Northumberland’s new SEND website
County Council launches site to help parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
A new website details the support and facilities available to be found across Northumberland to support children and young people aged 0 to 25 who have additional needs.
Photo courtesy Northumberland County Council
The local offer site brings together in one place information about a range of services, including education, health and social care. The site also includes details of leisure activities and support available to help young people, their families and/or carers to plan for the future and prepare for adulthood.
Northumberland County Council worked closed with the local Parent Carer Forum (PCF) to ensure the content is useful and accessible. The site was also planned and produced in partnership with a range of groups including parents and carers, as well as those working in council and health services, early years settings, schools, colleges and the voluntary sector.
Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet Member for Inspiring Young People at Northumberland County Council, says: ‘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.’
Claire North, Chair of Northumberland PCF, adds: ‘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.’
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