A VIRTUAL event taking place next week will showcase the support available locally for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Local Offer Live will take place online from 24-28 May, and will feature a range of virtual stalls, activities, performances and workshops to ensure parents, carers, children and young people are aware of the opportunities available to them locally.
The week kicks off with an introduction to Local Offer Live, taking place from 9.15-10.15am on Monday 24 May. Further talks throughout the day will showcase a range of providers offering services for SEND children and young people.
On Tuesday 25 May, there will be sessions outlining mental health support and help from the Department for Work & Pensions.
The Carers Centre will offer taster sessions from some of its support groups on Wednesday, and there is also a session on making the most of your child’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan – the tailored plan SEND children are given to help them get the best out of their education.
On Thursday, there is a live meeting with the Big Mouth Forum, a participation group for disabled young people. And on Friday, there is a session on preparing for adulthood, as well as a session offering the chance to meet the local group ADHD Solutions.
All the sessions are free to attend. For a full brochure with all the week’s events and more details, including how to reserve your place on any of the sessions, see https://families.leicester.gov.uk/send-local-offer
The virtual events will also be recorded and will later be accessible at families.leicester.gov.uk/local-offer-live. This means anyone not able to attend at the time will be able to access these resources at a time that suits them.
Pre-recorded sessions will also be available and ready to view at any time, covering topics including EHC plans and what support is available for young people who want to go to university.
Assistant city mayor for education Cllr Elly Cutkelvin said: “Local Offer Live has previously been a live event, but that isn’t possible this year. Moving it online is a great opportunity for us to attract even more people, because you will be able to view the sessions at any time after they have aired.
“I hope many people will find these discussions useful, whether they join us as they are happening, or watch them back later. It’s a great chance to find out about the range of services and support on offer locally for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.”
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