Published: 1 November 2022 | Updated: 2 November 2022

A child or young person has special educational needs and disabilities if they have a learning difficulty and or a disability that means they need special health and education support. We shorten this to SEND

Local Offer

The local offer is a Local Authority’s publication of all the provision they expect to be available across education, health and social care for children and young people in their area who have SEN or are disabled, including those who do not have Education, Health and Care plans. Section 4.1 SEND Code of Practice, January 2015.

Click here for more information about Doncaster Local Offer

Education, Health and Care Plans

An Education, Health and Care Plan is a legal document that describes a child or young person’s special educational, health and social care needs. It explains the extra help that will be given to meet those needs and how that help will support the child or young person to achieve what they want to in their life.

The special educational provision described in an education health and care plan must be provided by the child or young person’s local authority. This means the plan can give a child or young person extra educational support. It can also give parents and young people more choice about which school or other setting the child or young person can attend.

Although the plan can include health or social care needs, your child will not get a plan if they only have health or social care needs that do not affect their education.

You, your child’s education setting or your child, if over 16, can ask your local authority to carry out an assessment.

An education, health and care plan can be issued to a child or young person between the ages of 0 and 25 years.

What is an Education Health Care Plan

Designated Clinical Officer for special educational needs and disabilities

The Designated Clinical Officer role is to support health colleagues both at Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Trust and Doncaster and Bassetlaw teaching hospitals NHS trust, to make sure health services are meeting the needs of children and young people 0 to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities. To ensure children and young people with SEND have the right health support to achieve the best they possibly can.

The Designated Clinical Officer role is a key element in supporting the Health Service in its implementation of the Children’s and Families Act 2014.

The Designated Clinical Officer role is a varied role and includes:

  • Supporting joint up working between health services and local authorities.
  • Attending Educational, Health and Care panels to discuss which children go forwards for assessment and then if required have a formal plan.
  • Act as an operational health lead for the Education, Health and Care Plan Pathway.
  • Supporting health professionals with the information required within these assessments.
  • Supporting the special educational needs team at the Local Authority with questions and queries on information.

To get in touch with our Designated Clinical Officer call 0800 021 8997