What is the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Local Offer? Under the Children and Families Act 2014 all Local Authorities must make a Local Offer for children and young people (ages 0-25) that have SEND and their families. This must be available via a website and in other accessible formats. It will bring together information that is intended to be helpful to the children/ young people and their families about what is available to support them locally. The SEND Local Offer will be available through smart phones and tablets as well as via the internet. Staff in Blackpool’s Local Council will also be able to provide details of the information contained within SEND Local Offer to those without easy access to the internet. They can be contacted on: Phone: 01253 477100 Deaf text: 07796994908 E Mail: local.offer@blackpool.gov.uk
The SEND Local Offer will cover public services that are available within:
Education: e.g. nurseries, playgroups, schools and colleges as well as support services like educational psychologists, early years and early intervention workers Health: e.g. GPs, paediatricians, school nurses and therapists Social care: e.g. short breaks and children’s disability services.
It should also enable you to find out what support and services are available in the voluntary and private sectors, for example from charities and disability groups, nurseries, youth clubs, both in Blackpool, wider in the Fylde and Wyre region and nationally Leisure time is something we all value and the SEND Local Offer aims to highlight opportunities for children and young people who have additional needs to engage in a broad range of activities, from cinema screenings for children with specific needs, to evening clubs like cubs/scouts or brownies/guides running during the week, to specific events offered during the school holidays.