You don’t have to answer every question in the consultation – you can just answer the ones that matter most to you.
You can share your examples of what you think works well and what doesn’t.
Your answers don’t have to be formal – short points are fine.
If you feel the consultation is missing questions about something important to you, you can still submit your views wherever feels most appropriate on the online questions or through the email address.
LS29 support groups 20th Anniversary! Sat 25 April, Nell Bank. Read more.
The Down Syndrome Training and Support Service is holding a curry and quiz night on Monday 27 April (6.30pm) in Bingley. Book now. Read the latest newsletter.
Airedale and Wharfedale Autism Resource (AWARE) are hosting World Autism Acceptance Day event 2026 - 29, April (10am - 2pm). Free and no ticket required.
The Bradford outreach team supporting children and young people with a vision impaired are hosting an event for families on Saturday, 11 July 2026 at Hanson Academy. For further info, email: SensoryAndPhysicalNeeds@bradford.gov.uk
For healthy living and wellbeing information - read the Living Well newsletter, here.
Mind the Gap’s Arts Academy (theatre, dance and music) is for people who are 18+ years old, with a learning disability and/or autism. Starts Sept 2026. Read more.
There is a young carers support service in Bradford district. Find out more or follow their Instagram account, here:@youngcarers_carersresource
Free and family-friendly FanZone in collaboration with Bradford City AFC are coming to Darley Street Market on Friday 3, Saturday 11 and Saturday 25 April. Read more.
Register to vote by 20 April. Local elections will take place on Thursday, 7 May.
Join us in-between our monthly newsletters for all the latest news from across Bradford district. Follow our Local Offer Facebook page.
SEND parent/carer survey results
We would like to thank everyone who has taken part in the latest annual SEND parent/carer survey, which is led by the Parent’s Forum for Bradford and Airedale (PFBA) on behalf of the SEND Partnership.
You can read the highlights from the survey on the results page of the Bradford district's Local Offer website.
Dan Careless, Assistant Director SEND and Inclusion and co-chair of the Local Area SEND Strategic Partnership Board, said:
The first in a series of NEW friendly, parent‑led drop‑in sessions, for families with a child with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This first session will focus on helping you work through paperwork, forms and admin - with a cuppa and a chat.
No need to book, just turn up!
Support from a parent-volunteer with lived experience of the SEND system - help with paperwork e.g. EHCPs to benefits forms and more.
Meet the Family Navigators and sign up for a hub membership (free goodie bag for new members).
Free use of laptops and printers for SEND forms.
Free refreshments and children welcome!
This session will take place on Thursday 16 April (12 noon to 2pm) at Bradford South Family Hub, TFD Family Hub, Broadstone Way BD4 9BU
A graphic showing the Local Offer branding with the Family Hubs logo along with 'Best Start in Life' and the text 'SEND support in Bradford district's Family Hubs.'
SEND Toilet Training Workshop
The special needs and public health school nursing team can provide support around toilet training at these workshops. All sessions run between 9.30am - 11.30am. To book, send your name, your child's name and school, your contact number and the date you wish to attend to: sendtoilettraining@bdct.nhs.uk
Taking place monthly at different venues across the district. Come along and speak to specialist SEND services who can provide advice, support and signposting.
27 April (9.30am - 12.30pm) at Bradford West Family Hub (Farcliffe)
18 May (2pm - 4.30pm) at Bradford South Family Hub (TFD).
There is a webpage about the sleep and behaviour support available from the CCST team on the Local Offer.
SEND parent/carer's coffee morning
27 April (10.30am to 12 noon) at Bradford East Family Hub (Barkerend)
22 April (10am to 11.30am) at Bradford West Family Hub (Farcliffe).
For further Information about all groups, visit the Family Hub's timetables (SEND activities highlighted in Orange).
School transport for September 2026
This is a good time to start thinking about school transport for September 2026. Ideally the transport team will have received applications by the last Friday in May to ensure arrangements are in place in time for the start of the school year.
Children between the age of 5 and 16 (Reception to Y11) may qualify for free school travel support if they go to their nearest available qualifying school and live more that the statutory walking distance away.
If you are applying for a child aged between 5 and 16 with special educational needs or a disability, you can download an application form here (Word document).
If you are applying for travel assistance for a young person aged between 16 and 25, you can download an application form here (Word document).
If you are applying for a bus or rail pass for a child or young person up to and including Year 11, you will need to complete your application through West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Metro). Visit WY Metro Schools website for more information.
If you need further help regarding these application forms, please contact the Travel Assistance Service on 01274 439450, email: schooltransport@bradford.gov.uk or speak to the special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) at your school.
Narrating videos about the Local Offer
Bradford district's youth voice group, BradStarz have been busy narrating a set of videos to help families and other young people find out about all the tools and information you can access information on the Local Offer website. The videos, available to watch on the Local Offer YouTube playlist have been divided into chapters, including:
We hope you find these videos helpful, please feel free to share your feedback or suggestions for further videos, email: LocalOffer@bradford.gov.uk
Service Spotlight - Child Development Services
What do they do?
The Child Development Services at St Luke’s Hospital and Airedale Hospital bring together health specialists to work jointly with children, young people and their families (up to the age of 16 at St Luke’s and up to 18 at Airedale) with long term development or difficulties with learning.
The health needs of a child or young person are met through assessments and individualised treatment plans. Parents/carers will be supported throughout and signposted to other services that may help meet need.
Some of the appointments will be in the hospital whilst some can be via telephone or video consultations. Home visits can also be arranged on an individual need basis.
We have developed some helpful guidance with the Child Development Services on Reasonable adjustments at medical appointments for children with additional needs.
How to get a referral
Referrals are accepted from your GP, other doctors (e.g. a hospital doctor), your health visitor, a school nurse or a therapist.
You can find these services on the SEND Local Offer website, here
Sign Language Week took place between the 16 – 22 March, and pupils at Girlington Primary School Resourced Provision took part in a whole school assembly signing lesson led by the Resourced Provision pupils, who took the place of their teachers for the afternoon! The children thoroughly enjoyed being in charge as teachers. All children in assembly showed a lot of enthusiasm and really enjoyed learning British Sign Language from their deaf peers.
Swain House Resourced Provision taught the whole school signing by learning 'Happy Sign Language Week' together during assembly. The children in the Resourced Provision worked on a fun and exciting activity pack for each class in school including BSL flashcards, puzzles and colouring activities to complete throughout the week. They painted a Sign Language Week banner in the colours blue and yellow to represent the colours of the Deaf flag.
An opportunity to get involved in evaluation panels for SEND Short Breaks
Parent Involvement Partners are parent/carer volunteers who work with the Parents Forum for Bradford and Airedale (PFBA) to help gather lived experience and enhance the voice of parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in the Bradford district.
This includes providing feedback from their experiences about what is working well, areas for development, and barriers for children and young people with SEND in the area, through supportive relationships and small group work. There is a current opportunity to participate in the evaluation panels for SEND Short Breaks.
The next training will take place on Tuesday, 14 April (10am-2pm) at Carlisle Business Centre, 60 Carlisle Rd, Manningham BD8 8BD.
Childcare support for families in Bradford district
Families in Bradford district have access to a wide range of childcare options to help balance work, study, caring responsibilities and family life. Whether you have a baby, toddler, or school‑aged child, there are services and support available to make childcare more affordable and flexible. You might even be able to get help with childcare costs through Tax-Free Childcare, Universal Credit childcare support and other schemes.
Childcare offers, include:
Free childcare from 9 months (eligible working families)
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