What is the Local Offer?

4.1 Local authorities must publish a Local Offer, setting out in one place information about provision they expect to be available across education, health and social care for children and young people in their area who have SEN or are disabled, including those who do not have Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans. In setting out what they ‘expect to be available’, local authorities should include provision which they believe will actually be available.

Ideas for page or section headings. Find local support and services

Learn what support is available locally

What does this look like? The SEND Local Offer website

Publish

4.2 The Local Offer has two key purposes:
- To provide clear, comprehensive, accessible and up-to-date information about the available provision and how to access it, and
- To make provision more responsive to local needs and aspirations by directly involving disabled children and those with SEN and their parents, and disabled young people and those with SEN, and service providers in its development and review

Ideas for page or section headings. Help shape local services

Tell us what services you need

What does this look like? Local Offer Strategy

Strategy · Co-production · Co-operation · Aspirations · Up to date

4.3 The Local Offer should not simply be a directory of existing services. Its success depends as much upon full engagement with children, young people and their parents as on the information it contains. The process of developing the Local Offer will help local authorities and their health partners to improve provision.

Ideas for page or section headings. Tell us how to make services better

Give your views on local services

What does this look like? Web pages
Engagement meetings
Co-production

Co-production · Change · Strategy · Health

This could, for example, be provision in a further education college in a neighbouring area
---
4.4 The Local Offer must include provision in the local authority’s area. It must also include provision outside the local area that the local authority expects is likely to be used by children and young people with SEN for whom they are responsible and disabled children and young people.

What does this look like? Neighbouring Local Offers

Regional · Co-operation

This could, for example, be support services for children and young people with particular types of SEN that are provided jointly by local authorities.

---
4.4 The Local Offer must include provision in the local authority’s area. It must also include provision outside the local area that the local authority expects is likely to be used by children and young people with SEN for whom they are responsible and disabled children and young people.

What does this look like? Neighbouring Local Offers

Regional · Co-operation

It should include relevant regional and national specialist provision, such as provision for children and young people with low-incidence and more complex SEN.
---

4.4 The Local Offer must include provision in the local authority’s area. It must also include provision outside the local area that the local authority expects is likely to be used by children and young people with SEN for whom they are responsible and disabled children and young people.

What does this look like? Neighbouring Local Offers

Regional · Co-operation

4.5 Local authorities and those who are required to cooperate with them need to comply with the Equality Act 2010, including when preparing, developing and reviewing the Local Offer.

Ideas for page or section headings. Meeting our equality duties

Following equality law

What does this look like? Accessibilty Strategy

Equality Act 2010 · Up to date · Accessibility

4.6 The Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 provide a common framework for the Local Offer. They specify the requirements that all local authorities must meet in developing, publishing and reviewing their Local Offer, and cover:
• the information to be included
• how the Local Offer is to be published
• who is to be consulted about the Local Offer
• how children with SEN or disabilities and their parents and young people with SEN or disabilities will be involved in the preparation and review of the Local Offer, and
• the publication of comments on the Local Offer and the local authority’s response, including any action it intends to take in relation to those comments

What does this look like? Local Offer Strategy

SEND Regulations 2014 · Publish · Co-production · Up to date · Strategy · Transparent

4.7 The Local Offer should be:
• collaborative: local authorities must involve parents, children and young people in developing and reviewing the Local Offer. They must also co-operate with those providing services

What does this look like? Local Offer Strategy

Co-production · Strategy · Health

4.7 The Local Offer should be:
• accessible: the published Local Offer should be easy to understand, factual and jargon free. It should be structured in a way that relates to young people’s and parents’ needs (for example by broad age group or type of special educational provision). It should be well signposted and well publicised

What does this look like? Local Offer Strategy

Strategy · Health

4.7 The Local Offer should be:
• comprehensive: parents and young people should know what support is expected to be available across education, health and social care from age 0 to 25 and how to access it. The Local Offer must include eligibility criteria for services where relevant and make it clear where to go for information, advice and support, as well as how to make complaints about provision or appeal against decisions

What does this look like? Local Offer Strategy

Strategy · Health

4.7 The Local Offer should be:

• up to date: when parents and young people access the Local Offer it is important that the information is up to date

What does this look like? Local Offer Strategy

Strategy · Up to date · Health

4.7 The Local Offer should be:

transparent: the Local Offer should be clear about how decisions are made and who is accountable and responsible for them

What does this look like? Local Offer Strategy

Strategy · Health · Transparent