Children and Young People with Specialist Needs (SEND)

The Essex Local Offer

The Essex Local Offer has been published as part of the SEND reforms under the Children and Families Act 2014.

Under the Children and Families Act 2014 each Local Authority was required to publish a Local Offer detailing what provision and services were available in their area for children and young people with SEND by the 1^st September 2014. The Local Offer is a living and organic resource that will be developed over time with the assistance of our partners, parents and young people.

The Essex Local Offer will:

Give you information about education, health and care services
Give you information about leisure activities and support groups
Hold all the information in one place
Be clear, comprehensive and accessible
Make service provision more responsive to local needs and aspirations
Be developed and reviewed with the service providers and service user

Please see the link above for more information and how to join if you represent an organisation that provides services to support Essex children and young people.

Essex Local Area SEND Inspection - 30 September to 4 October 2019

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspect local areas together to see how effectively they fulfil their responsibilities for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Ofsted and CQC carry out inspections in line with the Local area special educational needs and disabilities inspection framework and Local area special educational needs and disabilities inspection handbook for inspectors.

Ofsted and the CQC are visiting Essex, from Monday 30 September 2019 to Friday 4 October 2019. Learn more on the Essex Local Offer website.

Make your voice heard during this inspection

We encourage children, young people, parents and carers to contribute their views during north east Essex's inspection. You can do this by participating in a webinar, contacting your local Parent Carer Forum, or by emailing Lasend.support@ofsted.gov.uk.

Maze - A community for parents, carers and families of children with additional needs

SEND survey video on Biteable.

We would like to hear your views about health and care services for children with special educational needs and disability. You can complete the Long Term Plan survey online or call 01206 918653 or email neeccg.comms@nhs.net to request a paper copy.

The Multi Schools Council Fundraising

In July 2019 the Multi Schools Council walked to every special school in Essex, in just 5 days. That’s 150 miles, which is more than a marathon a day!

The walk raised awareness of special schools and raised nearly £3,000 to fund student voice ideas, which will help break down the perceptions towards children with special educational needs and mental health difficulties.