How we can help
At York SENDIASS we help parents, children and young people with impartial and confidential information, advice and support (IAS). We provide clear, accurate and relevant information to enable you to make choices and informed decisions about matters which concern you and affect your families.
We're available to work individually with families, and can work with parents, children and young people together or separately, dependent on requirements and in keeping with any confidentiality rules which may apply.
We also offer workshops to groups of parents on topics relating to SEND.
We're available to discuss topics relating to education and learning, and health and social care and we provide unbiased information and advice about the policies, procedures and practices in:
- the local authority
- local schools
- other educational and health settings
We strive to empower our parents and young people to be more confident and clearer when communicating with professionals across education, health and social care.
We can provide information and advice about the general support which is expected to be available in educational settings for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), whether diagnosed or undiagnosed.
We can help parents, children and young people, and professionals we work with, to understand statutory SEND processes such as:
- Education, Health and Care (EHC) Assessment and planning
- how to check draft EHC Plans
- what to do if you are unhappy with a draft EHC Plan
- parental preference and naming schools
- exclusions
- appeals and tribunals
- disagreement resolution or mediation
- preparing for and attending meetings
We can provide signposting to other helpful resources, to help you find information which is available to help you, such as:
- local sources of information such as York’s Local Offer (YorOK)
- national sources of information such as Contact, or the National Autistic Society
- support and voluntary groups
- parent carer forums