Who we are
SENDIASS Gloucestershire provides FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, IMPARTIAL ADVICE and support on matters relating to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The service is offered to parents and carers of children and young people aged between 0 and 25 years old.
We can support you to plan an active and informed role in your child’s education or your education.
Our advisers can:
- Provide information and advice on the telephone
- Meet you in person to discuss your concerns
- Help you to prepare for meetings, appeals and tribunals
- Support you to attend meetings
- Help you to prepare for transport, exclusion and admissions appeals
- Support you to attend transport, exclusion and admission appeal hearings
- Help to explain reports written by professionals
- Explain the Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment process
- Provide a range of written literature
- Provide advice on matters such as SEN support, starting or changing schools, attendance, bullying, home to school transport, exclusions
- Help you to prepare for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunals
- With parents’ permission liaise with schools and other agencies
- Signpost to other sources of help.
The Childrens and Families Act 2014
The Children and Families Act 2014 says local authorities must provide information advice and support about special educational needs (SEN), disability, health and social care for children, young people and parents.
Refer yourself
The service operates a ‘self-referral’ process. However, on occasions it may be considered appropriate for a professional to make contact with the service on behalf of the parents/carers or young person. The service will act upon such requests only on the full understanding that consent has been given.
SENDIASS has a freephone telephone helpline which is available Monday to Friday 9.00 am – 5.00 pm all year round.
