What is the Local Offer

What is the Local Offer?

The Local Offer is a new way of giving children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and their parents or carers information about what activities and support is available in the area where you live.

The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) have produced a video which provides information about what a Local Offer is.  This can be viewed at the bottom of this page.  You can also download the government’s guidance about the Local Offer using the link on the right of this page.

To find out more about Middlesbrough’s Local Offer you can read the explanation below or refer to the summary leaflet which is available to download.

Middlesbrough’s Local Offer

The Local Offer is part of Middlesbrough’s online directory for Children, Young People and families in Middlesbrough.  This is our attempt to bring together helpful and useful information located in one easily searchable website and is accessible through smart phones and tablets.


It contains a wide range of information and services to support children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities.  These include public services that are available within:

  • Education: nurseries, schools and colleges
  • Health: GPs, School Nurses, Paediatrician and Therapists
  • Social Care: short breaks, respite services and disability services
  • Special support services: Educational Psychologists, Autism Team, Visual Impairment Service, Hearing Impaired and Deaf Service and Early Years/Portage Teams.

It should also enable you to find out what support and services are available in the voluntary and private sectors, for example, from charities and disability groups, nurseries, youth clubs, to opportunities for children and young people who have additional needs to engage in a broad range of leisure activities.

Additional information will be available for young adults.  Our Local Offer is intended to help you make informed choices about things that are important to you such as: where to live; transport; social activities; work and training; and making the transition to adulthood.

Who is it for?

The Local Offer is for parents and carers of children and young people with SEND, as well as the young people themselves.


It’s also a resource that individuals, groups or organisations can draw on in the work that they do in supporting children, young people and their families, by highlighting other resources, services or guidance that may be accessed.

How does it help me?

It will make it easier to find out what you need to know and when you need to know it, so you’re less reliant on other people or word of mouth suggestions.  Showing you the nearest and most suitable services, letting you give feedback, raise concerns or make a comment or complaint.


The information available contains information and links to organisations which may help you.

How can I get more involved?

If you are a parent, carer or young person who has special educational needs and/or disabilities you can be actively involved in reviewing and developing the local offer by sending your contact details to the email below:

getinvolvedlocaloffer@middlesbrough.gov.uk 

Our Local Offer must develop and respond to feedback from you, our users. We need you to identify gaps, poor quality or inappropriate support, and suggest what would be better. We regularly ask What you think.

Video

The Council for Disabled Children have a number of videos on their Youtube page 'WatchCDC'.

This film talks about the Local Offer which is part of the new SEND law that came in on 1st September 2014.

Take a look at the video

What if someone doesn't have access to the internet?

If you do not usually have access to the Local Offer website, for example if you or someone you know does not have the internet, you can contact us by telephone on 01642 727598 and we will help you find the information you need, we can also print pages out for you.

How to register your service on the Local Offer?

If you think your service or organisation is suitable for our Local Offer then we would like it if you would register your service by following these simple steps.

To add your service:

  1. Following this web link: www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/localoffer
  2. Create an account (Top right corner ‘Sign in/ Register’ – Click Register
  3. Wait for confirmation email – DON’T CLOSE THE WINDOW
  4. Enter Activation code which has been sent to you via email
  5. Sign in
  6. Go to ‘Dashboard’ – ‘Provider updates’
  7. Click ‘Create a new directory record’
  8. Input details and save

 We will receive your application and approve if suitable.

 By creating a log in and adding your service, it allows you to go back in and update whenever necessary.

 Our Local Offer website is a good platform for advertisement and provides really useful information for children/ young people and their families who are effected by SEND in the local area.

Page last reviewed: 24/12/2021

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