What is the local offer?

The SEND local offer is a single place for information, services, and resources for children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and/or disabilities, their families, and the practitioners who support them. It's been designed with a family’s needs at the heart of the process.  In addition to the video on this page, we offer an easy read document and promotional materials to explain the local offer. 

Having access to good quality information to help you understand the world of SEND is really important when making decisions about your child's life. This is where websites such as this one can help.

The local offer has two main sections. The first is the information section, where systems and processes are explained, such as how to get extra help at nursery or school, or who to speak to if you're worried about your child's progress. This section will introduce you to services that might help your family, and help you to understand what support is available from a range of services across education, health and social care.

The second section is the service directory. This is a comprehensive list of services, clubs, support groups and businesses that might be of use to your family. It provides a brief introduction to what's offered and contact details so that you can find out more. There's also a feedback button for you to provide information about your experience of using a service, and a listing of events and activities that families supporting a young person with SEND might find of interest.

If you represent a service/organisation and would like it to be added to the SEN local offer directory please complete our online form.

A local offer requirement emerged from the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms following the introduction of the Children and Families Act 2014. The SEND Code of Practice states that all local authorities must publish a local offer. This sets out in one place information and provision for education, health and social care for children and young people in our area who have SEN or are disabled, including those who don't have education, health, and care (EHC) plans. We're obliged to state what support actually is available, not just what we expect to be available.

To add to the information provided by these pages we'll be developing other ways for families, children, and young people to access the local offer. This may include access via existing services, but we'd like your help to make sure we offer enough ways and support to enable people to use the offer effectively. Use our feedback pages for information about how you can get involved and help to shape this service.

If you'd like help to access the local offer, or can’t find what you are looking for, please call our customer service team on 0345 678 9021. You'll be directed as follows:

• If the service you're looking for is universal, the Family Information Service will be able to support you
• If you're looking for a specific service that is SEND-specific please ask for the Local Offer Team

Our local offer coordinator and Family Information Service officers can help you to identify relevant services, and email or post the information to you.

If you require the information in another format please let us know.

Shropshire’s SEND local offer provides information, support and services for children and young people from 0-25 years, all in one place. 

The Children and Families Act requires each local authority to publish a local offer annual report detailing information about feedback received, developments in SEND services, and changes or developments around the SEND local offer. The report aims to provide you with a snapshot of what we have achieved within the last year and outlines our future development plans.

Take a look at the local offer annual report 2022-2023.

Take a look at a summary of our work with children and young people in the co-production of the SEND local offer, and our research into the development of a local offer specifically for young people.