SEND Information, Advice, and Support Service (SENDIASS) - WNC

The SEND Information, Advice, and Support Service (IASS) in West Northamptonshire is an impartial and confidential service that gives free information, advice, and support about special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). The service operates at arm's length from the local authority and Integrated Care Northamptonshire through independently trained staff.

The service is for parents or carers of children (aged 0-25) and young people up to 25 with SEND. Parents/carers can self-refer or grant permission for someone else to make a referral on their behalf. Young people (aged 16-25) can ask for support separately from their parents or carers if they wish.

IASS offers information, advice, and support about any issue related to special educational needs and disability, including:

• Local policy and practice
• Northamptonshire's Local Offer
• Educational support
• Education Health and Care (EHC) Plans
• Personal budgets and personalisation
• Disagreement resolution and mediation

Additional information about these topics is available on their website.

IASS enables parents/carers and young people to participate fully in education, health, and social care decisions. Their services may include:

• Advice and support by telephone or email
• Individual casework, which may include support with meetings
• Help with writing letters
• Help with understanding and interpreting information provided
• Information about other services or sources of support locally or nationally
• Advice through parent/carer support groups, youth groups, or training events

IASS Advocacy for EHC Plans

An IASS caseworker can advocate for a child or young person during the EHC process to ensure the voice of the child is heard. The caseworker will arrange to meet with the child or young person to potentially: 

• Answer any questions they may have relating to the EHC Plans
• Prepare them for meetings
• Talk to them about what types of questions they might be asked as part of the assessment, review, transfer, or process 
• Gain their views and aspirations (to be included in the EHC Plan)
• Attend meetings or reviews with them if required

IASS Advocacy for EHC Plans - Criteria for Referral:

• A child or young person aged 0-25 who is the subject of an Education Health and Care Plan process or is challenging the local authority’s refusal to undertake such an assessment
• Resident in West Northamptonshire (or living elsewhere whilst the responsibility of West Northamptonshire)

Young people can self-refer or be referred to the service by parents or professionals. The young person should normally agree to the referral being made.

Resources:

• SENDIASS - How to prepare for an EHC Annual Review 
• SENDIASS - Factsheet - The EHC process
• SENDIASS - Factsheet Choosing a school 
• SENDIASS - Factsheet - things to consider when choosing a school  
• SENDIASS - Checklist Choosing a school 
• SENDIASS - Choosing a secondary school for as student with ASD
• SENDIASS - Choosing a specialist provision school 
• SENDIASS - How to prepare for an EHC annual review 
• SENDIASS - Guidelines for writing parental advice to an EHC assessment