Free half-term sessions for families of children with SEND on 26 October at The King's Church. Booking opens 28 September, one ticket per family, ages 3 to 18.

Families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can book free places at two half-term sessions in Burgess Hill on Monday 26 October. Booking opens on Monday 28 September, and places must be reserved in advance.

The Family Fun Sessions are run by Burgess Hill Town Council and The King’s Church, and sponsored by The Budding Foundation. They mix activities for children with a room of support services that parents and carers can talk to. (Burgess Hill Town Council, 25 September 2026)

The details
Date Monday 26 October 2026, the first day of October half term
Times 12.30pm to 2pm, or 2.30pm to 4pm
Where The King’s Church, Burgess Hill
Cost Free
Ages 3 to 18
Tickets One per family, not one per person
Priority Families living in Burgess Hill and the surrounding villages

Source: Burgess Hill Town Council, Family Fun Sessions.

How to book

Booking opens on 28 September. There are three ways to do it:

Who will be there

These services will have people on hand for parents and carers:

  • Early Help, West Sussex County Council’s family support service
  • the NHS Oral Health team
  • West Sussex Talking Therapies
  • Carers Support

For the children, the council lists:

  • a reading by author Sally Simms from her Heartkin series, which the council describes as “capturing an autistic world in monster form”, with Makaton signs taught alongside by Makaton Jenny
  • a sand art activity run by Burgess Hill Youth, who will also talk about their Young Carers Fun Days
  • games and crafts from The King’s Church
  • an inflatable assault course
  • a giant train track from Trackmaster Sussex
  • an art activity for older children from Artist James of the Comic Club

“The Family Fun Sessions are about bringing information services and activities all to one room, to assist families of children with SEND,” said Town Mayor Stuart Condie.

Rules worth knowing before you go

The council’s event page sets out a few conditions:

  • Under-16s must be with a parent or carer the whole time.
  • Over-16s who can manage the room without support may attend on their own, but a responsible adult has to stay on site.
  • Staff cannot give any individual one-to-one support at the event.
  • Sally Simms will sign copies of her books, but the books will not be on sale at the sessions. The council says they can be bought beforehand.

How the last one went

The summer sessions were held on Wednesday 29 July. The council says 48 families came. Parents and carers met Carers Support West Sussex, the West Sussex Libraries SEND team, West Sussex Talking Therapies, and the county’s Early Help and Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) teams. (Burgess Hill Town Council)

What it means for you

If your child has SEND and you live in or near Burgess Hill, this is a free afternoon with something for the children and several support services in one room. Book early: tickets are limited to one per family and local families get priority.

For more on the week, including what else is on locally, see our guide to the Mid Sussex October half term.