If your child has a health or developmental condition that affects their day-to-day life, this is often described as an additional need. These needs may be present from birth or may become more evident as your child grows and develops.
Additional needs can include:
- Developmental
- Physical
- Learning
- Behavioural
- Sensory
For some children, these needs can be supported through routine care plans or adapted approaches. For others, needs may be longer-term, and families may require support from a range of services at different stages.
All children and young people should be able to access the appropriate support at the right time so they can achieve their full potential. We work in partnership with other services to ensure that the right professionals are involved when needed to support both you and your child.
As part of our responsibilities within the NHS, we must inform the Local Authority if we identify that a child or young person may have a special educational need.
Health services also have a duty to work collaboratively with education settings and local authorities to support children and young people aged 0–25 with SEND.
To help families access support, every Local Authority provides a Local Offer. This brings together information and guidance about services across education, health, and social care. It also outlines the support available from local providers, including services delivered by our Trust.
For more information about the Local Offer, please visit the Lancashire County Council SEND webpage:
