Southend Early Help and the Southend SEND Local Offer

Southend offers a wide range of support for children, young people, and their families. Two key parts of this support are Southend Early Help and the Southend SEND Local Offer. Although they work alongside each other, they each serve a different purpose.
 

Southend Early Help – Support When You Need It

Southend Early Help is a joined‑up system of support designed for children and families who may be experiencing emerging challenges. The aim is to offer help early, so that difficulties do not grow into more complex needs.

Key points about Early Help:

• Purpose: To provide extra support when a child or family needs more than universal services (such as health visitors, GPs, or schools), helping to stop problems from escalating.
• Who it’s for: Any child, young person, or family who may benefit from additional support—this can be at any stage of childhood, not just the very early years.
• How it works: Local services, schools, and community partners work together under a shared strategy to offer the right level of help, such as Level 2 support, to strengthen family resilience and wellbeing.
   

Southend SEND Local Offer – Your Information Hub for SEND Support

The Southend SEND Local Offer is an online resource hosted on the Livewell Southend website. It brings together clear, up‑to‑date information about services available for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) aged 0 to 25.

What you’ll find in the SEND Local Offer:

• Early years SEND support and childcare options
• School‑age education and post‑16 pathways
• Health, wellbeing, and therapy services
• Social care support for children and young people
• Preparing for adulthood and independent living
• Guidance on Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

In Summary

• Early Help is the support approach used to assist families when extra help is needed.
• The SEND Local Offer is the information hub providing details of SEND services across Southend.

Both work together to ensure that children, young people, and families can find the right support at the right time.

For students with an Essex EHCP, here are the links for Early Help and Local Offer 

Essex Local Offer

Essex Early Help