Local Offer SEND Information Hub

We have created this resource to bring information together in one place around special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in the Manchester City Council area and beyond. 

To learn more about us, please visit What is Manchester Local Offer? You can sign up to our newsletter for regular updates on all things SEND. 

 

Benefits and grants

See our Benefits and grants section. 

 

Cost of living support

A free telephone line from Manchester City Council offers support and advice around benefits and rent, debt and paying bills, food support and staying warm. Call 0800 023 2692, Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm. Translations and Sign Video services available upon request. There is an online contact form for an alternative way to get in touch. 

There is also the Council's 'Help with the cost of living crisis' information hub

Here is an easy read leaflet, produced last winter, about help for people in Manchester. It includes what to do if you get ill, support with money and ways to keep warm.

See the 'Benefits and grants', 'Household matters' and 'Transport' sections in this hub for more cost of living support. 

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Debt support: Citizens Advice offer debt support through a Chat facility on their website. You can talk with a trained adviser who’ll try to help you solve your problem or make good progress towards it. Chat is usually available 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am to 1pm Saturday. If you'd rather talk on the phone, you can call the National Debt Helpline on 0800 808 4000. 

Update Autumn 2023: The Government will pay £300 to low-income households this November as part of its £900 cost of living support package. Most people on Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits will receive a payment between 31st October and 19th November. Those on tax credits only will receive the instalment between 10th and 19th November. Eligible households will receive £900 in three instalments across 2023/24. For more updates, see the Carers Manchester Cost of Living Blog.

 

 

Early Help

There are three Early Help locality hubs in Manchester. Each hub brings together staff from different agencies, including Manchester City Council. Rather than a service or a single team, it is a way of working with families that helps them to cope with the difficulties they face and supports them to thrive. Early Help is for all children in Manchester up to 18 (or 25 for young people with SEND) but it is recognised that children with special educational needs and disabilities may need more specialist support.

Most of the City Council website information about Early Help is aimed at practitioners, the people who work with families, rather than parents. They would usually refer your family for an Early Help Assessment. You can find out more in the Early Help Practitioners Zone and the Early Help Assessment Journey. You can also contact the hubs directly:

South Early Help Hub:  0161 234 1977, earlyhelpsouth@manchester.gov.uk

North Early Help Hub: 0161 234 1973, earlyhelpnorth@manchester.gov.uk

Central Early Help Hub: 0161 234 1975, earlyhelpcentral@manchester.gov.uk

Education

 

See our SEND education section. 

 

Emotional and mental wellbeing

See Emotional and mental wellbeing for local and national organisations.  

For local SEND parent carer groups, see Support from organisations.

For under 25s, see our Young people (up to 25) section. 

 

Health

Go to our SEND health section for health matters related to children and young people with SEND, including flu and Covid-19.

Household matters: including digital and energy

See our Household matters section. 

 

Short Breaks (Specialist Resource Team)

 

The Short Breaks programme is for any disabled child or young person aged up to 18. It involves universal activities, the SEND Community Offer, and a smaller range of additional and specialist support (specifically for disabled children and young people). 

Go to Short Breaks for more information and to get in touch with the Specialist Resource Team.

 

Special Education Advice In Manchester - SENDIASS

The Special Education and Disability Information, Advice and Support Manchester (SENDIASS) offers information, advice and support to children, young people and parents/carers about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This includes health and social care where it is linked to education. It’s a free, confidential and impartial service, based in the city and commissioned by Manchester City Council.

They have a dedicated Information, Advice and Support IAS line. They also respond to email queries and have a contact form to receive messages from you.

Email:sendiass@manchester.gov.uk

Telephone: 0161 209 8356  

Stuff to do

Find out what activities are on offer in our Stuff to do - Highlights section. You can also use the 'Search the Service Directory' facility at the top of the page. 

 

Support from organisations

Find local and national services in our Support from organisations section. 

 

Transport: including free Travel Training

 

Cost of Living Emergency Travel Fund: The Cost of Living Emergency Travel Fund has been set up to provide transport to Manchester patients who are at risk of missing medical appointments due to the cost of living crisis. The fund is for taxi journeys from home to the appointment and then back again. Book through the Cost of Living Advice Line - 0800 023 2692.

 

Free Travel Training programme for 14-25sOur free A-Z Travel Training Programme offers opportunities for young people to gain confidence and independence in travelling around Manchester and beyond. Part of the SEND Community Offer. 

 

Home To School Transport - Updated February 23: Following completion of the ‘Travel to Access Education and Training Policy' review, here are the updated policies:

Find out more - and how to get in touch with the team - on the Travel Assistance page. 

 

Passenger Assistance app: The 'Passenger Assistance’ app makes it easier and quicker for disabled people to ask for assistance with their train journeys. It’s been designed to speed up the booking process for customers and provide frontline staff with real-time information on passengers' requirements.

 

Ring and Ride: Ring and Ride is an accessible, low-cost mini-bus service for people who have difficulty in using public transport. Visit the Transport for Greater Manchester website.

 

School transport: School transport is a big concern for families so Contact’s education team hosted a Q and A session to assist parent carers in England with any questions or issues they may be having. Find out the top 5 questions, plus links to further information.

 

Transport for Sick Children: Manchester Transport For Sick Children has volunteer drivers throughout Greater Manchester who take sick children under 16 to hospital and clinic appointments with their carer/parent. 

 

Young people (up to 25)

See our Young people (up to 25) section. For activities, go to Stuff To Do - Highlights

Further resources

About Me

‘About Me’ has been developed in Manchester to give children and young people a concise and clear person-centred profile of just one page or two pages that can be used in all settings. It saves repeating their story. Appointments or social events can also be better when key information is shared beforehand. Download the templates which are easily filled in electronically or can be printed out. Tracy Feeley from Manchester City Council is usually at our Drop Ins. You are also welcome to contact her at tracy.feeley@manchester.gov.uk, 07989 163015. 

 

Local Offer in other languages

Website information on the Local Offer can be translated into numerous languages.

  • On a computer or tablet - At the top right of each webpage there is an orange circle. Click on this and it opens the ReachDesk, offering a range of accessibility tools. One of these has two small boxes, the front one with an 'A' inside it. Click on this and select the language. 
  • On a mobile phone - On the top right of each webpage there is an orange circle. (If you are on a mobile phone, you may need to swipe left to make it appear.) Clicking on this opens the ReachDesk. Select the settings button and choose your language. 

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