What is the Local Offer (SEND)?
Every council is required to publish a detailed directory of what local support is available for children and young people with special educational needs and / or disabilities (SEND). This is called the Local Offer (LO).
The LO provides information on a range of local agencies, including education, health and social care. As well as giving you more choice, it provides you with control over what support is right for your child.
The LO provides information on a number of things, including:
- Special educational provision
- Health provision
- Social care provision
- Other educational provision;
- Training provision
- Travel arrangements for children and young people to schools, colleges and early years education
- Preparing for adulthood, including housing, employment and leisure opportunities
As well as finding out about services in your area, the LO will include eligibility criteria, how decisions are made, who makes them and it will also encourage feedback on the services provided and how you can become involved in service planning. It will also help to support parents, carers and young people who have requested a personal budget.