Portsmouth SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

Portsmouth SEND Information Advice and Support Service ( SEND IASS)  is a service available to parent/carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities between 0-25yrs and to young people aged 16-25 who have special educational needs and disabilities. The support and advice we provide is impartial, confidential and free. We will listen to your concerns about special educational needs, disability, EHC plans and other educational queries. Our service is statutory and is available to all Portsmouth parents, carers and young people. ‘Parents’ includes all those adults with parental responsibility. We aim to build partnerships between parents, carers, young people and the professional they are involved with. We aim to empower those parents/carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities so they can take an active and informed role in their child’s education and development.

Below you will find a short animation funded by the Department for Education to help children and young people with SEND and their parents learn about the service and support on offer from their local “Information Advice and Support Service” and how a local IASS team can be contacted – including how to access the national Helpline provided by Contact.

Where the service is provided?

We cover the City of Portsmouth. PO1 – PO6.

What the organisation provides – types of interventions and support

We provide the majority of support over the phone. We give you as much time as you need and will continue to support you until your outcome is achieved. In some situations we can offer in person meetings if required.

We support by:

•Providing a confidential help line
•Listening to your concerns
•Looking at different options
•Supporting with appeals for Admissions, SEN transport and helping with parent requests for EHC plans
•Attending meetings with you in early year’s settings, schools, colleges and with the Local Authority
•Helping you prepare for meetings
•Looking at ways of overcoming differences where there is a disagreement such as mediation and disagreement resolution
•Signposting you to other services
•Providing a web resources for parents searching for information about SEND

We offer information on:

•Your rights and responsibilities
•Who to talk to in school about your concerns
•How your child is assessed and helped in school
•What happens during the preparation of an Education, Health and Care plan

Our website http://www.portsmouthsendiass.info/en/Main_Page complements and supports the work of the Advisor and in some instances will meet the information needs of the Parent /carer

New range of webinars is now available to help you find the answers you need at: https://portsmouthsendiass.info/webinars/ Or you can join us for one of our weekly drop-in sessions to talk to one of our team online via Zoom. Simply sign up at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sendiass-drop-in-tickets-148176226081?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch

Who can access the service?

The service is available to parent/carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities aged between 0-25yr. ‘Parents’ includes all those adults with parental responsibility

Expected outcomes for children and young people and their families accessing your service:

•Parents and carers feel more confident dealing with schools and the Local Authority with regard to their child’s special educational needs
•Parents are provided with accurate information on their rights, roles and responsibilities within the SEN procedure
•Parents receive an impartial and confidential service where possible
•Parents are empowered through information advice and support
•Parents are supported to access mediation and or disagreement resolution procedures in a non-threatening environment throughout the SEN process

How and who to make a complaint to:

We have a complaints procedure available from our website. https://www.roseroad.org.uk/About_us/Feedback_and_Complaints Let us know the person you have been dealing with and explain what the problem is, either in person via email or telephone or by writing a letter or contact:

Carol Dixon, Director of Family Services, The Rose Road Association, The Bradbury Centre, 300 Aldemoor Road, Southampton, SO16 5NA

Telephone : 023 8072 1234

E mail: askus@roseroad.org.uk

Website: http://www.portsmouthsendiass.info/en/Main_Page

Tel: 0300 303 2000   Email: portsmouthiass@roseroad.org.uk