FAMILIES who have children with special educational needs and disabilities are being invited to the Leicester Riders’ Morningside arena later this week to find out more about services that could help them.
Local Offer Live is a free, drop-in annual showcase event aimed at helping people find out what’s available locally for children and young people with additional needs.
This year, for the first time, the event is being hosted at the Morningside Arena, in Charter Street. It will take place from 10am-4.30pm on Friday 31 January.
Information stands from organisations including the Carers Centre, the National Citizen Service, the Special Education Service and occupational therapy will be at the event, along with lots of stands from local charities, groups and specialist support providers.
Workshops and performances will also be going on, highlighting some of the services available and giving children with special needs the chance to show off some of their talents.
Workshops include a question and answer session on how education, health and care plans work – the tailored individual plans that set out what educational support a child with special needs should get.
Other workshops will cover topics such as autism training or understanding children’s sensory needs.
Students from Millgate School will perform at the event, and the Leicester Cobras wheelchair basketball club will lead a shoot-a-hoop session. There’s also the chance for everyone to get involved in some Zumba routines, led by FTM Dance – an arts respite service for children and adults with disabilities.
Assistant city mayor Cllr Elly Cutkelvin, who leads on education, said: “We know that children and young people with special educational needs can face additional challenges. Local Offer Live brings together services that can support them, and their families, in one place. It’s a great chance to find out what help is out there.
“As well as information and advice, visitors to Local Offer Live can take part in helpful workshops and enjoy a range of performances celebrating the creativity and resourcefulness of our young people. This is a useful and enjoyable event which I hope lots of families will drop in to.”
For more details, visit families.leicester.gov.uk/local-offer-live
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