Devon’s SEND Local Offer details support, services and activities available to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) aged 0-14+. It also includes information for families, parents and carers.

The Local Offer is part of the Children & Families Act 2014. This states that local authorities are required to provide information about the services available in their area for children and young people with SEND.

Provided by Devon County Council, it’s part of the transformation of services, offering clear and impartial information about services and support in Devon’s local area.

The Devon SEND Local Offer contains detailed information on:

• Areas of need
• What to expect
• Other information
• Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
• Support and activities for families
• Financial support
• Who to contact for advice and guidance

What is SEND?

SEND stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. It describes a wide range of needs that children and young people may have, which require additional support in order to access education, health and social care.

These may include:

• Physical disabilities
• Mental health difficulties
• Learning difficulties such as dyslexia
• Autism spectrum disorders (ASD)
• Sensory or vision impairments
• Communication difficulties.

Who is the Local Offer for?

The local offer is for residents of Devon with SEND, tailored to 3 distinct age groups:

Early years (ages 0 – 5)

The term “early years” refers to the first five years of a child’s life, during which they begin to learn and develop. This time can be challenging for children with special needs and disabilities, as their parents may need to access additional support.

To help find the right childcare for your child, you can use early years support and childcare provision information. There are different levels of support available for children and families during the early years, depending on the child’s needs.

These include:

• universal support – for all children, regardless of additional needs
• targeted support – for children who have additional needs, different to other children their age
• specialist support – for children who have long-term, complex needs

There are also things that parents can do at home to support their child’s development. By accessing the appropriate support and resources, parents can help their child with SEND thrive during their early years.

Children and young people (ages 5+)

If your child is aged five or above and has SEND, they may require additional help to progress in their learning. Personalised support can be extremely beneficial for them to achieve their full potential. Every child is entitled to an education that enables them to achieve their best, gain confidence, and make a successful transition into adulthood.

If you believe your child requires extra help with their learning or development, speak to their nursery, school, or college. Each education provider has a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo). They can assist in understanding your child’s needs and put in place the required support to help them succeed.

Most children with SEND requirements can have their needs met within their local mainstream school or college. However, some may require additional support, and a few may need to attend a special school or college, where all pupils have SEND requirements.

Preparing for adulthood (ages 14+)

Transitioning into adulthood can be difficult for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The goal is to provide the best possible transition experience, empowering young people to become independent, self-reliant, and confident.

Preparing for adulthood is a significant time for any young person, which can start from year 9. If you have additional support needs, it’s important to plan out what social care, education, and health services may be necessary. The councils Preparing for Adulthood Team can provide formal support from academic year 10.

Areas of future planning can include:

Education: A number of resources are available to help young people with SEND find the right job or career path. These may include supported internships, apprenticeships, and work experience placements.

Employment: Think about what sort of job you want and research the skills, qualifications, and experience that may be necessary. The council has a number of employment and education services that can offer support with finding employment.

InFocus can also provide support for ages 16-25, including education and employment training, supported living, residential care and much more.

How to access and use the SEND Local Offer?

To access Devon’s SEND Local Offer, parents and carers can visit the Devon County Council website. Here, you will find information on how to apply for a statutory assessment and help with finding support services. You can also request an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for your child if they are aged 0–25.

The local offer also provides a range of resources and services for parents, carers, schools, and other organisations. These include:

• Advice on finding the right education or health and social care support for your child
• Information on activities and clubs in your local area for children with SEND
• Support groups for parents
• Training opportunities
• Financial advice

DiAS (Devon Information, Advice and Support)

DiAS (Devon Information Advice and Support) is a service provided to help parents of young people with SEND access the support they need. This includes providing information, advice and guidance on SEND, as well as supporting families through an Education Health Care Plan (EHC)

 The service offers:

• signposting
• printed and online information
• email information and advice
• telephone advice and support
• face to face support

InFocus College

As a specialist college, InFocus provides a range of courses and support services to help young people (16-25) learn and develop. The college offers educational programmes tailored to each individual’s needs, with understanding staff and a creative environment.

The college also works closely with parents and carers throughout the process, providing ongoing advice and support throughout their education journey.

We cater for a wide range of impairments and complex needs including:

• Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD)
• Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Severe Learning disabilities (SLD)
• Moderate Learning needs (MLD)
• Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI)
• Cerebral Palsy
• Physical Needs
• Social and emotional needs
• Complex communication difficulties

For more information about our specialist college please see our college prospectus. Or if you prefer, you can visit us in person. We are always happy to welcome visitors to the college, offer tours of the facilities and answer any questions you may have.