What is the Local Offer?

The Local Offer is a statutory document published by every local authority in England. It describes what SEND support and services are available in the area for children and young people aged 0-25 with SEND. It covers: what SEND support is available in schools, specialist provision and specialist schools, SEND therapies and services, how to access an EHCP, information for young people and families, local services (CAMHS, early years, post-16 options), and how to make complaints or access appeals. The Local Offer is meant to be transparent, parent-friendly, and comprehensive. In reality, quality varies dramatically.

Where to find your council's Local Offer

Search online for "[Your Council Name] SEND Local Offer." It should be on your council's website, usually in the education or SEND section. Every council is required to publish it and keep it up to date. If you can't find it, contact the council's SEND team directly and ask for it. Some councils make it genuinely accessible; others hide it badly or don't update it. If the Local Offer is poor quality, that's worth noting - you can complain to the council or mention it in any disputes.

What to look for in the Local Offer

When you read the Local Offer, look for: specialist schools and their admission processes, availability of therapies (SALT, OT, physio, CAMHS), waiting times for services, how to request an EHCP assessment, the EHCP timeline, support available before EHCP (SEN support), post-16 options, virtual school support (for looked-after children), information about reasonable adjustments, information about tribunals and appeals, contact information for charities and support services, and services for young adults (0-25 planning). If things you need aren't listed, that's worth knowing.

Using the Local Offer in your case

The Local Offer can be useful in EHCP disputes. If you're requesting something (like a particular therapy or provision), you can reference the Local Offer: "According to [council]'s published Local Offer, [provision] is available for children with [need]. We request that this provision be included in our child's EHCP." If the council says something isn't available, you can check the Local Offer to challenge this - they may be wrong. The Local Offer is their own statement of what's available, so they can't easily claim something doesn't exist if it's listed there.

Complaining about the Local Offer

If your council's Local Offer is out of date, inaccurate, or missing important information, you can complain to the council. If the complaint isn't resolved, you can escalate to the Local Government Ombudsman (who can investigate complaints about councils). You can also refer the matter to Ofsted - the Local Offer is inspected as part of SEND inspections. If your council's SEND services are poor and the Local Offer is misleading, that's worth documenting for any future disputes.