High call volumes
SENDIASS are experiencing a very high level of calls at the moment, we are still short staffed so it is taking a while to get back to people. Please be patient.
It would be helpful if you could leave a message or email, including a few details about why you are ringing, especially if you are in the middle of an EHC Needs Assessment or an exclusion as there are often statutory deadlines that have to be met. This will enable me to prioritise calls.
If you have a general query you may wish to call the Contact SEN helpline on:
0808 808 3555
Open: Monday to Friday, 9.30am-5pm
Please rest assured we are doing everything possible to improve the situation. We will be interviewing shortly for new staff and our volunteers are beginning to work with families.
Formerly known as the Parent Partnership Service.
The Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) is a statutory service which is run at ‘arm’s length’ from the Special Educational Needs decision makers and provides free, confidential, impartial advice, guidance and support to:
- Parents of children and young people up to the age of 25 with special educational needs and disabilities.
- Young people up to the age of 25 with special educational needs and disabilities
- Parents with initial concerns about their child through to those with an Education, Health and Care Plan.
We aim to:
- Encourage cooperative working to ensure that children and young people's individual needs are met
- Help parents, carers, children and young people to express their views
- Provide information and support to enable parents, carers and young people to make informed choices for their child or themselves
We are here to listen to any worries or concerns and provide a range of flexible services which include training and help with the following:
- To understand and write reports and letters
- With the Statutory Assessment process for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
- With annual reviews
- Support with the conversion of a statement to an EHCP
- Support in meetings with school, college or early years setting
- Support in meetings with education, health and social care professionals
- To explore different options open to you for your child/young person’s education
- Signpost to other organisations and support groups
- Promote disagreement resolution where communication with a school or Local Authority is breaking down
- Support if your child/young person is at risk of, or has been excluded from school
- To explain the right of appeal through the SEN Tribunal system
To support parents, carers children and young people undergoing assessment for an Education, Health and Care Plan, or in course of transferrring from a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an LDA we can offer access to an Independent Supporter, either from within our service or from Adviza. These Independent Supporters are specifically trained to support through this process.
We hold a drop in service once a month for further details please visit the Special Educational Needs (SEN) drop in surgeries directory listing.
Referral by a professional
If you are a professional and would like to refer a parent, carer, child or young person you can do this by complete one of the request forms below. Consent by the person being referred will need to be obtained first:
How our service can help and support young people
Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
The Council for Disabled Children have created short animations films which help explain the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process, the person centred connection and annual review process.
What is an EHCP and who is it for?
The EHCP and The Person Centred Connection
The Annual Review process
Consultation
The Information Advice and Support Services (IASS) are currently consulting on a draft of the new Minimum Standards for Information Advice and Support Services (IASS, sometimes known as SENDIASS). These are part of the IAS Programme and will be the basis of future operational plans and linked funding in 2019/20.
For further information please visit the Council for disabled children website.
- Provider:
- Service provided by Wokingham Borough Council
