As part of the continued development of the Local Offer, the Kirklees Local Offer team are now a part of the Yorkshire & Humber SEND Local Offer working group. A key part of this work is the peer review of each members Local Offer. Leeds LA colleagues carried out a peer review of the new Local Offer prior to launch using a Mott Macdonald peer review template, which is considered to be an excellent “litmus test” for a Local Offer.
Some key elements of the review which identified gaps in our Local Offer are:
- Comments - the local authority response and the actions they intend to take published on the Local Offer
We have: provided a clear “Comments and Reports” button on the home page linking to a “You Said, We Did” section as well as links to the annual report.
- Out of area education provision included on the Local Offer in the same way as the in-area education provision
We have: added direct links alongside the maintained Kirklees settings in our directory side of the site to all out of area settings from neighbouring authorities, as well as alternative provisions within 20km, maintained and independent special schools within 40km and National Specialist Colleges within 60km. We have also made easy access to the Section 41 list and Natspec website.
- Travel (in terms of how to apply for home to school transport, as well as transport policies)
We have: made links to the existing Kirklees Local Authority pages regarding school transport clearer, including how to apply. We have also added direct links to the transport policies for both pre and post 16. It has to be noted that the School Transport service is undergoing a review and how the service will run is not established at the time of writing this report. The Local Offer team is continuing to work with this team to update the information on the Kirklees Local Offer.
- Phase transfer/higher education (specifically could find information about transitions/phase transfers or DSA)
We have: made the information about change of phase easier to find and easier to understand by adding description of the terms used. We have also made it clearer where to find information about DSA (Disabled Students' Allowances).
- Disagreement resolution, mediation, tribunal/appeals and complaints (couldn’t find information)
We have: now created a page directly providing information related to this area as we did not have a page specifically about this area, it was contained within other pages. We have a clear complaints link at the bottom of every page.
- What the Local Authority expects education settings to offer (couldn’t find specific information about what the Local Authority expects educational settings are to provide within their budgets)
We have: added more information about notional budgets, quality first teaching and what is expected from every school within Kirklees in terms of SEND provision.
- Involving parents (reference to involvement of parent carers but not explicit about how this has been done)
We are: developing a new page being developed which has direct quotes from parents who have been involved with the co-production of the Local Offer. You Said We Did section is much clearer now, but doesn’t state who said what.
- Publicity (cannot see any reference to social media being used to publicise the Local Offer, links to the new Local Offer and how to access if you do not have internet access)
We are: working with the Kirklees Comms department to publicise the new Local Offer in time for launch including; social media posts, posters, flyers, features in school newsletters and signposting on Kirklees webpages. Additionally, all links to the legacy site will redirect to the new Local Offer upon launch.