Firstly, what is SEND?
SEND stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. It covers a wide range of needs and conditions including autism, ADHD, physical disabilities, sensory processing difficulties, learning disabilities and much more. SENergetics welcomes children and adults of all ages and all types of SEND - if it matters to your family, it matters here.
What is SENergetics?
Getting to the gym when you have a SEND child is not straightforward. Childcare is hard to find, mainstream classes are not always the right environment, and your own fitness ends up at the bottom of a very long list.
I know that because I have lived it.
SENergetics is something I created from my own experience as a mother of a SEND child, combined with my background as a qualified fitness and Pilates instructor, community development worker and youth worker. I wanted to build something that did not exist - a session where I could work on my own fitness without having to worry about where my child was or whether they were okay.
So I built it.
It is a free-flow fitness session where parents and carers get to focus on core strength, cardio and general fitness, while their SEND children have their own safe space to climb, balance, run, jump and explore - or join in alongside you if they want to.
There is no set start time and no set finish. Come when you can, stay as long as suits you, and come back as often as you like. SENergetics is designed to flex around the reality of life with a SEND child, not the other way around.
What's On Offer
How it Works
SENergetics runs as a free-flow session with no fixed start or finish time. Families arrive when they can and leave when they need to - no pressure, no awkward mid-session departures.
Before taking part, all adults will need to complete a health declaration form along with a waiver and consent form for themselves and for each of their children. This keeps everyone safe and gives you peace of mind.
Places for SEND children are limited depending on the venue, so it is worth booking ahead to secure your spot.
Who is This For?
SENergetics is for you if:
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You are a parent or carer of a SEND child and struggle to find time or space to exercise
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You want to get active but need your child to be safe and comfortable nearby
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You are looking for a community of people who just get it
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You want a session that works around your family, not the other way around
"I attended a SENergetics session with my young son. Tara was fantastically welcoming and helpful, showing us how to use the varied equipment and activity stations she had set up ranging from weights and crab walks to Pilates and a fun obstacle course with hoops and a tunnel. There were plenty of toys to keep the little ones entertained but mine was more interested in doing the circuit activities with me! Tara also went above and beyond chatting to me about my child’s SEND needs, sharing tips for communication aides etc. would highly recommend!"
“I visited SENergetics, and it was lovely to see how supportive Tara was to all the parents and their children. It gave parents the time to exercise while their children could also engage in fun physical activities in a safe space.”