Wolverhampton's new Local Offer website for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is now live.
The website – Wolverhampton SEND Local Offer – provides a single place to get information about the services and resources available to children and young people with SEND aged 0 to 25, and their families, including those with or without Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans.
People are encouraged to use the Local Offer website to:
- find out who to speak to if they are concerned about their child’s learning and development
- find education, social care, health and wellbeing services that can support their child’s needs
- browse for local support such as where to find helpful advice, support groups, fun activities or services
- find out about educational settings in Wolverhampton, including early years, primary, secondary, sixth form, colleges and further and higher education
- find out about travel assistance arrangements for children or young people attending schools, colleges or early years settings
- find out what to do in a complex situation, for example challenging decisions about support for children with SEND.
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: "We are delighted to have launched our new Local Offer website, which brings together a wide range of information about the education, health and social care support available for children and young people with SEND, and their families.
"We have created this standalone platform to make it simpler for families to access SEND specific information. The website is easy to navigate and provides clear, comprehensive, accessible and up to date information. It also includes an animated video which explains what the Local Offer is.
"The Wolverhampton SEND and Inclusion Partnership Board worked closely with children, young people, parents and carers to create the website, which includes simplified language, less jargon and an improved search function, and I'd like to place on record our thanks to everyone who contributed to its development.”
She added: "We want to make sure that the website fully meets the needs of families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Wolverhampton, and would value feedback about the quality of services, any gaps in provision and how easy information is to find and understand. If anyone has any feedback about the Local Offer, please email localofferenquiries@wolverhampton.gov.uk."
