This is a true and accurate account regarding parent/carers input of the local offer dated 7th September 2022:
"Used once the link didn’t work, can’t remember what for. It’s easier to ask on here! Someone will be able to point you in the right direction, the LO isn’t very user friendly
in my opinion"
"If your child is so ill, they need you speaking to someone directly is much more helpful than searching a web page"
"I generally, do a Google search, sometimes the results will be local offer and I will use it then. However, I prefer lived experiences. I ask on here or PCF, because I will get a real picture and real help."
"Hi, the LO is useless minefield of information. I know it's bloody in there somewhere but I can never find what I'm looking for I normally end up somewhere else entirely. I would rather go to the Empowerment for Parents group where I can get the information exactly and any more help I require"
"Local Offer is no use to me at all. None of what is on offer as extra activities is suitable for my child. If I need information or to know how or where to get information I would ask either EYPCF or Angela's group as I know I would get an up to date and correct answer from there. Anything else I already know after so many years trying and fighting to get what my child needs... I know most departments contact info by now!"
"Don't understand most of any of it"
"I found it bewildering at first"
"Useless .. lots of waffle, nothing they offer suits needs of my child or in fact in my local area.
Generally ask on here or other local forums. Don't feedback because exhausted filling in forms already and never see much change so sadly I'm exhausted feel don't listen to parent carers for the important stiff. Maybe i'm just angry I don't know"
"Never use it"
"Easier to do a Google search, ring customer services or just ask on here or school group chat"
"I very occassionaly look when it’s coming up to summer hols at what activities are on….. Everything else in the local offer I’d rather use the likes of groups like yours, easier asking other parents"
"The LO hasn't always been accurate so, even though I occasionally look things up, I wouldn't say I rely on it. I just typed in "Dyspraxia" and then "DCD" in the search bar and it said no matches. The Camhs page on the LO suggests all sorts of support yet when I phoned Contact Point last month (as recommended by a senior EP) Camhs said my child with Selective Mutism had to talk to someone or there was nothing they could do. None of that is mentioned on the Local Offer. I ask other parents, usually on this group and/or the PCF group as I learn so much from others who have already gone through certain things like assessment routes. I understand the purpose of the LO but is it actually fit for purpose when different professionals tell you different stories? There is too much confusion navigating this maze of a SEND system - referral pathways is one area I have struggled with. I haven't used the LO for feedback. I mean, who exactly are we feeding back to and what will change if we do? Admittedly, I haven't used the LO much so my feedback only represents what I have discovered on there. It would be good if the LO could help signpost families to the most appropriate schools/colleges for our children and initiate some relevant guidance from professionals as I could do with some help with that right now. You can use my name if you want to share any of my comments."
"Don't use the LO as it's too difficult to navigate and feel I'm on a road to nowhere."
"I was signposted to the LO by school and I emailed the contact details on there I gave them a detailed background regarding my sons situation and they said an EHCP will be the way forward and they sent me the forms, I filled them in and the next day the head teacher asked me if an ehcp was really the route I wanted to go. I said I have no idea I was signposted to a site which then signposted me to an ehcp. Due to lack of information provided by school they refused to assess my son for an ehcp. I felt completely let down and deflated."
"The local offer site was confusing and even when I contacted someone directly with all the information I was still pointed in the wrong direction and made to feel like a fool. In my opinion the site is not fit for purpose and so confusing for parents"
"I find LO useless for the early years, unless you need a service for SENDIASS (but let's face it you're signposted to it). For actual activities, there's not a lot of choices, tbh, and it's all needing to fork out money. Or my child is at preschool and he can't attend any of the activities. Any time I've tried to access a service through it, I've been let down - only when a professional within the East Riding refers in does something happen."
"I try to advertise my groups and sessions with them but seem to get bumped for other better known organisations…"
"I used to go on local offer only to see what activities were on but now there's no point trying to figure it out as I just joined the Facebook disabilities groups I'm interested in and they share any activities in a way that is to the point and parent carer friendly."
"I used to go on local offer only to see what activities were on but now there's no point trying to figure it out as I just joined the Facebook disabilities groups I'm interested in and they share any activities in a way that is to the point and parent carer friendly."
"Just to add, there's a successes section and a fantastic feedback section on the LO which is all well and good but what about a reality section for the other experiences?"
"Will not use it, it's not user friendly. Can never find anything I need to know, that's why I use this group Use my name by all means."
"The local offer, takes me a week to work where to find something, it's difficult to use and not user friendly in any way!!!"
"Used to use look ahead years ago but I find the LO has never anything suitable for Emma’s needs on it. I’ve found more out from groups like this and a Sen evening The market Weighton school hosted a few years ago"
"Just sends me round in circles and nothing is easy to find. It doesn’t have comprehensive info on anything. I still need to look elsewhere for the info I need."
"I've asked fairly simple questions to the LA and SEN services I'm the past and have often been met with the response "have you checked the local offer" as if it's some devine texts that holds the answers to all things SEND...
In reality it's a very 'inaccessible', not inclusive and hard to navigate website only there to meet statutory requirements. I have no doubt that this was not a co-produced piece of work and is quite frankly unfit for purpose."
"Recently when I asked my son's EHCO what exactly a personal budget was she deferred me the local offer instead of answering me herself. I tried to find this information on the Local offer but still didn't come away fully understanding what it was. Luckily in a later meeting with SENDIAS present, an officer from their team took the couple of minutes needed to explain this to me until I fully understood. Just one example of why I chose not to access it anymore and now rely on SEN parent/carer support groups such as this one when wanting to find out about anything SEN related."
"I found it confusing and difficult to navigate. What would be far more useful to us all, myself in particular, would be a professional who is assigned to us who works in OUR interests, not the LA's, and we could tell them what we need and they source services etc for us. We're already knackered enough dealing with our children who have additional needs, without having to add onto our already long enough days chasing round trying to find out stuff and sort it."
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