What is a SEND Local Offer

Before we look at how people read online, let's look at what they Local Offer is for.

Here's the working definition we use at poppop studio:

A Local Offer gives children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities, and their families, information about what support services the local authority think are available in their local area. This must cover education, health and social care. Every local authority is responsible for creating a Local Offer and making sure it is available for everyone to see.

What is the Local Offer for?

Gateway

The Local Offer isn't a place where all the information is stacked up high. It's a portal, a gateway, a way in to find the answer to the user's need. It's your job to make the information easily accessible, online and offline.

Directory

A directory of services will cover

• the local authority services from education, health, and social care
• education, health and social care provision from national and local charities
• education, health and social care provision from local companies

With most Local Offers, the directory section is clearly laid out, searchable and can get people to the help they need. But only if they know what they are looking for.

Information

These pages are more difficult to put together. They need to draw on so many services, across departments and organizations. But that is precisely the point of the Local Offer.  These information pages often end up being wordy. They are often trying to tell "everything we know about..." and are difficult to navigate.

Journey

The Local Offer needs to be clear, concise, and point people in the right direction. There's no point re-writing information from gov.uk (opens in a new tab) or from nhs.uk (opens in a new tab). But there's a good reason to help people find out if these benefits and services are for them. And to tell them at the right time, at the right stage in their journey.

Our job is to help the child or young person's journey. To make sure that they are ready for each new step. Transitions are a time of great stress. The Local Offer should be easing this.

For each page of the Local Offer, you have to think about your users' need. What are they trying to do that has brought them to this page?

Let's say that again:

What are your parents trying to do that has brought them to this page?

What do your young people need that has brought them to this page?

What are SENCOs trying to see that has brought them to this page?

Critique

At the end of this course, you'll have edited a few pages of your Local Offer.

You will find it useful to sit down with a group of users (I'd recommend parents and carers to start with) and discuss these pages of content with them.

Ask users to talk about three critical things:

1.  "I like...."
2. "I wish..."
3. "What if..."

Bear this in mind while you are doing this course.