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Searching the SEND Local Offer

We have developed our SEND (special educational needs and disability) Local Offer based on feedback from parents/carers, children and young people.

Tips for searching

There are a number of different types of search that you can use, either on their own or in combination to really narrow down and focus your results. These are:

Keywords search (e.g. ‘Communication Support Service’)
Just typing in a few words into the search box brings you back all entries that contain at least one of those words. You can also use special characters to limit your results more closely:

  • The plus sign (+) before a word means that each of the results must contain that word, so the example search below brings back all results containing the three words ‘communication’, ‘support’ and ‘service’.

+communication +support +service

  • Using double quotes (") around your search words brings back only results that contain those words as an exact phrase, for example:

"Communication Support Service"

Searching for contact names
Do not search for names of professionals, many services prefer not to include names of staff within their listings as this information can become out-of-date quickly. Instead, search for names of teams/services.

Search by place name (e.g St Austell)
Entering a place name in the box marked 'Place name or postcode' will bring back results of services based in and around that location.

Search by postcode (e.g. PL25 5DR)
Entering a full postcode in the box marked 'Place name or postcode' will bring back results in order of closeness to that postcode. This is really useful for finding services located close to your home.

Search by part postcode (e.g. PL25)
Entering the first part of a postcode in the box marked 'Place name or postcode' will bring back a list of services and activities located in that postcode area.

Refine search using filters
Once you have your search results, you may be able to improve them still further by selecting one or more of the search filters which are displayed in lists to the left of your results. These filters allow you to limit results by subject area and so on. The more use you make of the filters, the more focussed your results will be.

Sorting your search results
You can change the sort order of your search results using the options that are shown in the section just above your results. Depending on the type of search that you have done, your results can appear in any of the following sort orders:

  • Sorted by best match (i.e. the best match to your search)
  • Sorted by name (i.e. in A-Z order of title with numbers first)
  • Sorted by distance (only if you have done a full postcode search)

Help with searching

There are alternative ways to access and search the SEND Local Offer:

  • Change font size and colours (this option can be found at any time in the footer of this website)
  • Translate pages - to do this, click on the 'select language' button in the footer of this page
  • Easy read - we've gathered together a selection of easy read documents 

For those without internet access

To support families, children and young people with SEND without access to the internet settings, schools and colleges support families by making their IT facilities available for this purpose, the Family Information Service is available to talk with families and young people about aspects of the Local Offer and download, print and post small amounts of information.

The Family Information Service can be contacted at 0800 587 8191.

In addition, Cornwall Library Service is supporting the Local Offer by encouraging families, and young people with SEND to access the internet using the IT that is available in the majority of their centres.

Find your local library with details of facilities, opening hours and full address.

People with SEND are entitled to:

  • free loans of talking books and CDs
  • free reservations
  • concessionary rates on library charges
  • Use of PC is free 60 minutes per day, with no extension; then £1.80 per hour (non-members £3.60 per hour)

To access the above the family or young person has to complete the Join the library - Cornwall Council form and get it signed by their doctor, optician or another professional such as a social worker or teacher who can confirm that you are eligible for Access membership. They must take their completed form to the local library. If they are not already a library member they must also take along some proof of their name and address. 

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