LOCAL OFFER UPDATE 22 nd March 2017 Communication

LOCAL OFFER UPDATE 22 nd March 2017

Communication Officer role • Mid-December appointed Communication Officer • Full-time dedicated resource • Actively promote the Local Offer website • Improve the content and accessibility

Where to start……. .

Engagement with Schools • Three months in and it is evident that hardly anyone knows about the Local Offer. • Recognise the need to work in partnership with schools to reach the target audience, namely the very children we are all here to support. • Offered to come into settings to meet with Children and Young People, Parents, Carers, SENCos to raise awareness

Engagement with Schools (cont’d) • Thanks to the SENCos who have already invited me along to one of your school events. • Proved to be a great opportunity to have face to face contact with the children and their parent/carers. • Little or no awareness of the Local Offer • Very well received an encouraging response.

Feedback I asked for honest feedback/views from the young people I met and ……………they gave it! “Too much information on a page” “ Use words I understand” “ I’d prefer brighter colours” “I’d like a magnifier” “Use bolder fonts” “ More videos”

Pupil Voice • Real need to hear more from the young people using the site. • Established a pupil forum to facilitate a site review • Assure them they are being listened to • Let them shape the future shaping of the services Wirral can offer

Engagement with other professional bodies Presented to groups of professionals from the following groups to further spread the word. • O-19 services • Sensory support services • CAMHS • School nurses • Operational managers

WEBSITE UPDATE

Let me help you! • If you struggle to find information • If you identify gaps in information • If you spot out of date information…. . just let me know and I’ll put it right. • You can call me on 666 4488 or e mail me at sallytittle@wirral. gov. uk

I need your help! • Whenever and wherever you are able to make parent/carers and the young people aware – please do so. • The parents I have spoken to at recent school events were visibly delighted to have a visual resource to help them access information and support. Their feedback was simply “we wish we had know about this earlier”. Let’s together make a difference.