The Local Authority has consulted with families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) about their experience of using the Southwark Local Offer.

The Local Offer has two key purposes:

1. To provide clear, comprehensive, accessible and up-to-date information about the available provision and how to access it, and
2. To 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. (SEND Code of Practice section 4.2)
    

The feedback highlighted the need for a re-design of the website. The Local Authority commissioned a community organisation, Renaisi, to conduct a research project. This included a comparison with other Local Offer websites, interviews with families of children and young people with SEND, and focus groups with professionals in Southwark. This research highlighted the following key issues:

• Accessibility – including language, categorisation and spacing of information on the website
• Functionality – including the search function, layout, booking of services, and one directory of services
• Intuitiveness - including the structure and navigation of the information
• Engaging for users – including the use of images, colours and icons
• Clear and consistent way to access provision/services – including booking processes and contact information
   

The Local Authority used the research to develop a plan for a brand new Local Offer website. The funding was agreed in February 2025. Since then, the website has been developed using the research findings, and is almost ready for the next phase of user-testing.

The user-testing phase will ensure that the new Local Offer is co-produced with children and young people with SEND, and their families. Any changes must be tried and tested with families, to ensure that the Local Offer meets their requirements and resolves the key issues that were identified.

We are looking for service users to participate in upcoming user-testing of the site. Participants can take part in a range of ways:

• In-person sessions for parents/carers
• Young people's sessions in schools
• Open door online sessions

If you would be interested in joining an upcoming session, please contact us by emailing: localoffer@southwark.gov.uk 

Further information will be announced soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last updated: 16 February 2026