Every council <span><img alt="People working in a council building" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="851aa6ff-08b2-4ab8-bf96-58eb2bddd144" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Place%20council%20%281%29_0.png" /></span> <span>A council is also called a local authority. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.</span> has a local offer of support that must be available in the area for children and young people with special educational needs and disability.
The local offer will include information about the type of support available for children with SEND in your area.
What is the local offer?
Every council must have a local offer of support that it expects to be available in the local area for children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND).
Find your local offer
To find your local offer for SEND services, you can search online for your councils local offer. They should be found on council website <span><img alt="A welcome page on a company website" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dd53146d-1f22-468b-a6e2-4b7ff43be009" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Website.png" /></span> <span>A website is a page you can go to on the internet like Google or YouTube.</span> , detailing services for children and young people aged 0 to 25. You can use the Gov UK website to find your local council.
What will the local offer include?
The local offer should have information about the following types of support for children and young people with SEND:
- education support, including nurseries, schools and colleges
- health support, including therapies available to a child or young person
- social care <span><img alt="A man giving a man in a wheelchair a cup of tea. " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="694d6762-f646-4c0a-bed0-90a0fcf95e1c" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Support%202.png" /></span> <span>Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.</span> support, including short breaks
- support to help young people to live independently
- support to help young people to find employment <span><img alt="Lots of different people in different jobs including a baker, and someone using a computer." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="30f6f7ae-fc72-4afa-bbb7-c74b6bfd78cb" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Place%20Workplace%20%281%29_0.png" /></span> <span>Employment means having a job.</span> opportunities
- support to help young people find suitable accommodation.
All councils must let you give feedback about your local offer. They also have to show how they plan to resolve any things you've raised.
The local offer is a detailed online resource by local councils which outlines the support available for children and young people with SEND in that area. It includes services for those with and without Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans.
The local offer is for children and young people with SEND aged 0 to 25, as well as their parents and carers, and professionals involved <span>Involved is being included in something or taking part in something.</span> with the family.
You can search online for your councils local offer.
Or visit your council website and find the local offer information in the SEND section.
If you're not sure which local council you are in use the Gov UK search to find your council website.