Advice
Sefton SENDIASS
SENDIASS stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service.
This is the SENDIAS service for people living in Sefton.
It’s a free, impartial, and confidential service offering information to young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and to their parents and carers.
What we do
We are a free, confidential and impartial service, offering information, advice and support to parents and carers of children and young people with SEND.
Our experienced team of local advisors also provide this independent advice directly to young people aged 16 up to 25 years with SEND.
We understand it can be difficult at times. We empower parents, carers, and young people by providing you with confidential information and support on all matters relating to SEND across education, health and social care. We can support you to understand your rights and offer guidance on the legal framework that all schools and local authorities adhere to.
We aim to empower our parents, children and young people to participate in any decision-making processes and assist you to make informed decisions.
Types of support
We can provide information and advice on all matters relating to SEND including:
- Information regarding the local offer, local policy and SEN/ disability law from independently trained staff
- Advice for parent/carers, children and young people on gathering, understanding and interpreting information and applying it to their own situation
- Personal budgets
- Information on the local authority’s processes for resolving disagreements, its complaints procedures and means of redress
- Signposting children, young people and parents to additional sources of local and national information, advice and support
- Individual casework and representation where needed including support in attending meetings, guidance with assessments and reviews, and encouraging participation in decisions about outcomes for the child or young person.
- Support for parents and young people in managing mediation and appeals to the SEND Tribunal.
We’d love your feedback
Who is it for?
Children and young people aged 0 – 25 with special educational needs and disabilities. The service is open to parents and carers, and to young people themselves.
When is it open?
We are open Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm.
How much does it cost?
The service is free to access.
How do I contact you?
Contact us by emailing us at seftonsendiass@kids.org.uk or calling 01514 337 442
Local contacts
Sefton's Local Offer page
The Local Offer is your one-stop directory of SEND services in Sefton.
Contact Charity
Contact is a charity for families with disabled children. They support families, bring families together and help families take action for others.
Time to Talk Next Steps
Support for people aged 16 – 26 with additional support needs who are experiencing anxiety, isolation and are unsure about the future.
Specialist Services available to schools in Sefton
Sefton council’s website give details of all services that are available within schools
Sefton's Early Years Help Service
Information about Sefton’s early years help services and the targeted parenting support service.
IPSEA
IPSEA is a charity which offers legal advice, support and training to ensure children and young people with SEND access the right education.
Family Fund Charity
Family Fund is a charity providing grants for disabled children and their families.
Sefton Parent Carer Forum
Sefton Parent and Carer’s Forum provide an opportunity for parents and carers to express their views and input into the planning and delivery of SEND services.
YoungMinds
Is your child suffering from School Anxiety and School Refusal? YoungMinds has some great resources and support available.
IPSEA's advice on the Annual Review Process
The local authority (LA) must review your child’s EHC plan annually. This is a statutory process of looking at your child’s needs, the provision required to meet those needs and the outcomes specified in the EHC plan, the process is only concluded once parents/carers have received the LA’s decision letter.
Sefton Council – Get help with mental health
A link to Sefton Council’s advice on what to do if you are worried about somebody’s mental health. If you have safeguarding concerns, please call the Multi-agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) who provide a single point of access to the services that help keep children safe, Telephone: 020 8314 6660
Contact us
You can contact us by filling in the form below or by phone, email, or by sending us a message via our Facebook page.
We are open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm.
We aim to respond to all queries within 3 working days.
- Phone: 01514 337 442
- Email: seftonsendiass@kids.org.uk
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/seftonsendiass
Impartiality and quality
Sefton SENDIASS is a completely independent and impartial service. For more information about how we ensure impartiality and confidentiality please read our SENDIASS policies.
Our SENDIAS services strive for the highest quality. The government publishes Minimum Standards for SENDIASS. Kids aims to meet and exceed those standards in all our work. Our staff are all highly experienced and knowledgeable. They receive regular training and updates on all aspects of SEND policy and law and have a detailed knowledge of Sefton education services so they can advise you on your family’s rights and options.