SEND

WHO WE ARE

St Helens IASS is a statutory service providing information, advice and support on matters relating to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The service is offered to children and young people with SEND, and their parents/carers

St Helens IASS provides free, confidential, impartial advice and helps parents play an active and informed role in their child’s education.

SUPPORTING YOU

St Helens IASS has a team of advisers who can provide:

Confidential and impartial information, advice and support to children, young people and their parents/carers on Education matters and Health and Social Care matters in relation to education.
Information, advice and support on subjects including local policy and practice, personalisation, personal budgets, preparation for adulthood, the law on SEN and Disability, Health and Social Care.
Information, advice and support throughout the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) assessment process and review process.
Information, advice and support about SEN Support in settings, schools and further education.
Support in preparing for and attending meetings.
Help in filling in forms and writing letters/reports.
Support in resolving disagreements, including Disagreement Resolution, Mediation and Tribunals.
Signposting to other local or national sources of advice, information and support.
Links to local parent support groups and forums.
Information about St Helens Local offer

REFER YOURSELF

St Helens IASS operates a ‘self-referral’ process. However, on occasions it may be considered appropriate for a professional to make contact with the service on behalf of the parents/carers or young person. The service will act upon such requests only on the full understanding that consent has been given.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US

We support children, young people and their parent/carers who reside in St Helens, regardless of where the child/young person attends for their education.
We aim to respond to all enquiries within 5 working days.
We aim to try to re-contact all enquiries twice if a failed contact has occurred
We offer a range of information, advice and support and this will be determined by the level of support needed at the time of the enquiry.
Our attendance and support at meetings will be subject to the relevance of our role and service delivery at the time and in accordance with the availability of staff.
The range and duration of support will vary dependent on the individual needs of the case and the information and support offered by the service will be tailored accordingly. This may include face-to-face meetings, contact by telephone and/or email.