How to Prepare Your Special Needs Child for Melbourne’s Spring School Holidays

Spring brings warmer days and a big change in routine. For many families, spring school holidays for special needs children can feel exciting and stressful at the same time. At Sensory Play Centre in Ravenhall, we know that a little planning goes a long way. With inclusive sensory play, we help children enjoy the break at their own pace.

Know What to Expect

In Victoria, the 2026 spring holidays run from Monday, 21 September, to Friday, 2 October, according to the Victorian Government. That is two weeks without the usual school structure. Planning ahead can make spring school holidays for special needs children feel far more manageable.

Talk to Your Child About the Break

Children often cope better when they know what is coming. Explain that school is pausing and what the days may look like. A simple countdown or picture calendar can help. Use short, positive words, and repeat the plan each morning.

Let the child make some choices. They might pick one activity for each day. Check in often, because feelings can change during a two-week break.

Keep Parts of the Routine

Amaze, Victoria’s autism peak body, suggests keeping familiar parts of the school-day routine. Small anchors can help. For example:

Keep wake-up times and meals steady
Use a visual calendar to show each day
Schedule regular sensory breaks
Talk through changes before they happen

These small anchors give children something steady to hold onto. They can make unstructured days feel safer.

Plan Sensory-Friendly Activities

Mix active days with calm ones. Too many busy outings can leave a child overwhelmed. We offer school holiday sensory programs for children aged 5 to 12 of all abilities. Our trained staff supervise activities, so parents can take a break.

Children can climb, swing, and explore hands-on sensory tasks in our sensory playground. Families can book single days or choose a multi-day pass. Our team can talk through which sessions may suit a child’s comfort level.

Prepare for Outings

Outings can be fun, but they can also be busy and loud. A little preparation helps. Try these ideas:

Choose quieter times of the day
Pack headphones or a favourite comfort item
Keep trips short, and end on a good note
Agree on a signal that means “I need a break”

Rest matters as much as activity. Quiet time at home is not wasted time. Plan a few slow days between busy ones so children can recharge.

Think About Siblings and Family

Holidays affect the whole family. Siblings may need attention too. Plan a few activities the whole family can enjoy, and leave time for each child to do something they love.

Sharing the plan with grandparents and other carers also helps. Everyone can then respond in the same calm, consistent way.

Sensory play area with soft balls and baby-friendly activities for young children — Age-appropriate play spaces give babies and young children opportunities to explore movement and sensory activities safely

Check Support Options Early

Some families use NDIS funding for holiday programs, depending on their plan. The NDIS explains that it may fund social and recreation supports linked to a participant’s disability support needs. Families can check their plan or ask us for help through our NDIS participant page.

Visit Us in Ravenhall

If your family needs a little extra support these holidays, we are here to help. Sensory Play Centre offers a welcoming sensory play centre, NDIS sensory play, and one-on-one support sensory play. Contact us today to plan your child’s holiday sessions.