Local Offer Updates
“I find the Local Offer difficult to navigate. The last time I used it, I didn’t find all the information I needed.”
OxPCF shared:Parent carers continue to tell us that the Local Offer can feel difficult to navigate and sometimes unclear about what support is available or where to find information. Families have also highlighted inconsistencies between some website content, leaflets and pathways. OxPCF has been feeding this back as part of ongoing Local Offer development work and wider discussions around accessibility, clarity, consistency and parent carer experience.
We did (Local Area Partnership):
We know families can still find the SEND Local Offer difficult to navigate at times, and we recognise there is still more work to do. Improving the accessibility, clarity and usefulness of the Local Offer is an ongoing piece of work, and the website continues to be regularly reviewed, updated and expanded in partnership with Oxfordshire Parent Carers Forum (OxPCF), services and professionals.
Recent improvements include:
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Removing broken, duplicate and outdated pages to reduce confusion and improve reliability
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Improving page names, tiles and links to help make information easier to find and support clearer journeys across the site
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Increasing and improving health and social care information, including clearer pathways, updated links and more consistent signposting to support across age ranges
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Updating and renaming the SEND Glossary to a Terminology Guide to help explain commonly used SEND terms and language more clearly
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Improving signposting to the Terminology Guide from across the Local Offer
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Beginning work on wider structural changes to improve how information is organised and presented, making the Local Offer more intuitive to navigate
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Developing a communication toolkit to help professionals and partners consistently signpost families to the Local Offer and improve awareness of the information available. Feedback from OxPCF has highlighted that some leaflets and resources currently reference information or sections that are still being developed or updated on the website, and this is helping to shape ongoing improvements
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Working alongside OxPCF to gather parent carer feedback and views, including through polls, discussions and review work, to help shape ongoing improvements and priorities
We know the Local Offer is not perfect yet, and feedback from families continues to directly inform ongoing development and changes. We would particularly welcome specific feedback about pages, links or information families have found difficult to access or navigate so this can continue to improve over time. To share feedback, families can email feedback@oxpcf.org.uk.
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You can view Oxfordshire Local Offer here: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/children-and-families/oxfordshire-send-local-offer
OxPCF will also be hosting a Local Offer focus group later this year to gather wider parent carer views and experiences to help inform ongoing improvements. If families would be interested in being part of this, they can email info@oxpcf.org.uk or look out for future posts and updates from OxPCF.