Life Outside of School
At Discovery, we believe in providing our children with a wide range of enriching extracurricular opportunities. However, we also recognise the important role that spending quality time with family and loved ones plays in a young person’s social development, confidence and wellbeing.
Sharing experiences, trying new things and making memories together can be just as valuable as the opportunities we offer in school. With this in mind, we have put together a collection of activities, groups and experiences available across Sheffield and the surrounding areas for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and their families.
We hope this resource helps you discover new opportunities to enjoy together, make lasting memories and have fun as a family.
Sports and Movement
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ACCT football |
7–17
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Specialist football sessions |
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Sheffield Mencap Sports Stars |
5–17 |
Sports activities with different ability levels |
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Sheffield Mencap Kids Fitness |
5–17 |
Boccia, dance and team games |
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Hillsborough Hornets Disability Football |
5–18 |
Specialist disability football |
https://sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk/information/leisure/ |
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Derek Dooley Disability Football Club |
Under 14 |
Specialist club |
https://sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk/information/leisure/ |
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Little Nippers Football |
3–18 |
Coaching adapted to individual needs |
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Sheffield FC Inclusive |
Children through adults |
Non-competitive inclusive football |
https://sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk/information/leisure/ |
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SCWIDS Disability Swimming |
5+ |
Family-oriented disability swimming |
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Graves Disability Swimming |
5+ |
Accessible changing and pool hoist |
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All Inc Trampolining |
5+ |
Trained coaches and adapted sessions |
https://sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk/information/leisure/ |
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Inclusive trampolining – Hillsborough Leisure Centre |
4–15 |
Inclusive coached course |
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Sheffield Lightning Athletics Club |
8+ |
Autism/ADHD and associated disabilities; siblings may join |
https://sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk/information/leisure/ |
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Steel City Sports |
Children/young people |
Inclusive coaching |
https://sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk/information/leisure/ |
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Cycle Happy |
Check with provider |
Cycling for people with learning disabilities |
https://sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk/information/leisure/ |
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Sheffield Cycling 4 All |
Adults |
Cycling for adults with additional needs |
https://sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk/information/leisure/ |
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Meadowhall – Jump Inc SEN sessions |
Check with provider |
Music reduced/off and disco lights removed/reduced |
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Ability Counts Football |
8–16 |
Specialist football sessions |
https://rotherhamsendlocaloffer.org.uk/send-directory/send-groups/ |
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Jump Inc Rotherham SEN sessions |
Check with provider |
Reduced numbers, music off and reduced lighting |
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A Fighting Chance Boxing |
11–17 |
Designed around anxiety, emotional regulation and sensory sensitivity; quiet area |
https://rotherhamsendlocaloffer.org.uk/send-directory/send-groups/ |
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Chesterfield autism-friendly swimming lessons |
Children; check age range |
Calmer lessons with instructors supporting additional needs; 1:1 lessons |
Outdoors & Adventure
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Climbing for All – The Foundry |
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Climbing for disabled participants |
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Underwhelming Adventures |
6–25 |
Indoor and outdoor inclusive sessions |
https://rotherhamsendlocaloffer.org.uk/send-directory/send-groups/ |
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Ladybower Fisheries |
All ages
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Accessible fishing facilities/boat or pontoon |
https://sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk/information/leisure/ |
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Cycle Happy |
All ages
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Cycling for people with learning disabilities |
https://sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk/information/leisure/ |
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Whirlow Hall Farm |
All ages |
Animals, outdoor space and seasonal activities; accessibility information available |
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Heeley City Farm |
All ages |
Animals, gardens, café; Changing Places |
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Meadowhall – Rock Up SEN sessions |
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Reduced numbers and music off |
Sensory & Soft Play
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Concord Sports Centre sensory room |
Up to 15 |
Private hourly sessions |
https://sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk/information/leisure/sensory-rooms-in-sheffield/ |
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Sheffield Mencap sensory room
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Check with provider |
Sensory room |
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Norfolk Park TARA sensory room |
Families |
Sensory room; donations |
https://sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk/information/leisure/sensory-rooms-in-sheffield/ |
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Sam's Space |
School-age children; check current range
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Quiet sessions, sensory room and limited family numbers |
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Alive sensory room – Paces Campus |
Check with provider |
Sensory room available for hire |
https://sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk/information/leisure/sensory-rooms-in-sheffield/ |
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Sheffield Family Hubs sensory spaces |
Families; not early-years-only listing |
Free sensory spaces at several Family Hubs |
https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/young-people-families/family-parent-hubs/events-groups |
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Play Valley Sheffield – SEND session |
Children |
Quieter, more relaxed session; diagnosis ly not required |
https://bookings.playvalley.co.uk/book/book-our-special-educational-needs-play-session/221 |
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Play Valley Dinnington – SEND session |
Children |
SEND session ; confirm branch-specific offer |
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Tiny Town |
Children |
Limited numbers and calmer term-time sessions; SEND welcome |
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Runaround Soft Play – SEN provision |
Children |
Dedicated SEN area and quieter midweek periods |
Cinema, theatre, arts & crafts
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Sheffield Mencap Social Stars |
5–17 |
Arts and crafts, storytelling and board games |
https://www.sheffieldmencap.org.uk/childrens-services/socialstars/ |
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The Light Sheffield – relaxed cinema |
All ages; check film |
Reduced sound, partial lighting, no trailers/adverts and movement allowed |
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Vue Meadowhall – autism-friendly cinema |
All ages; check film |
Reduced sound/low lighting and movement allowed |
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Cineworld Sheffield – autism-friendly screenings |
All ages; check film |
Relaxed screening format |
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ODEON Sheffield – autism-friendly screenings |
All ages; check film |
Relaxed screening format |
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Sheffield Theatres – relaxed performances |
Varies by show |
Reduced effects, low auditorium lighting, quiet area and freedom to move |
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A Mind Apart |
5+ |
Drama, dance, singing, creative wellbeing and holiday clubs |
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Greentop Spectrum Circus |
4–12 |
Small groups, child-led pace, low lighting and no music |
https://www.greentop.org/project/spectrum-circus-autism-friendly-classes/ |
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Flycheese Studio |
Young people/adults; check current range |
Animation, game design, film, photography and digital art; neurodivergent-friendly provision |
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Sheffield Mencap – Social Stars |
5–17 |
Arts/crafts, storytelling and board games |
https://www.sheffieldmencap.org.uk/childrens-services/socialstars/ |
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Chesterfield FC Community Trust – Pan-Crafts |
Children/young people; check range |
Relaxed crafts, sensory play and social interaction |
clubs & visits
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ACCTivate |
5–12 |
Games, Lego, computers, art, outdoor play and sensory room |
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ACCT Teenage Club |
Teenagers (check current range) |
Social activities and sensory space |
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ACCTing Out |
18–25 |
Activities for young adults |
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Sheffield Mencap Gateway Youth Club |
5–17 |
Social club; siblings may be welcome |
https://www.sheffieldmencap.org.uk/childrens-services/gateway-youth-club/ |
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Sheffield Mencap Social Stars |
5–17 |
Arts and crafts, storytelling and board games |
https://www.sheffieldmencap.org.uk/childrens-services/socialstars/ |
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National Emergency Services Museum |
All ages |
Sensory map, sensory backpacks and visual story |
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Sheffield Museums – Weston Park Museum |
All ages |
Visual stories; SEND workshops and possible closed-day exclusive visits |
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Sheffield Mencap – Social Stars |
5–17 |
Arts/crafts, storytelling and board games |
https://www.sheffieldmencap.org.uk/childrens-services/socialstars/ |
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Spectrum Gaming |
10–17 |
Online Minecraft, moderated community and events |
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Meadowhall Quiet Hour |
All ages |
Tuesday 10–11am; music and tannoy announcements reduced/avoided |
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ACCT Minecraft / D&D |
Teens/young adults; check current range |
Minecraft and Dungeons & Dragons groups |
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Leo's SEND Club |
13–25 |
Youth activities and trips |
https://www.sheffielddirectory.org.uk/localoffer/things-to-do/holiday-activities-and-clubs/ |
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S Club 5 SEND |
13–25 |
Youth activities and trips |
https://www.sheffielddirectory.org.uk/localoffer/things-to-do/holiday-activities-and-clubs/ |
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JADE SEND Youth Club |
Up to 25 |
Sensory room and sensory tents |
https://rotherhamsendlocaloffer.org.uk/send-directory/send-groups/ |
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Rotherham SEND Youth Club |
12–17 |
Games, social time, workshops and confidence-building |
https://rotherhamsendlocaloffer.org.uk/send-directory/send-groups/ |
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Rotherham SEND After-School Club |
7–12 |
Free play, creative activities and gentle life-skills work |
https://rotherhamsendlocaloffer.org.uk/send-directory/send-groups/ |
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PL Kicks Disability Youth Club |
8–11 and 11–18 |
Football/youth activities |
https://rotherhamsendlocaloffer.org.uk/send-directory/send-groups/ |
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MyLife Day Service |
8–18 |
Cooking, music, dance, art, sewing, games and community visits |
https://rotherhamsendlocaloffer.org.uk/send-directory/send-groups/ |
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YMCA Barnsley – TYI |
8–13 |
Gaming, Lego, sport, cooking, bushcraft, drama, music and crafts |
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Barnsley Targeted Youth Support SEND |
8–24 |
Targeted sessions and youth support |
https://barnsley.cloud.servelec-synergy.com/Synergy/Local_Offer/TargetedYouthSupportSEND.aspx |
If you know of any wonderful opportunities / venues that we could add to our list please do share by emailing Miss Meyrick: kmeyrick@nexusmat.org