This aspect of the SEND reforms is one area where there is the potential for real transformation in how services for children & young people with SEN and disability have traditionally been seen, accessed or commissioned. However, it seems a more logical approach is to look at what is happening to SEND provision across the country as a whole, rather than within artificial confines of local authority boundaries.
Without funding to support this social enterpise, there is no alternate means of making it sustainable, without going along a route of taking on substantial advertising. The web platform is a bespoke design, based around 9 months preparation and exploratory work talking with specialist & targeted services, parents & carers, establishing how best to deliver a platform that looks at SEND provison across all of England's local authorities. So, there has been considerable investment in making this platform available for servcies across education, health & social care even before the point of launch in April 2014, and of course there is full time management of the service, and on going business costs.
A unique Provider Profile page based on the information provided at registration
A provider search function allowing visitors to the site to find specialist provision based on 6 search criteria
After an initial period of caution, and some hostility from a number of local authorities, there is now for the most part, a mutual respect and shared appreciation of the work we are all doing, which is about increasing access to services for parents, carers, children and schools. When The Local Offer published all local offers from each of England's 152 local authorities, there was a hostile reception from many authorities who defended their work, even when in some cases, there was little to defend. Although that aspect of the site is no longer a feature of such interest, as the reforms are 3 years old, updates are still added periodically, but now more frequently, shared by local authority local offer leadds.
That varies considerably. There are many diverse, innovative services and approaches to SEND available, altough some may only be available in a certain postcode or are delivered by a single practitioner or team of professionals. My own personal and professional interests lie in the breadth and diversity of specialist provision for children with SEND, so I am always pleased when a less mainstream therapeutic service joins the site, such as equine assisted therapy, play therapy, outdoor based learning and support, musical interaction therapy, or as recently, a dating service for young adults with disabilities. Provided the service can show that is offers specialist or targeted provision, it can join the site. For some, it may be that their offer is universlal but within that there are components that are highly specialsed.
There is a big ambition behind the Road Map which is designed to track services that support CYP with SEND across each local authority, thus showing areas of paucity of provision but also leading by example in some cases, with a real richness & diversity of services. In the near future, there are plans for an app to be developed around the Road Map. The map can be viewed in satellite or map mode, with a zoom in and out feature, and links to the Provider Search feature on the site. Each service registered has a pop up box that appears alongside the google locator pin. One ore click takes visitors to each Provider Profile page.
For Providers, Partners, Schools & Commissioners:
Contact a Family is a national charity for families with disabled children. We provide information, advice and support. We bring families together so they can support each other. We campaign to improve their circumstances, and for their right to be included and equal in society.
We are bold and fearless in instigating intelligent debate to support the development of disability arts and culture.
We are a portal into the world of disability arts and a hub that connects people in a strong and vibrant creative community.
We nurture and showcase talent, provide information and create opportunities for disabled artists through innovative partnerships.
We are an empowering disability-led organisation with 83% of the board and 95% of our writers identifying as disabled people.
We are disabled people leading change, working to create a society where everyone with lived experience of disability or health conditions can participate equally as full citizens
In Control has a range of useful resources for families and professionals. They have provided training and support to the SEN Green paper Pathfinders and are also developing several chapters of parents Making It Personal handbook.
KIDS work with disabled children, young people and their families across England. They have extensive resources and provide a range of services. All resources for the Making it Personal Project will be available on their website.
Whizz-Kidz sets disabled children free to reach their true potential and live their lives to the full. We provide mobility equipment to give kids the chance to be independent
