Who are we

When we use "we" and "you" in writing for the web, we need to be clear who we mean.

In this sentence, who is the "we"? I hope you realise it's me, Jonathan, and you dear reader.

When we write for the Local Offer, there are three main audiences:

• parents
• children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
• professionals

It is often difficult to write a page keeping one audience in mind and speaking directly to them, to "you".

And it is just as difficult writing from the first person, from "we". Is "we" the Local Offer? Maybe it's the local authority or a charity which provides a service.

In this example, "we" is the local authority, through the Sensory Support Service:

We support children and young people, and their families, with

• hearing
• vision

multi-sensory impairment.

Here, "we", the Family Information Service, are talking to "you", a parent.

The Family Information Service can help you find childcare to best meet your specific needs. We will explore and discuss all options available to help your family.

The problem with the Local Offer is that it is so wide ranging that "we" and "you" can be different on each page.

Also, we might find ourselves writing about young people, rather than to them.

Between the ages of 16 and 18, young people start a transition of services. They may also start to think about finding a job or the best place to live.

This isn't necessarily wrong, but it is worth thinking about.

In the Local Offer, there will be many "points of view". "We" and "you" and "they" will change from section to section, even from page to page.

It has to be clear who "we" are, and who we are talking to - "you".