SEND IASS - Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice and Support Service Leaflet

We offer impartial, confidential and free information, advice and support for parents and carers and children and young people around issues relating to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to support them up to the age of 25.

This is accurate and unbiased information to build your confidence and help you to make informed decisions. The Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SEND IASS) are a statutory service supported and funded by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. The service operates at 'arm's length' from the Local Authority.

The information that parents or carers and young people provide, is not shared with anyone outside of Stockton SEND IASS unless parents, children or young person have given permission for it to be shared or there are strong public interest concerns for example, child protection. 

Your child or young person does not need to have an Education Health and Care Assessment or Plan to access the service. 

We offer a wide range of support, including:

• impartial and confidential information, advice and support by telephone, email or face to face around issues relating to SEND
• support with education concerns for nursery, school or college and help understanding what is available in the education setting
• providing individual casework
• help with preparing for and supporting at meetings
• help to understand Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment or Reviews, the process and the documentation
• offer advice on school-based support for children and young people with SEND who do not have an Education Health and Care Plan in place
• help develop and encourage good communication and positive relationships between education settings, the local authority and other agencies to achieve the best possible
  outcomes for children and young people and prepare them for adulthood
• support to ensure your views, wishes and feelings are heard and valued
• help with writing letters, reports and filling in forms
• advice on local policy and practice including the Local Offer, Personal Budgets and the law on SEND
• signposting to local or national sources of advice and support

As part of our SEND IASS service we offer a full time, dedicated advocacy worker who can support parents and carers across Stockton-on-Tees. Advocacy means getting support from another person to help you express your views and wishes, and to understand and exercise your rights.

As an advocacy support service, we will:

• treat everybody as equal and work in equal partnership
• listen to your views and concerns
• help you to explore your options and rights
• help you to feel heard and understood by others
• provide information to help you make informed decisions
• help you contact relevant people
• accompany you and support you in meetings or appointments
• support you with preparation for /or help with forms and meetings
• model and teach strategies to help strengthen skills, give you confidence and to help you know how to get the right support

You may prefer to discuss your concerns face to face, so we can arrange home visits, appointments in your child's education setting or meet you at a location and time that is convenient to you and your family. 

Contact SEND IASS on:

• 01642 527158 
• sendiass@stockton.gov.uk

Opening hours are:

• 8.30am to 5pm Monday and Thursday
• 8.30am to 4.30pm Friday