29th September 2025 • My Family Our Needs

TUI is collaborating with Sennies, a SEND childcare group, to strengthen its commitment to inclusive travel. This three-year-long partnership is designed to enhance the SEND support that is offered to families on their holidays.

The partnership between TUI and Sennies incorporates training for childcare teams and frontline staff across Europe to ensure that they can provide an inclusive holiday experience for the whole family, including children with additional needs such as neurodiversity. Sennies will also be reviewing the current childcare guidelines and manuals used by staff at TUI hotels and resorts.

Earlier this year, TUI introduced sensory rooms at the TUI Blue Nausicaa Beach in Larnaca, Cyprus and the TUI Blue Aura in Ibiza. These specially designed spaces provide a calming, low-stimulation environment for guests who may feel overwhelmed by the unfamiliar and potentially busy surroundings. The sensory rooms are free to use and feature soft-lighting, interactive sensory equipment and quiet zones.

Members of staff at these locations have taken enhanced neurodiversity awareness training to ensure all families with additional support needs are accommodated for. Guests can receive bespoke tools such as visual supports and communication cards that can help children with additional needs to communicate their wants and needs clearly with the Kids’ Club hosts.

TUI is also introducing ‘Now and Next’ boards with the help of Sennies. This visual aid will allow children to understand the flow of a session, ensuring that it is clear which activities are coming up next throughout the day.

In addition to offering help and support whilst families are away, TUI is offering support at each step of the holiday planning process from booking to boarding through to check-in.

Louise Bates, TUI Hotels and Resorts brands and product director, said, ‘TUI is committed to making holidays accessible for all customers and we recognise the many challenges families and children with SEN face while travelling and on holiday.

‘This is why we are taking steps to make our hotels more inclusive and support families at every stage of their holiday. […]

‘Sennies will help us review all our current childcare guidelines while offering bespoke training to our childcare teams and staff.

‘The work we are doing marks our commitment to inclusive travel and moves us one step closer in ensuring families and children with SEN can feel seen and supported.’

Georgia Sargeant, Founder and Chief Executive of Sennies, said, ‘We’re proud to be partnering with TUI to make neuro-inclusive travel a reality for families with neurodivergent children.

‘Far too many families have told us they’ve stopped travelling altogether because holidays aren’t designed with their children’s need in mind. That changes now. This is just the beginning, but it marks an important step towards travel that truly works for every family.’

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