Overview
Somerset Parent Carer Forum checks the information on the Local Offer website. They make sure:
- the right information is there
- the writing is clear and helpful
- we know what needs to be better
Audit scales
Each page is put into one of these groups:
Passed
Information meets statutory requirements and is written in a way parents find helpful.
Minor changes
- broken weblinks or out of date contact details or publications need updating,
- the writing style needs improving,
- particular documents or signposting are missing,
- pages need merging or separating.
Rewrite needed
Substantial changes to the page are required including:
- new versions of policy or strategy
- new information needed or
- complete restructure of content required to improve understandability
Results over time
Audits weren’t completed in the years the website was updated. Pages were instead checked as part of the move to the new site. There has been an increase in number of pages. This is because we are now using webpages instead of PDFs. This makes it more accessible to view, and to find.
The number of pages that passed is increasing in each audit. Also over time the minor changes needed has decreased from 21% of pages in the last audit to 17% of pages this year. Number of substantial changes needed have also decreased by 81% since auditing started (8 pages in 2025 compared to 43 in 2019).
Local Offer Content Audit results chart
The above chart showing the results of Local Offer pages audits for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2025. Each bar is divided into four categories:
- Passed
- Minor changes
- Rewrite needed
- Reviewed elsewhere (2025 only)
Summary
- 2019 Audit: 55 pages passed, 81 needed minor changes, 43 needed a rewrite.
- 2020 Audit: 125 pages passed, 50 needed minor changes, 14 needed a rewrite.
- 2021 Audit: 152 pages passed, 45 needed minor changes, 13 needed a rewrite.
- 2025 Audit: 222 pages passed, 54 needed minor changes, 8 needed a rewrite, and 52 were reviewed elsewhere.
The chart shows a clear trend: the number and proportion of pages that passed increased each year, while the number needing minor changes or a rewrite decreased. In 2025, a new category, “Reviewed elsewhere”, was introduced for pages managed by other review processes.
Improvements
Recent improvements
- Complaints and disagreements pages – we wanted to make it clearer who to talk to if you have a problem
- Gaps in information filled and improved structure of text in pages such as bullying and harassment and working flexibly
- Duplication removed from overlapping pages
We are now focusing on
- Education Health and Care Assessments and Plans – we are rewriting this section
- Feedback loop – want to show you what we’ve changed based on your feedback
- Service updates following the Council restructure
- Easier-to-read pages
We have also done user research. It showed us that parent carers need help finding the right information more easily. We have improved navigation by ages to help you find what is relevant right currently.
Now, we are working on
- better search and filters
- clearer signs and links
- ways to display pictures and guides
How you can help
At the bottom of each page, there is a link that says:
“Feedback – was this information helpful?”
Click it to tell us if:
- Something is wrong or broken
- The page is hard to understand
- The information is out of date
You don’t have to give your name. Just let us know how we can make it better.