18th July 2026 • My Family Our Needs
Key takeaways
- Plan ahead with practical SEND summer holiday tips, like grabbing a Radar key and checking theme park access rules early.
- Wear a sunflower lanyard to easily identify your family for fast-tracked security and boarding at airports.
- Create a family chat group for shared digital tickets, carry a charged power bank, and remember to get in the holiday photos!
Home ed life and my essential SEND summer holiday tips
Rather than it being a time to access theme parks, airports, and holidays, it may well be a time of learning and avoiding such places due not only to how busy they will naturally be, but also because our learning is 365 days a year and the odd days off for a theme park or holidays have already happened for us.
Being a home-ed mum, I am expecting July and August to be much different this year. Our recent trips have been to LEGOLAND, Chessington World of Adventures, Birdworld, and a holiday to Cannes. Upcoming events include preparing for Reading music festival and much more. So, I thought that sharing these SEND summer holiday tips I have learned along the way may help others about to embark on their own adventures!
1) Have a Radar key
The Radar key opens locked accessible toilets across the UK. If your child needs the bathroom in a hurry, there is not always time to find a staff member. It is much wiser to have your own on you at all times. The official key costs £6 inc. VAT plus postage and is available from Disability Rights UK.
2) Use the sunflower lanyard in airports
Many UK airports recognise the lanyard. It helps identify families with hidden disabilities. Extra help depends on each airport and airline policy. Ask when you check in or collect one at assistance points on arrival.
3) Create a family WhatsApp group
We have one, simply named ‘Fam’, and it consists of me, my daughters, and my parents. I’m a single mum and this really helps as there are so many of us all with busy lives. If one of the girls needs a lift, a loan, or help of any kind, a request is simply made on the group and one of the adults responds. It saves many texts to many numbers, saves confusion, mixed messages, and misunderstanding, and also relieves the huge burden of one person (i.e., me!) being absolutely responsible for everyone. When we flew abroad, I had 12 paperless boarding passes in my phone for flights. I couldn’t enjoy myself as I was terrified my phone would run out of battery, break, or get lost. I sent the passes to the family WhatsApp group knowing the chances of all our phones being unusable was very unlikely. It takes the weight off!
4) Theme parks have different access systems
Check every park website before you travel. Rules vary and evidence requirements are park-specific. Some ask for a medical letter, others accept DLA or PIP letters. Apply early and confirm what you need for that location only.
5) Carry at least one fully charged phone power bank at all times
This saves the panic of getting a train seat next to a socket or the lack of an iPhone/iPad/tablet at the crucial moment of needing one in case of a delayed flight. For some theme parks, such as LEGOLAND, your whole ride access system is on your phone. Dead phone? No rides!
6) A final SEND summer holiday tip: GET IN THE PHOTOS
How many times have you seen a photo from the past and laughed at how you thought you looked awful, but now you wish you could look that way again??!! Sometimes as a carer, it doesn’t matter how much scraped-together time you condensed to get ready and feel good – we can feel frazzled, yet our children really need photos of all their family when they are older. Lose any embarrassed feelings, gulp down your inhibitions, and have a blast; we may not be perfect, but we are authentic and that’s more than most!
I hope you all have the very best holiday times; I’ll be back in August with back to school and home ed tips! More holiday tips can be found right here.
Carly x
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Radar key and do I need one for UK breaks?
A Radar key gives you independent access to over 9,000 locked accessible toilets across the country. Carrying one is one of the most useful SEND summer holiday tips because it saves you hunting down staff when your child needs the bathroom in a hurry. You can buy an official key directly from Disability Rights UK.
Does a sunflower lanyard get you fast-track security at airports?
Not automatically. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower signals that you or your child might need extra time, but it does not guarantee priority boarding or fast-track access. Benefits depend entirely on the specific airport and airline rules, so it is always best to check their individual policies before flying.
When should I book airport assistance for a child with non-visible disabilities?
You should book assistance as early as possible. Airports and the UK CAA strongly advise telling your airline when you book, or no later than 48 hours before departure. This gives the staff enough time to put the right support in place for your family.
What evidence do I need for a theme park Ride Access Pass?
Every park handles access slightly differently. For places like LEGOLAND or Chessington, the Merlin Ride Access Pass system requires you to apply online in advance with supporting documentation and photo ID. They no longer accept a DLA or PIP letter simply shown at the gate, making early online application essential.
How can we manage meltdowns when our daily routine disappears?
The best approach is to reduce unpredictability as much as possible. Try to keep small daily routines where you can, build in proper rest, and use visual timetables to explain what is happening next. The NHS and Action for Children both recommend preparing children early for holiday changes to help reduce sensory overload.