Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA)

IPSEA offer free and independent legally-based information, advice, and support to help you get the right education for children / young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). They also provide training on the SEND legal framework. Services include:

Online Advice

• What are special educational needs?
• How should the local authority help?
• How should your nursery, school or college help?
• Exclusion and children out of school
• Education, Health and Care plans
• Choosing a school or college
• Transport to school or college
• Young people (aged 16-25)
• Model letters
• SEN and disability law
• Making a complaint or challenging a decision
• Health and social care

Services for Families

• Advice Line Telephone general advice appointments can be booked online 
• Tribunal Help or to book for advice about an appeal to the SEND tribunal or disability discrimination
• Call-in Helpline
• Tribunal Support Service
• Information Service

Training Services for Professionals

• SEND law training for professionals (ipsea.org.uk) 

Their website has a google translate widget and they can provider interpreters free of charge on the pre-booked advice calls (just state what language you require when you book online).

Charges or fees

All advice services are free of charge. They provide paid-for parent training but try to keep the costs as low as possible. They can often provide free places for parents/carers on a low income, subject to funding.

IPSEA is a registered charity (no. 327691).