Dorset Council, in partnership with NHS Dorset and Dorset Parent Carer Council, has delivered its first ever Local Offer Live. A fortnight of events for parents, caregivers and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Families attending the events had an opportunity to meet service providers and find out about various support and resources that may be available to their children or young person.
Over the two weeks, families came together to find out more about the support and services available locally. These included the Development & Behaviour Pathway, the All-Age Neurodevelopment Pathway and several events to support parents and caregivers who are thinking about and planning for the move from teenager to adulthood for their own young person.
Some of the events were interactive, with children and their parents having an opportunity to spend time together enjoying a story or music.
The second week began with an inspiring session facilitated by Tricia Nicoll which helped families explore what living a Gloriously Ordinary Life is and what can prevent it from happening.
The fortnight was rounded off with a closing address by guest speaker Caroline Coady from the Council for Disabled Children, who shared key policy changes and national plans to improve outcomes for children and young people who are disabled or have special educational needs.
Chloe Morley, the Designated Clinical Officer for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) at NHS Dorset, said:
“We were pleased to be partners with Dorset Council and the Dorset Parent Carer Council in the fortnight of Local Offer Live events.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to meet with local families, promote our Local Offer of services and share some of our system wide projects with families such as the All Age Neurodevelopmental Review and promoting the annual health checks for young people from 14 years of age with a learning disability.”
There has also been a chance for parents or carers of children or young people aged 0 to 25 years who have special educational needs or disabilities to share their experience of education, health and care services and support in the last 12 months, through a recent survey. Feedback gathered through the survey will be used to improve services and inform the development of the new SEND plan, and results will be shared on the Dorset Council website.
Cllr Byron Quayle, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help, said:
“I am very pleased that we saw so many families at these events. It was great to have the opportunity to share experiences and learn something new and I am keen to keep that conversation going so we can find more ways to improve the local offer together.
“We want as many families as possible to know more about the Local Offer and be able to easily find and access the information, advice and assistance they need.
“What we heard during the events and what people tell us in our survey will help us shape our next SEND strategy. It is so important that we get this right, and involving the people who it directly affects is key to its success.”
The Parent Carer Forum said: “Our thanks to everyone involved in making the Local Offer Live event a reality.
“This may have been the first event of its kind in Dorset, but it won’t be the last! What a great way for families to come together and to find out more about the Local Offer and how it might support them and their child or young person.”
The fortnight promoted some of the help and support which may be available to families with children who are disabled or have special educational needs. You can find out more about Dorset’s Local Offer at www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/local-offer.
There is a chance to catch up with some of the sessions online:
Local Offer Live closing address online
Council for Disabled Children – Local Offer Live Closing Address
Creating Gloriously Ordinary lives – Presentation
For people who attended there is a short questionnaire that will help the organisers improve for the return of Local Offer Live in 2024.
