What is the Local Offer?

When the Children and Families Bill was implemented in 2014, local authorities were required to publish and review information about services available for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) aged 0-25 years. This is the Local Offer.

The intention of the Local Offer is to provide choice, information and transparency for families. It is also an important resource for professionals as it sets out, in a single place what is available for children with SEND locally. 

The local authority must work together with children and young people, parents and carers and with local agencies and services, including the voluntary and community sector, to develop their local offer and keep it under review. 

The Local Offer must include information about the provision the local authority expects to be available in its own area for children and young people with SEND and also outside of its area for the children and young people for whom it is responsible. 

The Local Offer must include information of:

• Special educational provision
• Health provision
• Social care provision
• Other educational provision
• Training Provision
• Arrangements for children and young people to travel to schools, colleges and early years education.

Local authorities may have to include:

• Information on how to seek an assessment for an Education, Health and Care Plan
• Information on how to make a complaint about provision in the Local Offer.