Northumberland County Council has launched a new website for parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). 
 

A one-stop-shop, the SEND Local Offer provides a wide range of information about all the support and facilities which families can expect to find in their area for children and young people from 0-25 who have additional needs
 

The local offer brings together information about services across education, health and social care into one place.  
 

It also includes information on leisure activities and support to help young people and their family or carers plan for the future and prepare for adulthood. 
 

Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet member for Inspiring Young People, said: “I’m really proud to be able to share our new local offer website. 

 

“We want all our young people in Northumberland to thrive and get the most out of life and for all families to get the right help at the right time from the right people. 

 

“As a child grows and develops, parents and carers sometimes find they have questions about their progress, the way their child is communicating and many other emerging concerns. 

  

“We're here to answer those questions and provide information, advice, support and signposting for children and their families.  

 

“We hope this new website will make it easier for families to find the support they need and learn more about the opportunities available for young people to reach their potential.” 

 

The Local Offer website has been planned and produced with parents, carers, services across the council and health, schools, colleges and early years settings and voluntary sector colleagues. 

 

The council has worked closely with the Northumberland Parent Carer Forum (PCF) to ensure the content is useful and accessible to families.  

  

The PCF is a voluntary group of Northumberland parents and carers dedicated to improving services for children and young people with SEND and their families.  

 

Claire North, Chair, Northumberland PCF, said: “We know from our own experiences and from what our parents and carers tell us, that finding the right information to support your child can be challenging. 

 

“We’re pleased to have worked with Northumberland County Council on this new local offer website that we hope will be a really useful tool for families. 

 

“It has been designed with families at its heart and aims to be as user friendly as possible.  

 

“We want it to grow and develop and we will continue to work with the council and its partners to make sure it meets the needs of children young people and families.” 

 

You can visit the new SEND Local Offer website at: www.northumberlandsend.co.uk