Durham SEND Information Advice and Support Service is a statutory service supporting parents/carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and children and young people with SEND.
Durham SEND Information Advice and Support Service provides confidential information advice and support through a range of services. This includes home visits, attending meetings in educational settings and liaison with all services working with children and young people. Training and guidance to parents/carers, young people and professionals on SEND issues are also provided.
Durham SEND Information Advice and Support Service operates at ‘arm’s length’ from the Local Authority and the services provided are confidential and impartial.
Durham SEND Information Advice and Support Service:
- is a free, impartial local service.
- provides confidential information advice and support.
- works directly with parents and carers of children and young people with SEND.
- works directly with young people with SEND.
- works in partnership with parents/carers, young people, educational settings the local authority and other agencies.
- support parents and young people to inform and influence local policy and practice.
- enable parents/carers and young people to make informed choices and decisions with confidence.
- has a role in making sure that parents’ and young people’s views are heard and understood and that these views inform local policy and practice.
- is able to put parents and young people in touch with other local and national organisations.
Durham SEND Information Advice and Support Service provide information on:
- how special educational needs are identified and assessed by educational settings and the local authority.
- who parents and young people can talk to in a school or Durham County Council or Local Authority about their concerns.
- the SEND Code of Practice 0 – 25, the statutory assessment process and Education Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan).
- parents/carers and young person’s rights and responsibilities.
- meetings and reviews about a child’s or young person’s needs.
- how progress is monitored and reviewed.
- what parents can do if they are not happy with a decision made about their child’s SEND.
- what young people can do if they are not happy with a decision made about their child’s SEND.