Up to date

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Strategy · Up to date · Health

4.8 Local authorities must involve children with SEN or disabilities and their parents and young people with SEN or disabilities in:
• planning the content of the Local Offer
• deciding how to publish the Local Offer
• reviewing the Local Offer, including by enabling them to make comments about it

Co-production · Strategy · Parent carers · Young people · Up to date · Transparent

4.10 Local authorities should publicise in their Local Offer the ways in which they will involve children, young people and parents in developing and reviewing it.

Publish · Strategy · Co-production · Parent carers · Up to date

Local authorities should ensure that they provide support that enables children, young people and parents to contribute to decision-making at this strategic level and the Local Offer should include details of this support, which should include Parent Carer Forums and local voluntary organisations.

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4.10 Local authorities should publicise in their Local Offer the ways in which they will involve children, young people and parents in developing and reviewing it.

Publish · Strategy · Co-production · Parent carers · Up to date

4.11 Local authorities must engage young people directly in developing and reviewing the Local Offer and should consider setting up a forum, or a range of forums, to do so. Local authorities should make every effort to engage a cross-section of young people with a range of SEN and disabilities, in a variety of settings and circumstances and at different ages within the 16–25 age range. Local authorities should make every effort to establish the issues on which young people most want to be engaged. They should also consider using a variety of methods to engage young people. These could include surveys and social media or young people’s forums, and making existing consultation groups, such as a local youth council, accessible to young people with SEN or disabilities. Young people should also have opportunities to be engaged independently of their parents.

Co-production · Forums · Young people · Up to date

They should also consider using a variety of methods to engage young people. These could include surveys and social media or young people’s forums, and making existing consultation groups, such as a local youth council, accessible to young people with SEN or disabilities. Young people should also have opportunities to be engaged independently of their parents.

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4.11 Local authorities must engage young people directly in developing and reviewing the Local Offer and should consider setting up a forum, or a range of forums, to do so. Local authorities should make every effort to engage a cross-section of young people with a range of SEN and disabilities, in a variety of settings and circumstances and at different ages within the 16–25 age range. Local authorities should make every effort to establish the issues on which young people most want to be engaged.

Co-production · Forums · Young people · Up to date

4.14 Local authorities and their partner bodies and agencies must cooperate with each other in the development and review of the Local Offer. This is essential so that the Local Offer provides a comprehensive, transparent and accessible picture of the range of services available.

Co-operation · Up to date · Health · Transparent

4.18 The requirement on local authorities to publish comments on their Local Offer and their response to those comments is relevant to their duty to keep under review the educational and training provision and social care provision for children and young people with SEN or disabilities and their role in contributing, with their partner CCGs, to Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and the development of local Health and Wellbeing Strategies (see chapter 3).

Joint strategic needs assessment · CCGs · Publish · Training and apprenticeships · Social care · Strategy · Up to date · Health · Transparent

4.19 Local authorities must keep their educational and training provision and social care provision under review and this includes the sufficiency of that provision. When considering any reorganisation of SEN provision decision makers must make clear how they are satisfied that the proposed alternative arrangements are likely to lead to improvements in the standard, quality and/or range of educational provision for children with SEN (School organisation (maintained schools), Annex B: Guidance for Decision-makers, DfE 2014 – see the References section under Chapter 4 for a link).

Education · Social care · Training and apprenticeships · Strategy · Change · "Guidance for Decision-makers · DfE 2014" · Up to date

4.20 Local authorities should link reviews of education, health and social care provision to the development and review of their Local Offer and the action they intend to take in response to comments. This will help to identify gaps in provision and ensure that the Local Offer is responsive to the needs of local children and young people and their families. At a strategic level local authorities should share what they have learned from the comments they receive with local Health and Wellbeing Boards where appropriate, to help inform the development of Health and Wellbeing Strategies and the future provision of services for children and young people with or without EHC plans.

Change · Strategy · Health · Education · Social care · Co-operation · Up to date · Feedback · Transparent

4.22 Comments must be published if they relate to:
• the content of the Local Offer, which includes the quality of existing provision and any gaps in the provision
• the accessibility of information in the Local Offer
• how the Local Offer has been developed or reviewed

Change · Publish · Up to date · Transparent

4.24 Local authorities must publish a summary of comments at least annually, although this is expected to be an ongoing process. They must ensure that comments are published in a form that does not enable any individual to be identified.

Publish · Feedback · Up to date · Transparent

4.28 Local authorities should ensure they have access to good quality data to inform their decisions when reviewing provision and taking action to develop their Local Offer.

Strategy · Up to date

4.29 Local authorities must include information about all the areas specified in the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014. They may wish to include wider information, taking account of their discussions with children with SEN or disabilities and their parents and young people with SEN or disabilities.

Up to date · SEND Regulations 2014 · Co-production

4.32 The local authority must set out in its Local Offer an authority-wide description of the special educational and training provision it expects to be available in its area and outside its area for children and young people in its area who have SEN or disabilities from providers of relevant early years education, maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units, independent institutions approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, and the full range of post-16 providers. This includes information about the arrangements the local authority has for funding children and young people with SEN, including any agreements about how providers will use any budget that has been delegated to them.
It includes the arrangements providers have in place for: (See individual bullets for this)

Specialist support · Short term support · Children and Families Act 2014 · Early Years · Information and advice · Education · EHC Plan · Transitions · Professional development · Awareness training · Specialist training · Children looked after · Up to date

• identifying the particular SEN of children and young people

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4.32 The local authority must set out in its Local Offer an authority-wide description of the special educational and training provision it expects to be available in its area and outside its area for children and young people in its area who have SEN or disabilities from providers of relevant early years education, maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units, independent institutions approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, and the full range of post-16 providers. This includes information about the arrangements the local authority has for funding children and young people with SEN, including any agreements about how providers will use any budget that has been delegated to them.

Specialist support · Short term support · Children and Families Act 2014 · Early Years · Information and advice · Education · EHC Plan · Transitions · Professional development · Awareness training · Specialist training · Children looked after · Up to date

• consulting with parents of disabled children with SEN and disabled young people with SEN or disabilities

4.32 The local authority must set out in its Local Offer an authority-wide description of the special educational and training provision it expects to be available in its area and outside its area for children and young people in its area who have SEN or disabilities from providers of relevant early years education, maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units, independent institutions approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, and the full range of post-16 providers. This includes information about the arrangements the local authority has for funding children and young people with SEN, including any agreements about how providers will use any budget that has been delegated to them.

Specialist support · Short term support · Children and Families Act 2014 · Early Years · Information and advice · Education · EHC Plan · Transitions · Professional development · Awareness training · Specialist training · Children looked after · Up to date

• securing the services, provision and equipment required by children and young people with SEN or disabilities

4.32 The local authority must set out in its Local Offer an authority-wide description of the special educational and training provision it expects to be available in its area and outside its area for children and young people in its area who have SEN or disabilities from providers of relevant early years education, maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units, independent institutions approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, and the full range of post-16 providers. This includes information about the arrangements the local authority has for funding children and young people with SEN, including any agreements about how providers will use any budget that has been delegated to them.

Specialist support · Short term support · Children and Families Act 2014 · Early Years · Information and advice · Education · EHC Plan · Transitions · Professional development · Awareness training · Specialist training · Children looked after · Up to date

• supporting disabled children and young people and those with SEN in moving between phases of education and preparing for adulthood and independent living


4.32 The local authority must set out in its Local Offer an authority-wide description of the special educational and training provision it expects to be available in its area and outside its area for children and young people in its area who have SEN or disabilities from providers of relevant early years education, maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units, independent institutions approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, and the full range of post-16 providers. This includes information about the arrangements the local authority has for funding children and young people with SEN, including any agreements about how providers will use any budget that has been delegated to them.

Specialist support · Short term support · Children and Families Act 2014 · Early Years · Information and advice · Education · EHC Plan · Transitions · Professional development · Awareness training · Specialist training · Children looked after · Up to date

• approaches to teaching, adaptations to the curriculum and the learning environment for children and young people with SEN or disabilities and additional learning support for those with SEN

4.32 The local authority must set out in its Local Offer an authority-wide description of the special educational and training provision it expects to be available in its area and outside its area for children and young people in its area who have SEN or disabilities from providers of relevant early years education, maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units, independent institutions approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, and the full range of post-16 providers. This includes information about the arrangements the local authority has for funding children and young people with SEN, including any agreements about how providers will use any budget that has been delegated to them.

Specialist support · Short term support · Children and Families Act 2014 · Early Years · Information and advice · Education · EHC Plan · Transitions · Professional development · Awareness training · Specialist training · Children looked after · Up to date

• enabling available facilities to be accessed by disabled children and young people and those with SEN (this should include ancillary aids and assistive technology, including Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC))

4.32 The local authority must set out in its Local Offer an authority-wide description of the special educational and training provision it expects to be available in its area and outside its area for children and young people in its area who have SEN or disabilities from providers of relevant early years education, maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units, independent institutions approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, and the full range of post-16 providers. This includes information about the arrangements the local authority has for funding children and young people with SEN, including any agreements about how providers will use any budget that has been delegated to them.

Specialist support · Short term support · Children and Families Act 2014 · Early Years · Information and advice · Education · EHC Plan · Transitions · Professional development · Awareness training · Specialist training · Children looked after · Up to date

• assessing and reviewing pupils’ and students’ progress towards outcomes, including how providers work with parents and young people in doing so

4.32 The local authority must set out in its Local Offer an authority-wide description of the special educational and training provision it expects to be available in its area and outside its area for children and young people in its area who have SEN or disabilities from providers of relevant early years education, maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units, independent institutions approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, and the full range of post-16 providers. This includes information about the arrangements the local authority has for funding children and young people with SEN, including any agreements about how providers will use any budget that has been delegated to them.

Specialist support · Short term support · Children and Families Act 2014 · Early Years · Information and advice · Education · EHC Plan · Transitions · Professional development · Awareness training · Specialist training · Children looked after · Up to date

• securing expertise among teachers, lecturers or other professionals to support children and young people with SEN or disabilities – this should include professional development to secure expertise at different levels:
- awareness (to give a basic awareness of a particular type of SEN, appropriate for all staff who will come into contact with a child or young person with that type of SEN)
- enhanced (how to adapt teaching and learning to meet a particular type of SEN, for early years practitioners, class and subject teachers/lecturers and teaching assistants working directly with the child or young person on a regular basis), and
- specialist (in-depth training about a particular type of SEN, for staff who will be advising and supporting those with enhanced-level skills and knowledge)


4.32 The local authority must set out in its Local Offer an authority-wide description of the special educational and training provision it expects to be available in its area and outside its area for children and young people in its area who have SEN or disabilities from providers of relevant early years education, maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units, independent institutions approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, and the full range of post-16 providers. This includes information about the arrangements the local authority has for funding children and young people with SEN, including any agreements about how providers will use any budget that has been delegated to them.

Specialist support · Short term support · Children and Families Act 2014 · Early Years · Information and advice · Education · EHC Plan · Transitions · Professional development · Awareness training · Specialist training · Children looked after · Up to date

• securing expertise among teachers, lecturers or other professionals to support children and young people with SEN or disabilities – this should include professional development to secure expertise at different levels:

- enhanced (how to adapt teaching and learning to meet a particular type of SEN, for early years practitioners, class and subject teachers/lecturers and teaching assistants working directly with the child or young person on a regular basis), and
- specialist (in-depth training about a particular type of SEN, for staff who will be advising and supporting those with enhanced-level skills and knowledge)


4.32 The local authority must set out in its Local Offer an authority-wide description of the special educational and training provision it expects to be available in its area and outside its area for children and young people in its area who have SEN or disabilities from providers of relevant early years education, maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units, independent institutions approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, and the full range of post-16 providers. This includes information about the arrangements the local authority has for funding children and young people with SEN, including any agreements about how providers will use any budget that has been delegated to them.

Specialist support · Short term support · Children and Families Act 2014 · Early Years · Information and advice · Education · EHC Plan · Transitions · Professional development · Awareness training · Specialist training · Children looked after · Up to date

• securing expertise among teachers, lecturers or other professionals to support children and young people with SEN or disabilities – this should include professional development to secure expertise at different levels:

- specialist (in-depth training about a particular type of SEN, for staff who will be advising and supporting those with enhanced-level skills and knowledge)


4.32 The local authority must set out in its Local Offer an authority-wide description of the special educational and training provision it expects to be available in its area and outside its area for children and young people in its area who have SEN or disabilities from providers of relevant early years education, maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units, independent institutions approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, and the full range of post-16 providers. This includes information about the arrangements the local authority has for funding children and young people with SEN, including any agreements about how providers will use any budget that has been delegated to them.

Specialist support · Short term support · Children and Families Act 2014 · Early Years · Information and advice · Education · EHC Plan · Transitions · Professional development · Awareness training · Specialist training · Children looked after · Up to date

• assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of the education and training provision the local authority makes for children and young people with SEN or disabilities

4.32 The local authority must set out in its Local Offer an authority-wide description of the special educational and training provision it expects to be available in its area and outside its area for children and young people in its area who have SEN or disabilities from providers of relevant early years education, maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units, independent institutions approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, and the full range of post-16 providers. This includes information about the arrangements the local authority has for funding children and young people with SEN, including any agreements about how providers will use any budget that has been delegated to them.

Specialist support · Short term support · Children and Families Act 2014 · Early Years · Information and advice · Education · EHC Plan · Transitions · Professional development · Awareness training · Specialist training · Children looked after · Up to date

• activities that are available to disabled children and young people and those with SEN, including physical activities and extra-curricular activities

4.32 The local authority must set out in its Local Offer an authority-wide description of the special educational and training provision it expects to be available in its area and outside its area for children and young people in its area who have SEN or disabilities from providers of relevant early years education, maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units, independent institutions approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, and the full range of post-16 providers. This includes information about the arrangements the local authority has for funding children and young people with SEN, including any agreements about how providers will use any budget that has been delegated to them.

Specialist support · Short term support · Children and Families Act 2014 · Early Years · Information and advice · Education · EHC Plan · Transitions · Professional development · Awareness training · Specialist training · Children looked after · Up to date

• supporting the emotional, mental and social development of disabled children and young people and those with SEN (this should include extra pastoral support arrangements for listening to the views of pupils and students with SEN and measures to prevent bullying)

4.32 The local authority must set out in its Local Offer an authority-wide description of the special educational and training provision it expects to be available in its area and outside its area for children and young people in its area who have SEN or disabilities from providers of relevant early years education, maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units, independent institutions approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, and the full range of post-16 providers. This includes information about the arrangements the local authority has for funding children and young people with SEN, including any agreements about how providers will use any budget that has been delegated to them.

Specialist support · Short term support · Children and Families Act 2014 · Early Years · Information and advice · Education · EHC Plan · Transitions · Professional development · Awareness training · Specialist training · Children looked after · Up to date

4.44 Local authorities must provide a range of short breaks for disabled children, young people and their families, and prepare a short breaks duty statement giving details of the local range of services and how they can be accessed, including any eligibility criteria (The Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011). Local authorities must publish a short breaks statement on their website and review it on a regular basis, taking account of the needs of local parents and carers. The statement will therefore form a core part of the Local Offer.

The Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011 · Short breaks · Up to date