Local contacts

Parents Voiceparentsvoice_logo

Parents Voice is a voluntary group of parents/carers of children and young people with a wide range of special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. Our purpose is to help shape changes to existing services and to participate in the planning of new and future initiatives for children and young people with SEN and disabilities.

If you have a child with SEN/disability then Parents Voice would like you to share your experiences with us. As part of a national initiative to promote parent participation in the planning of services, we would like to be able to gather and represent the views of many more parents/carers on the Isle of Wight.

Parents Voice would like to invite all parents/carers of children with SEN and disabilities on the Island to join our register of parents who would like to help influence the services that you may need to access on behalf of your child.

We all need to have our voice heard.

So please tell Parents Voice how you would prefer to take part in further consultations visit:

email: parentsvoice@peoplematteriw.org

Tel: 07977068416


LOCAL OFFER

The Local Offer supports parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) young people with SEND themselves by providing a single location where you can search for the support that you need.

What is the Local Offer?

Every local authority must publish a Local Offer. The Local Offer tells you what support the local authority expects to be available for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities. It must include information about education, health and care provision. It should also tell you about training, employment and independent living for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

You can find the Local Offer for Isle of Wight Council at www.iwight.com/localoffer

Who is it for?

The Local Offer is for:

  • children and young people with SEN and/or disabilities from birth to 25
  • their parents and carers
  • Practitioners and professionals.

What is the idea?

The Local Offer should:

  • make it easier to find out what you need to know
  • give you information about what is available
  • tell you where you can get further information.

The Local Offer should also make services more responsive to local needs.

The SEND Code of Practice says that the Local Offer should:

  • provide clear, comprehensive, accessible and up-to-date information about the available provision and how to access it
  • make provision more responsive to local needs and aspirations by directly involving disabled children and those with SEN and their parents, and disabled young people and those with SEN, and service providers in its development and review (4.2)

What does it include?

The Local Offer includes information on:

  • how children and young peoples’ needs are identified
  • how their needs are assessed
  • the special educational, health and social care provision for children and young people with SEN or disabilities
  • opportunities for training and employment
  • support for independent living
  • how provision is funded
  • leisure activities and support groups
  • where you can find more information, advice and support
  • arrangements for travel to and from school and other settings
  • the help available to resolve disagreements.

The Local Offer must also tell you about services provided outside your area which local people are likely to use.

You can find the full list of what must be included in the SEND Code of Practice section 4.30.

How can I get involved?

The local authority must involve children and young people with SEN and disabilities, and parents and carers in preparing and reviewing the Local Offer. If you would like to be involved, or make some comments, you can find out more on the Local Offer website www.iwight.com/localoffer

Parents who want to be more involved in developing and reviewing the Local Offer can contact www.parentsvoice-iw.co.uk .

Children and young people who want to be more involved in developing and reviewing the Local Offer can contact Andrew Briggs, Children’s Services Dept. andrew.briggs@iow.gov.uk Tel: (01983) 821000.

The local authority must publish what children, young people and parents tell them about the Local Offer. It must also say clearly what it will do about the comments it has received.

Where can I get further information, advice or support?

Chapter 4 of the SEND Code of Practice tells you more about the Local Offer.

You can find the Local Offer for the Isle of Wight Council at www.iwight.com/localoffer


Isle of Wight Deaf Children’s Association

Isle of Wight Deaf Children’s Association is a local group run by parents and carers of deaf children, working together with local health and education professionals.

The group financially supports a Saturday Club for deaf children.

They fund equipment for children and schools and can help with travel costs to the mainland for cochlear implant appointments and so on.  For more information;

email: isleofwight@ndcsgroup.org.uk


Saturday Club for Deaf Children

The Club has been running since 1976 and is dedicated to supporting the needs of Isle of Wight deaf children/young people and their families.  The clubs varied activities are thoughtfully planned to meet the social, emotional and language development of deaf children and young people.

www.saturdayclub.org.uk/home/