The Local Offer
As part of the Children and Families Bill, schools and colleges are required to publish information about services they provide for young people with disabilities and Special Educational Needs. This is called the ‘local offer’.
The local offer has two key purposes:
- To provide clear, comprehensive and accessible information about the support and opportunities that are available
- To make provision more responsive to local needs and aspirations by directly involving young people with SEN, parents and carers, and service providers in its development and review
The indicative Code of Practice states that the local offer should be:
- Engaging – involving parents and young people
- Accessible – easy to understand, factual and jargon-free
- Transparent and comprehensive – defining where to go for information, advice and support
