The Local Offer for SEND provides information about services and support available for children and young people from birth to 25 who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and their families. The service also includes out-of-borough providers or organisations local residents can use.
Who decides what is in the Local Offer
The law says that every council must talk with children and young people with SEND and their families to find out what sort of support and services they need.
There are many different types of services that children and young people may need, including support services in school and specialist health services.
Children, young people and their families may also have ideas about what leisure activities should be available, and what services are needed to help young people move towards independence in adulthood.
Every council must have a Local Offer for SEND that is available on the internet and must make sure that people without access to the internet can also see it. The council must tell children and young people and their families how they can find out more about the Local Offer.
The council will then decide what services to make available. Every council must get feedback on its local offer from young people and their families. They must show what feedback they have been given and say how they are going to make improvements to the local offer and services.
A Local Offer should also include information about what transport services are available for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and if there is any help available to pay for these services.
Local Offer annual reports
Under the SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years, all councils must publish an annual report on the Local Offer for SEND.
View our Local Offer for SEND annual reports.
Disclaimer
The Local Offer is a free resource for residents. It gives children and young people with SEND, and their families, information on local support services.
Some of the services listed come from us, the council or NHS, but others come from external organisations – charities or businesses.
Being listed in the Local Offer does not necessarily mean the service is endorsed or recommended by the council. Please check yourself to make sure it is suitable for your needs.
Service provider listings
To be listed in the local offer your service must give us the following information:
- the name of your service and what it does
- where it is located
- who the service is designed for
- how you decide who is eligible
- accessibility
- your safeguarding policies and quality assurance procedures
- the training your staff have regarding SEND
- complaints contact for service users
- how potential users can request more information or start using the service
- Disclosure and Barring Service checks for staff
- insurance information
We reserve the right to remove your service from our local offer listing if there are complaints raised against it, or it does not meet our standards.
How to contribute to the family information directory and the Local Offer for SEND
If your service is listed, there is a responsibility on you to ensure you contact us to update your record with any changes and that the record is kept accurate and up to date.