This week's roundup · Thu 29 Oct

Half-term ends, secondary applications close Sat 31 Oct, quieter fireworks in Salford this weekend, SEN Halloween party in Trafford Park

For families in and around Trafford, Fri 30 Oct to Thu 5 Nov. We list what we find, each with a link to whoever runs it. Details change, so check with the organiser before you go.

This weekend 27

Sat 31 Oct and Sun 1 Nov, with weekly sessions on those days. Weekly sessions can change in the holidays.

In Trafford 10

SEN Halloween Party, Adventure Forest, Trafford Park Trafford Park · Adventure Forest Play Centre Sun 1 Nov

Additional Needs Sessions, Emma's Sensory Room, move Urmston Urmston · move (Trafford Leisure) Every day, Several 50-minute sessions a day

Powerchair football, BeActive Urmston Urmston · Manchester United Foundation Every Thursday and Saturday, Thu 16:00–18:00; Sat 10:00–12:00

Saturday Challenge youth club, Gorse Hill Studios, Stretford Stretford · Gorse Hill Studios Every Saturday, 10:00–12:30

SEN Sessions, Inflata Nation Manchester, Trafford Park Trafford Park · Inflata Nation Manchester Every Sunday, 09:00–10:00

SEND Family Swim, Sale Leisure Centre Sale · Trafford Council: Best Start Family Hub Central Every Sunday, 12:30–13:15

SEND gymnastics drop-in, move Altrincham Altrincham · move (Trafford Leisure) Every Friday and Sunday, Fri 12:30, Sun 14:30; 16+: Fri 13:30

SEND swims, move Altrincham Altrincham · move (Trafford Leisure) Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, About an hour; times vary by day

Simply Cycling all-ability cycling, Altrincham & District Athletics Track, Timperley Timperley · Simply Cycling Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 45-minute sessions, on the hour

Simply Cycling all-ability cycling, Longford Park, Stretford Stretford · Simply Cycling Every Monday, Friday and Sunday, 45-minute sessions, on the hour

Within easy reach 12

Audio-described performance: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, Lowry Salford Quays · Lowry Sat 31 Oct, 10:00 (touch tour 09:00)

Little Sparks quieter fireworks display, Buile Hill Park Salford · Salford City Council Sat 31 Oct, 17:30

Syngap1 UK annual family conference, Seashell, Heald Green Cheadle · Syngap1 UK Sat 31 Oct, 09:00–17:00

Little Sparks quieter fireworks display, Prince's Park, Irlam Irlam · Salford City Council Sun 1 Nov, 17:30

Relaxed performance: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, Lowry Salford Quays · Lowry Sun 1 Nov, 12:30

ASD & Disability Session, Flip Out Manchester Manchester · Flip Out Manchester Every Sunday and Tuesday, Sun 10:00, Tue 18:00

Autisk Play Zone family drop-in, Adswood, Stockport Stockport · Autisk Date unconfirmed · Every Saturday, 10:00–13:00

Poynton Pedals for All accessible cycling, Middlewood Way, Poynton Poynton · Poynton Pedals for All Every Wednesday and Saturday, Wed from 11:00, Sat from 14:00

Saturday morning quiet time, Manchester Museum Manchester · Manchester Museum Every Saturday, 08:00–10:00

SEND Family Swim, Worsley Leisure Centre Worsley · Salford Community Leisure Every Sunday, 14:00–15:00

Wheelers accessible cycling, Woodbank Park, Stockport Stockport · Supportability Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Thu and Fri 10:30–13:00, Sat 13:00–15:30

Wheels for All Salford inclusive cycling, Cleavley Athletics Track, Eccles Eccles · Wheels for All Every Friday and Saturday, Fri 10:00–13:00, Sat 10:00–12:00

Worth a trip 4

Sensory screening: Room on the Broom, Ashton Library Ashton-under-Lyne · Tameside Libraries Sat 31 Oct, 13:00–13:45 Sold out

Aiming High drama group, The Met, Bury Bury · The Met, Bury Every Saturday, 09:30–14:45 (three age groups)

Oldham Ability Wheelz adapted cycling, Alexandra Park Oldham · Oldham Ability Wheelz Cycling Centre Every Tuesday and Sunday, Tue 10:00–15:00, Sun 10:00–13:00

Tameside Wheels for All adapted cycling, Tameside Cycle Circuit Ashton-under-Lyne · Tameside Wheels for All Every Monday, Thursday and Saturday, Mon and Thu 17:00–19:00, Sat 13:00–15:00

Online 1

Sibs Halloween art sessions for young siblings (online) Sibs Online Sat 31 Oct, 10:00–11:30 and 12:30–14:00

Book now 5

What the booking pages said when we checked: booking opening soon, selling fast or sold out.

Autism, stress and anxiety-related behaviour: online session for parents Greater Manchester Autism Consortium (National Autistic Society) Online Tue 3 Nov, 10:00–11:30 Sold out

Autism-friendly evening: Land of Lights at Gulliver's World, Warrington Warrington · The A World UK CIC Fri 6 Nov, 17:00–20:00 Sold out

Relaxed performance: Jack and the Beanstalk, The Met, Bury Bury · The Met, Bury Sun 13 Dec, 11:00 Selling fast

BSL-interpreted performance: Jack and the Beanstalk, The Met, Bury Bury · The Met, Bury Fri 18 Dec, 18:30 Selling fast

Relaxed performances: Pip and Posy, HOME Manchester · HOME Date unconfirmed · Wed 2 Jun 2027, 11:00 or 14:00 Booking opens Fri 30 Oct, 12:00

Dates and deadlines

Closing dates in the next six weeks, as the people responsible publish them. Expected dates are kept apart: they happen every year, but this year's date isn't published yet.

Secondary school applications for September 2027 close Trafford Council Closes Sat 31 Oct

Trafford SEND Week of Action Expected mid to late November · Last year 17–21 Nov 2025 · Not confirmed yet Trafford Council
Carers Rights Day Thu 19 Nov 2026 Carers UK

Just announced 31

Newly announced this week, however far ahead: relaxed and SEN sessions, access performances, groups and courses.

I AM Celebrating Autism: holiday activity, Stretford, 19 Dec Stretford · I AM Celebrating Autism in Greater Manchester Sat 19 Dec, 13:15–17:30

Light Night Wigan: relaxed hour in Mesnes Park Wigan · Light Night Wigan Fri 20 – Sun 22 Nov

Relaxed performance: A Christmas Carol, The Grange Theatre, Hartford Northwich · The Grange Theatre Sun 13 Dec, 15:00

PDA for Parents and Carers: PDA Society online course (February) PDA Society Online Tue 2 – Tue 9 Feb 2027, 10:00–12:45

Carefree hotel breaks for carers: online session, Carers UK Carers UK Online Tue 17 Nov, 14:00–15:00

Carers Rights Day Care for a Cuppa, online, Carers UK Carers UK Online Thu 19 Nov, 15:00–16:30

Evening Care for a Cuppa, online, Carers UK Carers UK Online Thu 19 Nov, 19:30–20:30

Clay workshop for neurodivergent young people, My:ND Space, Leigh Leigh · My:ND Space CIC Sat 21 Nov, 13:00–15:00

All 31 just announced

News 1

From official publishers, and from organisers about their own services, this week: their headline, the date and a link.

Trafford Family Hubs all set for an active autumn Trafford Council Published Tue 20 Oct

School calendar

October half-term 2026: Sat 24 Oct to Sun 1 Nov. Trafford Council's dates for community schools; academies and independent schools can differ.

Holidays and occasions

Sat 17 Oct to Sun 1 NovHalloween Dates not confirmed yetTrafford SEND Week of Action

Sat 24 Oct to Sun 1 NovOctober half-term 2026

Sat 31 Oct to Tue 10 NovBonfire Night and Diwali

Sat 14 Nov to Wed 6 Jan 2027Christmas

Who to ask

For information, advice and support about SEND, go to the people whose job it is.

Trafford Carers Centre Trafford
Trafford Family Information Service (FIS) Trafford
Trafford Neurodiversity Support Trafford
Trafford SEND Local Offer Trafford
Trafford SEND Short Breaks Trafford
Trafford SENDIASS Trafford
Contact National
IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) National

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