Who are SENDIASS

All local authorities in England, by law, must provide parents, carers, young people with SEN or disabilities Information, Advice and Support Services (IASS). They must also provide professionals with general information and advice.

SENDIASS are required, to offer impartial, confidential information, advice, and support to parents, carers, children, and young people about matters related to Special Educational Needs and disability (SEND).

All information and advice must be impartial, confidential and arm’s length to the local authority.

We are a small team that cover the whole of North Yorkshire. All co-ordinators are trained and have accurate and up to date knowledge of:  

• Education, social care, and health law relating to SEND 
• National and local policy and practice in meeting SEND 
• SEND processes including Tribunal
• Our support is shaped to meet the needs of each child and young person.

If you have any questions about special educational needs or disabilities law, local policies, or procedures, you can contact us via email or leave us a voicemail on our advice line number. We also have termly virtual sessions for more in depth information about our role and there is a question-and-answer time that gives you the opportunity to ask questions.

We can provide information and advice on: –

• SEND law, legislation and policies
• School duties – SEND support in mainstream schools
• School duties – Equality and Disability
• Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments and plans 
• Mediation and SEND tribunals, appeals
• Resolving disagreements and complaints procedures
• Preparing for educational transitions

If you want anonymised general advice about a child, you can email or call us as below, but you must not give us any identifying information.

If you are supporting the parents / carers of a child with SEN or a young person with SEN and have consent from them, you can complete our professional referral form. This allows us to send you more bespoke advice. You will then be able to forward the advice on to the parent / carer / young person.

If the parent / carer / young person would like direct support from us, you can support them to complete our ‘contact us’ form.

You can contact us through our telephone helpline, 01609 536923, you can email: info@sendiassnorthyorks.org  or you can fill in our secure online professional referral form.