SEND website gets a facelift

The North East Lincolnshire SEND Local Offer website houses advice and support for parents and professionals, as well as news about upcoming events, training and fun activities.

Over the last 6-months, the site has been given a new, more simplified and accessible design, with key areas now more prominently placed and easier to get to.

What’s changed?

Pages have been reconfigured to give them a more mobile device-friendly experience.

Councillor Samuel Grice, deputy leader and portfolio holder for children and education at North East Lincolnshire Council, said that the site refresh had been carried out with the end-user in mind.

“Research carried out at the start of the project has helped guide this whole project. We’ve listened to what people have told us about the existing site, and we’ve looked at the data.

“We want this site to be a one-stop-shop for parents, carers, young people and professionals to find out about local services, activities, events and groups.

“I really hope that our SEND community find the refreshed local offer site easier to access and to navigate. We’re always open to feedback to continue fine-tuning and updating the site.”

Research showed that just over half of visitors to the site were using a mobile device to access it. The new page designs have been made to be friendly to mobile devices.

Lots of people viewing the site missed out on a significant amount of information because they weren’t scrolling down pages, so work has been done to ensure that site visitors don’t need to scroll as much to view information.

Key changes include:

• - Accessibility-first design
• - Simplified navigation and removed clutter
• - Improved readability
• - New ‘Things to do’ makes it easier than ever to find out what things are available in the area for children and young people, parents and carers and professionals.
• - New feedback button – we want to know what you think of our pages. If you like them or if you have any suggestions for improvements.
• - Education Health and Care Plans are quickly accessible via a button on the home page.
• - New preparing for adulthood section has content that will get people with SEND the information or support they need to live independently.
• - New page layout coming soon. All pages will be in a new uniform design that are easier to understand and utilise images and symbols to improve accessibility.

Want to check out the new local offer site? Visit Home - NELC SEND Local Offer.