SENDIAS - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service

Service

The West Sussex SEND Information, Advice and Support Service provides impartial information, advice and support to parents and carers of children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.

What we do:

  • A confidential helpline: Monday to Friday from 9 am - 4 pm. The service aims to encourage partnership between parents, their child’s school, the Local Authority and other agencies.
  • We provide information and advice related to law and national guidance on special educational needs, including SEN support, Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment and Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP), annual reviews, appeals and tribunals.
  • We also support young people who would like help to express their views, wishes and aspirations. Either ring the helpline and ask to speak to a Young Person Adviser, or email us at [email protected]
  • We endeavour to empower parent carers within their own situation using information, advice and guidance documents. However, please let us know if you have additional needs and need extra support to access or understand the information.
  • We also deliver training & guidance for education professionals on communicating with parents

Our users say:

"I appreciated how understanding you were of my query and that the response was detailed and insightful giving me a view of the bigger picture and where I am within the system."

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Age Range: 0–25

Wheelchair Accessible?

Free to use?

Contact Details

03302 228 555

Address

Bognor Regis Nursery School,
85 Victoria Drive,
Bognor Regis,
PO21 2TB

Comments

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  • Posted by localoffer on 03 Sep 19 16:40

    It was extremely helpful to be able to talk through the stages we were going through and to receive advise that helped me to decide the best way forward for our situation. SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 03 Sep 19 16:39

    I contacted SENDIAS for some help and advice about changing my son's school placement. The people I spoke to listened to me and heard my concerns, they were respectful and gave me some very valuable support even offering to come and support me at the Emergency Revue I was calling. I was very impressed with their kindness, the time they gave me and the expert advice they imparted. I was very stressed when I contacted them and they are helping me to navigate the system to get the best for my son. Thank you!!! SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 11 Jun 19 09:35

    Very good information given, professional and very supportive

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 11 Jun 19 09:34

    Having someone to talk too that can help me has been a godsend. I would have been lost without this service .

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 24 May 19 15:20

    The member of the team was extremely knowledgeable. After the home visit, we made an appointment at the office where the appeal papers were listed and collated with great efficiency. The bundle prepared and sent off. The appeal has subsequently been successfully registered for appeal. This is no doubt due in part to the thoroughness and ability of the team member. This was all done in an extremely tight time-table.

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 24 May 19 15:19

    Both members of staff I spoke with on the phone were amazing. The called when they said they would and emailed promptly after with further information as promised. I felt listened to and understood. Great service.

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 11 Mar 19 09:58

    [The SENDIAS advisor] has been my rock. While I know that nothing is ever simple, having [her] experience and reassurance has improved my confidence in knowing what is needed to support my daughters additional needs. She has been lovely and I cannot thank her enough.

    Now once the Government provides money. training , support, flexibility and understanding into the Education System, everything will improve.

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 07 Mar 19 16:42

    I would like to personally thank [the SENDIAS advisor] for all her help and support during my EHCP process and difficulties with school during the past two years. I have frequently contacted [her] at various stages of my process to seek advice.

    [The SENDIAS advisor] is always so calm, patient and understanding and offers sound knowledge in attempt to help solve various issues. You have been rather like a security blanket to me and I am not sure how I will be able to continue without your support.

    It is so difficult to see advice for help with adopted children and the SENDIASS team offer a unique, professional yet unbiased view to most issues.

    I am truly grateful for your service.

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 01 Feb 19 14:33

    My [SENDIAS advisor] was very helpful and informative. She gave me straightforward information and advice for the family I was aiming to support. This service called me back almost immediately and were very knowledgeable. Thank you for your all help.

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 06 Dec 18 12:15

    Always have had a call back and useful information.

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 06 Dec 18 12:12

    [The Advisor] has been amazing thought the whole process with my daughter.

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 06 Dec 18 12:04

    Customer service was good, the staff were knowledgeable. There was follow up when they were unsure of the answer. Thank you

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 06 Dec 18 11:54

    Very responsive to my communication with you. We’ve had a very lovely, well informed and supportive case worker who has advised me throughout the finalising of my son’s EHCP and is happy for me to continue to make contact via telephone and email when I have queries regarding the EHCP, the process of transitioning schools (September 2019) and transport arrangements for his new school. The service you provide has enabled me to get through the EHCP process with a positive outcome which in turn will have a positive impact for my son and all of us as a family. I can’t thank you enough.

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 06 Dec 18 11:51

    [The Advisor] has always been really helpful in giving me legally correct information about my oldest sons education. She also has a huge amount of knowledge of local schools and the local sen system.

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 06 Dec 18 11:50

    Helpful, prompt, understanding, efficient

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 06 Dec 18 11:49

    Useful for info at early stages of enquiry. Clear and well explained.

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 06 Dec 18 11:47

    Parents are sometimes having to wait for a call back for longer that they would like. Most of the time these parents are desperate for support as they are having problems with schools so this delay can add to their stress.

    With the loss of the Independent Supporters parents are really struggling with the EHCP process and although your advisors are fabulous they do not have the time to spend helping the individual parents through this process.

    I think a lack of resources has impacted with some of the support you have been able to offer to more families at meetings etc. You do a brilliant job but if I had a magic wand you would have more staff to attend meetings with parents which are often arranged at short notice due to exclusions or incidents.

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 06 Dec 18 11:43

    I feel that due to the pressure on resources the turnaround times have slightly increased this is what has stopped it being a 5/5 as the team are very good.

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 06 Dec 18 11:41

    'I normally got a call back the following day and would have preferred to speak to someone immediately. I’m sure that’s impossible to manage! The help I got though was excellent'

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 06 Dec 18 11:34

    '[The advisor] was such a great help to talk about the current situation. Helpful unbiased information and help filling in forms. I can't recommend the service and [the advisor] enough. It made the process much clearer especially with what they can and cannot do (the local authority).'

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 07 Nov 18 10:02

    I’ve had lots of interaction with our current local authority SEN team, and some with other local authorities near our current home, and have often found it difficult to get any information from them, so I was very pleasantly surprised at the quick and detailed support provided by [the SENDIAS advisor].

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 22 Oct 18 15:31

    This excellent service was recommended to me by Carers support. Right from my initial contact I have been impressed by the service. My daughter was diagnosed with Autism at age 16 and I was overwhelmed by many new challenges. It was so good to talk with [the young person advisor] who amongst other things was able to guide me with our successful application for an EHCP. She also gave me guidance on what to expect from the initial meeting to implement the EHCP. I would certainly recommend this service as it has not only given me advice and support but knowledge and confidence.

    Added by LO with parent's consent 22/10/2018

  • Posted by localoffer on 03 Oct 18 14:08

    We expected that some help would be available but from my initial phone call to West Sussex Education Department I have been correctly directed as and where / when necessary. The excellent support and advice so far has been overwhelmingly good and positive. In particular [the SENDIAS advisor] has been amazing. As yet though we are waiting for a school place.

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 05 Jul 18 15:02

    'Please send my thanks to [the IPS] for her wonderful listening and support before, during and after the meeting. It was a great reassurance to have her alongside us in the process. [The IPS] helped us to clarify the mental health side of things in particular.'

    IPS = Independent Parental Supporter, one of our team of volunteers.

    SEND IAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 14 Jun 18 10:06

    ‘I feel I now have more direction and options available to me. It was also nice to have a service who understood my sons behaviour without being judgemental, it really helped my emotional wellbeing.’ SENDIAS have gained consent to share this comment.

  • Posted by localoffer on 25 May 18 10:52

    ‘It was a very positive experience, [the advisor] was very helpful and efficient and her help before and after the meeting was exceptional. The saddest part, however, that we have to ask SEND IAS to be involved in order to get things right for our child.’ SENDIAS have gained consent to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 22 May 18 10:24

    ‘I would like to thank [the advisor] and the SEND IAS team for the superb help given to [our child] and ourselves. Without your help we wouldn't have been able to have gotten the LA to reverse their decision from an inclusion plan to an EHCP. This is of great relief to ourselves and [our child] going forward. Thank you once again.’ SENDIAS have gained consent to share this comment.

  • Posted by localoffer on 01 May 18 14:31

    "We would like to add that [the advisor] has been fantastic in supporting us as a family because we found the entire process of applying for an EHCP very daunting. [The advisor] was there every step of the way and explained everything in detail so that we were completely aware of what was happening at any one time. She was extremely patient in listening to our worries and concerns and we always felt nothing was too much trouble. It is with grateful thanks to her that we finally succeeded in obtaining an EHCP for our son who had been suffering greatly at school. Our son has now been able to start a new school with the knowledge and safety that he is being monitored and enjoying a much better environment that meets the needs for his particular way of learning. [The advisor] is a credit to SENDIAS and we wouldn't hesitate to recommend this service to other people. It is a real life saver for those parents like us, in times of crisis." SENDIAS have gained consent to share this comment.

  • Posted by localoffer on 09 Apr 18 15:06

    "I found the staff really listened to what I had to say. They gave great advice and were supportive. [The advisor] was really helpful and supportive. Also when I emailed her, another member of staff emailed me to say she was out of the office but my email was forwarded to her which was really reassuring because I have had experience in other fields where I have waited weeks for a response."

    SENDIAS have given consent to share this comment.

  • Posted by localoffer on 18 Jan 18 14:30

    "I have contacted SEND IAS over the phone and they contacted me back the next day. I was pleased that they did that so fast. I have been assigned to [an advisor] who helped me every time I needed help. We spend many hours at the office and at my house completing paperwork. [The advisor] made things possible for my son with all the information and help she gave us. Therefore, I would like to say Thank You! for all your help SEND IAS gave us, especially [the advisor]. I am convinced that all the staff from SEND IAS are good, caring, competent and ready to help as [the advisor] Thank you!" SENDIAS have gained consent for this comment to be made public.

  • Posted by localoffer on 20 Dec 17 09:08

    "We were new to the UK and sought help with getting our special needs son with Down’s Syndrome educated. We contacted the SEND IAS office who provided information on several options to get our son the help he needed. During our communications with [the advisor] and her team, a job offer in Dublin arose and we accepted and then moved our family. [The advisor] touched basis with us once more and went the extra mile in tracking down the relevant information for Ireland as well since we had not yet found out how to go about doing so. She has been a lifesaver and an incredibly caring lady."

    SENDIAS have gained permission to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 20 Dec 17 09:06

    "‘I can’t express succinctly enough the gratitude we have for actually having an impartial service that can advise and support parents on their SEN rights etc."

    SENDIAS have gained permission to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 08 Dec 17 08:30

    ‘The service I received from the first time I called and then from [the advisor] was fantastic. To have someone who listens, understands the concerns and worries you have for your child and then has options to help makes such a difference. Often as a parent you are ignored and your child just seems to be forgotten and left to struggle on at school whilst getting left behind in the education system. This service gave me the hope and strength to keep fighting for support for my child and to know someone else is able to help makes all the difference. A really big thank you. I have already recommended your service to two other people.’

    SENDIAS have gained permission to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 28 Nov 17 13:27

    ‘I was called back straight away and the advice [the advisor] gave was objective, helpful and supportive. I would definitely use and recommend this service again. Thank you.’

    SENDIAS have gained permission to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 23 Nov 17 09:05

    "The service empowered me with the law and SEN so I could communicate my children's needs to the school and be clear what their responsibilities were. It helped greatly during meetings and email correspondence. The advice was completely unbiased and professional. I would use the service again for future advice. I have recommended your service to several parents."

    SENDIAS have gained permission to share this feedback.

  • Posted by localoffer on 19 Jul 17 10:01

    "I used this service whilst in the process of trying to move my son from mainstream education to Specialist school.

    I have to say they were amazing. My call was answered within 24hours. Elaine whom I spoke with was fabulous. Gave me some great advice and there was nothing she didn't find an issue to help me with. I have called since with updated information of which she was able to help me with too.

    Since this my son has been successfully moved. Fantastic service and one that is valuable and necessary to parents with children with disabilities.. Cannot thank them enough..." Feedback left via the feedback button.

  • Posted by localoffer on 04 Apr 17 18:53

    "I cannot recommend the advice you can receive as a parent from SENDIAS highly enough. We were in a very stressful situation regarding our daughter's educational placement and Elaine Worrell was absolutely amazing, spending much time supporting me to gain clarity on where we were heading and the best steps forward for our daughter. She was extremely knowledgeable with regard to the information we needed to include in our Appeal paperwork and without her we would have been completely lost on what to do for the best. A superb reassurance-thank you." Comment posted by the Local Offer Officer as was left via the 'feedback button'.

  • Posted by localoffer on 17 Mar 17 09:55

    "Your first Webinar today was very successful. I have already shared my experience with my organisation and passed on the downloaded copy of the Webinar. I am unsure yet where to find the recording of the Webinar on your web site but when found I will signpost this to customers. I have already emailed the link to your web site to a parent. I look forward to future Webinars from you." Comment left via the feedback plugin and hence posted by the Local Offer Officer.

  • Posted by gbarton on 05 Mar 17 17:40

    I work at a special school - we have a really valuable working relationship with the Jacqueline Paterson from the SEND IAS where she supports some of our most vulnerable pupils who are on the cusp of leaving us and going onto work or FE provision. Jacqueline spends time getting to know these young people and then puts together a plan for them which will provide support for them when school is no longer able to do this. This plan is also available for parents and teachers. The young person's plan is presented in an easily accessed format suitable for young people with SEN. Jacqueline herself shows great dedication to these pupils and quickly forms good relationships with them. We would like to continue this relationship as long as possible. Lead Teacher for SEND

    SENDIAS - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service replied on on 17 Mar 10:35
    Thank you for your feedback Gillian, this is really helpful for other schools to see how we may be able to support young people in their school/college that are considering their next steps and thinking about their aspirations and future options. I have passed on your positive comments to Jacqueline. Thanks again, Heather McIntosh - SENDIAS Team Manager
  • Posted by localoffer on 30 Jan 17 10:19

    "I was given some advice for my 6 year old and I found SEND member of staff amazing, She was extremely professional and helpful and really understood my sons situation. I would defiantly recommend your services to other people as I feel this advice service is very important to have available. Thank you ever so much for your help and support." This comment has been posted by the Local Offer Officer as it was left via the feedback plugin.

  • Posted by zahra_kabiri on 11 Nov 16 10:22

    SEND IAS really helped me in a time where I needed it the most. I felt like I was in a black hole. Paula from SEND IAS, held my hand through it and empowered me to get my message across to the school in a positive way. My child is much happier at school now thanks to SEND IAS's involvement. I cannot thank them enough.

    SENDIAS - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service replied on on 11 Nov 11:54
    Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment about the service. It is always encouraging to hear that we have helped to make a difference in a families situation and I will make sure that Advisor’s are aware. I hope that your child continues to be happy at school. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any further advice and support. Heather McIntosh – Team Manager, SENDIAS
  • Posted by localoffer on 07 Oct 16 15:08

    "You made such a huge difference with Holly and her needs at school, and senior staff really sat up and listened at the meeting." This comment has been posted by the Local Offer Officer with consent from the parent carer.

  • Posted by localoffer on 07 Oct 16 15:06

    "I was so glad I had a representative from SEND with me at the school as this made a massive difference." This comment has been posted by the Local Offer Officer with consent from the parent carer.

  • Posted by localoffer on 07 Oct 16 15:05

    "Elaine was calm, considerate and very helpful. In fact I was pleased that she was covering our area and thank her for her warm support and encouragement." This comment has been posted by the Local Offer Officer with consent from the parent carer.

  • Posted by localoffer on 06 Oct 16 16:28

    "This information is outstanding. It's really helped." This comment has been posted by the Local Offer Officer with consent from the parent carer.

  • Posted by localoffer on 06 Oct 16 16:26

    "Thanks for all your hard work on behalf of this vulnerable family, and for your advice to me. You have been like a guardian angel sitting on my shoulder throughout this."School SENCo

  • Posted by localoffer on 06 Oct 16 16:25

    "I have a huge amount of respect for your service, you really do provide impartial information." This comment has been posted by the Local Offer Officer with consent from the parent carer.

  • Posted by localoffer on 06 Oct 16 16:22

    "Really hope you will be able to continue with support for us as a family because it has really helped to be strong in the fight for what they need.You make a difference.Thank you again,take care and very best wishes to you for being there." This comment has been posted by the Local Offer Officer with consent by the parent carer.

  • Posted by localoffer on 06 Oct 16 16:21

    "a big thank you! you are so professional and please know that you are a great source of support, you are like WONDER WOMAN!!" This comment has been posted by the Local Offer Officer with consent from the parent carer.

  • Posted by localoffer on 06 Oct 16 16:20

    "Great course today about send support at school. Feel I have many more strings to my bow." This comment has been posted by the Local Offer Officer with consent from the parent carer.

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