SEND – Support for parents and carers

What is the SEND Local Offer?

Every local authority must identify education, health and social care services in their local area provided for children, young people and families who have SEN or disabilities. These services are then put together in an information directory called the Local Offer. It is essentially the services and support that are offered to families who have children or young people with special educational needs and disabilities, from across the county.

If you have a child or young person with SEND, then think of the Local offer as all of the services and support available to them, and to you as a parent or carer.

The Local Offer website

The Local Offer website lets parents and young people know what special educational needs and disabilities services are available in Hertfordshire, and who can access them. We provide information about SEND services across education, health and social care, and aim to give families all the information they may need in one place.

The website includes information on:

• early years (ages 0 - 5)
• support for parents, carers and siblings
• services for all areas of needs
• preparing for adulthood (ages 16 - 25)
• money
• education health and care plans
• education support
• parent courses and training
• activities and events for young people and short breaks

New to SEND

If a parent is new to SEND then knowing where to start finding support can be overwhelming. Their child may have just been diagnosed with SEND or may be in the process of being assessed. Or perhaps they've just started to notice that the child or young person is developing, behaving, or learning differently to their peers. The Local Offer website gives parents the right information at the right time to support the family.

Hertfordshire Local Offer: New to SEND

Support groups and networks

Information about the support groups and parent networks that are available in Hertfordshire that may be able to help and support parents or their child.

Hertfordshire Local Offer: Support groups and networks

Courses and activities

Hertfordshire Local Offer: Courses and activities

SEND documents and resources

Hertfordshire Local Offer: Documents and resources

SENDIASS

SENDIASS stands for Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service.

Hertfordshire SENDIASS is an impartial service which supports children, young people with special educational needs and/or disability (SEND) aged 0 to 25 years and their parents on issues relating to SEND. It provides free, confidential and impartial information, advice and support through a dedicated helpline service, online resources, at events and workshops and through individual casework. It also provides SEND information and advice to professionals in Hertfordshire.

SENDIASS provides unbiased information and advice about what the law says, the local authority's policies and procedures, and the policy and practice in local schools and other settings.

SENDIASS: Hertfordshire