Is Your Council’s ‘Local Offer’ a Well-Kept Secret? Find your “Local Offer”

If you’ve recently started your SEND journey, you might have heard professionals mention the “Local Offer.” It sounds like a generic marketing term, but in reality, it is a statutory requirement—a legal obligation—for every Local Authority in England to provide.

Think of the Local Offer as a “Yellow Pages” specifically for SEND. It is meant to be a single, clear website where you can find every service available to your child, from education and health to social care and leisure.

What Should Actually Be There?

By law, the Local Offer must be more than just a list of phone numbers. It should include:

• Education: Details on how mainstream schools support SEND and information on specialist schools in the area.
• Health: Access to occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and mental health services (CAMHS).
• Social Care: Information on Short Breaks (respite care), direct payments, and how to request a social care assessment.
• Preparation for Adulthood: Support for young people moving into further education, training, or independent living.

The “Hidden” Benefits: Short Breaks & Leisure

One of the most valuable (and often overlooked) sections of the Local Offer is the Short Breaks statement. Many parents are unaware that they may be entitled to funding or vouchers for their child to attend holiday clubs, sensory play sessions, or even 1-to-1 support, giving you a much-needed breather.

Many councils also offer a “Max Card” or similar disability discount card through their Local Offer, providing free or discounted entry to major UK attractions like Legoland, Alton Towers, and local cinemas.

How to Use It for Advocacy

The Local Offer isn’t just a directory; it’s a benchmark.

If a school tells you, “We don’t provide [X] service,” but the Local Offer says that all schools in your borough should provide it, you have immediate evidence to challenge them.

Actionable Tip: If you find that your council’s Local Offer website is broken, out of date, or missing information, use the feedback button. Councils are legally required to publish comments from parents about their Local Offer and show what they are doing to fix the issues. Your feedback is a form of advocacy for every other parent in your borough.

How to Find Yours

Find your council below:

Bookmark it. It is the foundation of your local knowledge.

Quick Check: Is Your Local Offer Up to Scratch?