About our local offer

Our local offer for children with special educational needs and disability (SEND) is the outcome of partnership working with our local community.

The purpose of the local offer is to:

  • provide clear information
  • make provision more responsive to local needs and aspirations by directly involving children, their parents and young people as well as service providers in its development and review

By working together we can ensure that we develop provision which is responsive to local needs and leads to the best outcomes for all of our children and young people. This local offer is just the start of our journey.

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What you can expect

You will be able to get information, advice and support if you are concerned your child is disabled or may have SEN, or if they:

  • have already been identified as having SEND
  • receive SEND support in school (this has replaced school action and school action plus)
  • are undergoing statutory assessment for an education, health and care (EHC) plan
  • already have an EHC plan

Local authorities have duties to ensure children, young people and parents are provided with information and advice on matters relating to SEN and disability. This could include:

  • local policy and practice
  • the local offer
  • personalisation and personal budgets
  • law on SEN and disability, health and social care, through suitably
  • independently trained staff
  • advice for children, young people and parents on gathering, understanding and interpreting information and applying it to their own situation
  • parent carer support groups, local SEN youth forums or local disability groups, or training events

You and your child can expect to have your views, wishes and feelings taken account of, and to participate fully in decision making.

Local authorities, in carrying out their functions in relation to disabled children and young people and those with special educational needs (SEN), must have regard to:

  • the views, wishes and feelings of the child or young person and the child’s parents
  • the importance of the child or young person, and the child’s parents, participating as fully as possible in decisions and being provided with the information and support necessary to enable participation in those decisions
  • the need to support the child or young person, and the child‟s parents, in order to facilitate the development of the child or young person and to help them achieve the best possible educational and other outcomes

Your child does not have to have an identified SEND in order for you to access advice.

About our local offer

Information about our local offer

Co-production

This new way of working – co-production – with children, young people and their families has brought a fresh and innovative approach. We’ve formed closer partnerships for shaping services and setting priorities at a time when there is less money in the system.

Co-production is working collaboratively to ensure that services are developed to meet the needs of Barking and Dagenham’s children and families. Parent/carers, children and young people have been consulted with at all stages of the local offer, the development, implementation and the review of the offer.

The local offer is a document owned by the community and developed by the community. Parent/carers, children and young people have supported the local authority to help shape services. They have a presence on the SEND stakeholder board meeting to support decisions made about services within Barking and Dagenham.

Working with parents

Parent forums provide information, advice and guidance to local families. Parents have worked with us to produce the local offer and will be instrumental in updating and refining it as we move forward.

Co-producing Barking and Dagenham’s local offer

Barking and Dagenham’s local offer has been co-produced with a wide range of stakeholders and partners.

  • parents/carers
  • children and young people
  • parent forums
  • head teachers
  • school SENCOs
  • youth groups
  • social workers
  • health colleagues
  • voluntary sector partners

If you do not have access to the internet, visit your local children’s centre where they will be able to help you access the internet. Your child’s school may also be able to help you with internet access.

Barking and Dagenham Progress Project

The Barking and Dagenham Progress Project wanted to find out the views around the current local offer.

This information was mainly gathered verbally, but was supported by the use of Widgit symbols, and having the local offer website available to explore.

Our SEND strategy

Read our inclusive framework strategy for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

SEND strategy (PDF, 418KB)