Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
SEND facilities for families
Welcome to Our Guide to SEND-Friendly Facilities and Attractions in Devon
Devon is a beautiful county with so much to offer, and we believe everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy its attractions, regardless of additional needs or disabilities. This guide is designed to highlight SEND-friendly (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) facilities and attractions across Devon, ensuring that families can make the most of their visit in a supportive and accessible environment.
From accessible playgrounds and sensory-friendly spaces to attractions offering extra support and tailored experiences, Devon is home to a wide range of places that are dedicated to providing inclusive experiences for children, parents, and carers. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures, animal encounters, or cultural activities, you’ll find options here that welcome everyone with open arms.
Explore our recommendations and find the perfect spots for a memorable and stress-free family day out in Devon.
Jump to General information for local SEND families
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Libraries
Theatres/Cinemas
**Please note that this website is frequently updated and changed as more information is gathered, so don't worked to bookmark for updates. We try our hardest to keep the details as accurate as possible but it may be possible that facilities change over time, so we always recommend that you double check with the venue before you make a journey
Where possible, the links below go straight to the Accessibility pages and information that is available online for each location**
Updated: 7/5/2025
This section has some general information that may be useful for SEND families in the Devon area
- Parent Carer Forum Devon - voluntary group of parents and carers of children with SEND who connect with parents across the county to help identify problems as well as what is working well. They work in partnership with the Local Authority, the NHS and other professsionals to ensure that services in Devon are accessible and meet the needs of children and their families (Devon Council area only)
- Plymouth Parent Carer Voice - group of volunteer parents working in partnership with Plymouth City Council to help shape and improve the range of services in education, health and social care for families in the Plymouth area (Plymouth only)
- Torbay Parent and Carer Forum - https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/about-us/get-involved/parent-and-carer-forum/ (Torbay)
- Torbay SEND Family Voice
- https://childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk/get-involved/
- https://www.traveldevon.info/accessibility/
- https://www.devon.gov.uk/education-and-families/send-local-offer/
- https://devonias.org.uk/
- https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/special-educational-needs-and-disability-send
- https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/plymouth-send-contacts
- https://www.plymouthias.org.uk/
- https://www.torbay.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/send/
Family hubs
SEND friendly facilities and locations across Devon by district
The information below is an overview of the facilities available and is subject to change, please check via the venue's website or by contacting them directly for the most up-to-date details. Where possible, the links for each venue go directly to their Accessibility information
- Across Devon
- North Devon
- East Devon
- West Devon
- South Devon
- Plymouth
- Exeter
- Torbay
- Theatres, Cinemas and Arts Centres
- Libraries
The South West Coast Path website has detailed a number of routes that they identify as Easy Access Walks with sections that are on the gentler side and are considered to be suitable for people with mobility problems, pushchairs, wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
The Outdoor Guide is an online resource which aims to make the outdoors inclusive for all which has details of wheelchair friendly walks in Devon and across the country
Accessible Countryside for Everyone have created a website which details walks, greenspaces and countryside locations with disabled access, wheelchair walks and more.
Accessibility at National Trust locations
Affinity Devon has been awarded Gold in the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism category at the Devon Tourism award and have created a full Accessibility Guide which can be found here.
All shops are on one level and Sensory 'borrow' Bags can be picked up which are available to use during your visit to make shopping more comfortable, for those who can find centres stressful. See the website for full details of their accessibility offerings
Locations such as Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum, Heddon Valley, Woolacombe Tourist Infroamation Centre and Baggy Point have a lot of facilities to increase accessibility including hireable trampers - see the website for details
Crealy has been designed for guests with disabilities and/or additional access needs in mind with team members fully trained to recognise the individual needs of their guests. The Park includes Accessible Attractions and Ride Access Passes amongst other facilities
See their website for more information and you can view their accessibility guide here.
Red Rock have extensive experience of working with schools, charities and individual clients to ensure everyone can enjoy watersports. Contact them for more information about their facilities.
https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/enjoy-dartmoor/outdoor-activities/accessible-dartmoor
The Zoo aims to offer the best experience possible for all of their guest and offer the following accessible options.
Wheelchair, Scooter and Stroller hire options are available but must be pre-booked in advance by calling reception on 01803 697500.
The Zoo is based in a natural environmental park and is considered reasonably wheelchair and pushchair friendly, however some hills appear fairly steep therefore not all paths are easy to manage independently in a manual wheelchair or some smaller electric scooters. Path surfaces are either tarmac or crushed and rolled stone and there is plenty of seating around the site
For visitors with disabilities, the Zoo admit one carer free of charge when they pay full adult/child price. See the website linked above for details of this offer and the forms of ID required
Assistance dogs can be brought to the Zoo and their website has an extensive about of information about how to ensure hte safety of yourself, your dog, the Zoo animals and members of the public here. You will also be asked to sign a declaration form before entering the site.
For visitors with physical disabilities or mobility issues, the venue provides lifts, wheelchair accesible and disabled toilets, a Changing Places toilet accessible with a radar key, seating in the galleries and foldable stools available from the Welcome Desk. Two wheelcahairs and a motorised scoooter available to borrow for free on request.
Audio loops are installed in the Simmons learning room, Cottonian Research Room and at the welcome desk. Projections and moving image displays in the galleries have subtitles for visitors with hearing loss and deafness
Large print label booklets are provided within each of their temporary exhibitions and handly collection can be specially requested to help people with sensory impairments get closer to their objects as part of their visit. Guide and assistance dogs are welcome, visitors are requested to inform their Welcome desk if such animals will be accompanying them.
The Port of Plymouth and Media Lab galleries are spaces with low light levels and large screen projections which may not be safe for some people with epilepsy - if you have any concerns before entering these spaces, speak to a member of staff.
Neurodivergent visitors are encouraged to speak to the friendly team at the Welcome Desk who will be able to provide you with information in order to tailor your visit to suit your needs and interests. More information for neurodiverse families can be found here
Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM), Exeter
As part of their commitment to providing a welcoming and accessible museum, the RAMM offers a variety of facilities including:
- Staff that have received deaf and disability awareness training
- Blue-badge parking available to reserve via museum.reception@exeter.gov.uk or 01392 265960
- An online accessibility guide proviing accurate details of their features
- Visual stories to allow visitors to know what to expect, with pictures and words designed for visitors with autism and their families
- Tickets for personal assistants
- Wheelchair access and hire
- Quieter times and areas with regular Relaxed Sessions
- Hearing loops, large print captions, Videos with BSL, Audio guides, Ear Defenders and RAMM Bingo Cards co-designed by local people with disabilities
See the Accessibility webpage for details of all that they offer
Theatres/cinemas and arts centres
There are a number of locations across the regions that show film screenings and theatre performances and often host