Find out more about the Local Offer.

What is the Local Offer?

The Local Offer is Doncaster’s online source of information about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) for children and young people aged 0-25 years. Our website will tell you what help and support is available from City of Doncaster Council, the local NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) and other partners such as education and social care.

See our "What is SEND?" webapage for details on what SEND means.

Who can use the Local Offer?

The Local Offer can be used by:

  • Parents and carers
  • Children and young people
  • Professionals and agencies working with families

How do I find what I'm looking for?

We know when you access the Local Offer for the first time, it may be difficult to know where to look to find the answers to your questions. We’ve tried to make things easier by outlining the types of things you can find within each section below.

Top Tip: At the bottom of each Local Offer page, you should see a button which takes you back to the Local Offer homepage or to the previous section.

What information can be found within each section of the Local Offer?

Early Years

This section contains information on services who can support your child in their early years setting. It also contains information on child development in the early years and resources for early years providers.

EARLY YEARS

Education and Learning

This section contains information all things relating to education for children and young people who have SEND, including:

  • What support is available for learners who have SEND and how to access this
  • Types of settings available for learners and where they are
  • How to choose a setting for your child

EDUCATION AND LEARNING

Health and Social Care

This section contains information on health and social care services in Doncaster for children and young people who have SEND. You can also find information on how your child can be referred to the General Development Assessment (GDA) Pathway.

Health & Social Care

Activities and Leisure

This section contains details of clubs, groups and activities for children and young people who have special educational needs and or disabilities (SEND). There's also links to websites where you can find universal activities (activities for all children, not just those with SEND).

Activities & Leisure

Money Matters and Transport

This section contains information on benefits and allowances you/your child may be entitled to and information on grants, disability aids and equipment. It also contains information transport services available for children and young people who have SEND, for example, information on education transport services (transport to and from school), bus passes and details on Independent Travel Training (training to help a young person travel independently to and from college).

MONEY MATTERs and Transport

Preparing for Adulthood (Post 16)

This section contains information on services available to support young people aged 16+, as they prepare for adulthood. This includes information on transitioning to adult services, accessing further and higher education, living independently, getting starting in the world of work, health and social care services for adults and activities for older young people and adults.

Preparing for Adulthood (Post 16)

Get Involved, Latest News and Feedback

This sections contains information on how you can get involved with and give your feedback on the Local Offer. We rely on input from parents/carers and children and young people to help develop the Local Offer to ensure it meets every one's needs. You also find out about past work (consultations) we have done on the Local Offer and read the latest SEND news within this section.

The section also contains information on services parents and carers can access for support.

Get Involved, Latest News and Feedback

I can't find what I need

If you can't find what you need within the Local Offer pages, you can also search for information and services in our local directory. The directory includes details of services, groups, events and activities for organisations.

SEARCH OUR DIRECTORY

I still can't find what I need

If you can't find what you're looking for, please contact us and we'll help you - email localoffer@doncaster.gov.uk or call 01302 735237.

How to access the Local Offer in alternative formats

Accessing the Local Offer in an accessible format on this website

Doncaster Council’s website has a tool called ReachDesk installed. ReachDeck makes this website easier to access for those that need help with reading. This includes those with learning difficulties, dyslexia, visual impairments, as well as those where English is not their first language. It works by reading the words on web pages aloud in a human sounding voice. 

To enable ReachDeck, click the Listen/Translate button (this may look like a pair of headphones on some devices) at the top right of every page, then you can choose different ways for RechDeck to work:

Button What the button does
Hover to Speak  starts reading the page out loud - this feature is on by default
Play starts reading selected text or reads from the top of the page
provides written and spoken translations in multiple languages
Picture Dictionary displays pictures related to text selected on the page
Generate MP3 converts selected text into an MP3
Screenmask blocks distractions on screen with a tinted mask
Text Magnifier enlarges text and reads it out loud 
Web Page Simplifier removes clutter from the screen, displaying only the main text. Also gives you the ability to change text size and colour. 
Help shows a simple help page that explains what the ReachDeck Toolbar does
Settings allows you to customise options to suit individual needs or preferences 

Accessing the Local Offer if you don't have internet access at home

If families cannot access the internet to access the Local Offer we can provide the information in other formats or support families to access online.

Via telephone

  • 0800 138 4568

Doncaster Council’s One Stop Shop

  • Customer services
  • Computers in the reception area

In the community

  • Families can access computers in their local libraries or Family Hubs

Printed information

  • FIS can post out information which is included on the Local Offer to families
  • Print information from Local Offer and make it available to collect from the One Stop Shop

Neighbouring local authority's Local Offers

If you're unsure which local authority area you live in, you can find your local council here.

Adding your service to the Local Offer

If you have a service which can be accessed by children and young people who have SEND, or their families, then you can request to list it on our Local Offer using the form below.

Local Offer - Application and Update Form
Download (36KB - DOCX)

Once you have completed the form, please return it to: localoffer@doncaster.gov.uk

Disclaimer

Families Information Service is not able to recommend or endorse any providers listed in this section nor can we guarantee the accuracy of the information provided although we do our best to complete frequent audits to make sure that the information is as up-to-date and relevant as possible. Anyone looking to use a service is responsible for making their own checks about the suitability of that service - you should decide if it is fit for your purpose. Parent / carers should check that they are satisfied with the service and provider before attending / accessing.

Should you have any cause for complaint against any of the services listed you will need to complain to them directly in line with their complaints policy. Doncaster Council has a complaints procedure which you can follow should you need to complain about any of the services you have received from Doncaster Council. Anyone working with children and young people will be required to have appropriate Disclosure Barring Service Check (the replacement of the Criminal Record Bureau - CRB - Check), safeguarding policies and insurance in place, which they should make available to you on request.

 

Local Offer Homepage

 

Last updated: 19 April 2024 14:55:57

 

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City of Doncaster Council’s Families Information Service is responsible for co-ordinating and publishing the Local Offer – Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

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