Support for Parents and Carers
SENDIASS is a small, independent and impartial advice and support service for parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
The Special Educational Needs and Disability Information and Advice Support Service (SENDIASS) offers a confidential service, which supports the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process and aims to develop closer links with parents and schools. Each case is treated individually to provide tailored support. Where appropriate, the the team can signpost to other relevant services.
SENDIASS Website
What type of support do we offer?
We can offer information, guidance and support on a range of issues including:
- Help with informal discussions with education providers
- Help with understanding the EHCP process and completing paperwork
- Help with understanding formal reports
- Support with preparing for and attending meetings
- Disability discrimination
- Working with families of excluded pupils
- Support with various appeals’ processes
- Parents’ rights and responsibilities
- Current changes in legislation
- Help with contacting other agencies and voluntary groups
What do we mean by impartial?
We believe that being impartial means:
- Giving everyone an equal chance to express their views, whether it is parents or professionals
- Treating everyone with respect
- Offering unbiased information
- Not having a vested interest in the outcome of any particular process
- Providing accurate and up-to-date information to the best of our knowledge
How to contact SENDIASS
You can contact the team directly on: 01793 466515
Caseworkers are available during term time only, but messages can be left with the administrator on the above number and will be dealt with when the team returns to the office.
Is there a cost?
No, it is a completely free service.
Other Useful Links
Parents and Carers Advisory Group
Swindon Advocacy Movement
Swindon Down’s Syndrome Group
Swindon Carers Centre
SCWAD (Swindon Children Without A Diagnosis or with rare disorders)
Hop Skip and Jump
Fostering and Adoption with Swindon
Leaflets - Practical Guides to Parents’ Legal Rights
Jargon Buster
An A-Z of abbreviations and terms associated with education and special educational needs
Jargon Buster