ECC – Essex Local Offer website turns one

As the improved Essex Local Offer website turns one, Essex County Council is encouraging families to access the support it offers.

The Essex Local Offer gives information about help and services available for children and young people aged between 0 and 25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

This includes guidance about education, health and wellbeing support. It also includes support for young people around their finances and finding a job.

The improved Local Offer website launch followed work to understand the needs of families and how the site could meet those needs.

Since the launch of the new website, the council has:

• seen a 126% increase in monthly visits, with over 22,000 visits to the site in November
• achieved a 38% increase in the number of services listed, with over 400 services now available
• continued to improve the website with the Essex Family Forum and local groups

The council has also continued its Local Offer roadshows. It welcomed over 1,000 families to 32 roadshows over the last two years.

Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said: “The Local Offer website is part of our wider efforts to improve the Essex SEND system and reduce inequalities for families in the county.

“It’s extremely positive to see how well it has been received to date and we continue to welcome feedback and suggestions from people on improving it even further. We are not complacent in our SEND improvement journey and know there is still a way to go to ensure the experience of every family in Essex is a positive one.”

Residents can help to expand the Essex Local Offer even further to benefit more families, by:

• sharing the website with friends and family that may find it useful
• telling us about services that support children and young people with SEND