, heavy patio doors which are latch locked only from the inside so DC could escape through them, if quite strong. Whinfell used to be Oasis before Center Parcs took over so accommodation is different.

LifeInTheSlowLane · 15/02/2011 09:53

I've been to Elveden and Longleat. Longleat is quite hilly and more spread out, as others have said. Elveden is flat and everything is nearer which for us made life easier. You do need to be careful where you stay - some of the accommodation is v.close to the lake so you need to keep an eye on your DCs if they are likely to wander off! Mine loved being able to feed to ducks and squirrels which came begging for food at the patio doors each morning, we even had rabbits that would come for a bit of carrot!

It can get very busy on arrival and departure days so if that bothers your DCs, I'd try to arrive/leave early or after the 2-3pm rush. Or book activities on those days so you are not mingling with the hoards(sp?)! Also the pool is quieter around teatime, 6pm ish so that's quite a nice time to go.

loulou77 · 15/02/2011 19:30

They do the Tarzan thing at Longleat too!

Would agree with everyone that it can be costly if you don't take your food with you, but we've always had a good time.

Fedupandfuming · 15/02/2011 23:17

I so agree with EllenJane...it was the weirdest thing when we last went to Elveden in August, we were more relaxed about DS1 and his autism than we've ever been before! It's such a relaxed and supportive environment that I never even felt a flicker of embarrassment or self-consciousness re his mannerisms etc (which shamefully is pretty rare for me). Yes, v strange but absolutely wonderful

EllenJane1 · 15/02/2011 23:42

We were at Longleat weekend before last. Weekends always seem busier than midweek. Less time so pool always busy even at 6 or 7 in evening. My 11 yr old DS2 loves the rapids and will do them 30 times. Good job he can now swim as we can't keep up with him. Always lots of lifeguards about. Good supermarket on site and enough restaurants to find something he'll eat at least once.

Just seems to be getting busier and busier. They keep adding accommodation but the pool gets no bigger. It's fine if the weather is good otherwise indoor bits get very crowded. We always go out of season to coincide with insets etc in winter but may be better in spring or autumn.

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