All local authorities must provide access to Information, Advice and Support Services (IASS) for parents, carers, children, and young people.
Brent SENDIASS provides free, confidential, and impartial support on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) for parents and carers of children with SEND, whether or not the child has a diagnosis or an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.
We help parents and carers understand their rights and ensure their views and wishes are heard in decisions about their child’s education, health, and care.
Independence and impartiality
Brent SENDIASS operates at arm’s length from the Local Authority and other statutory organisations.
Being independent and impartial means:
- we don't take sides
- our advice is based on the law, not local policies or procedures
For further information, please read our For further information, please read our impartiality policy.
How we can help
Our team is trained and have knowledge on:
- education, health, and social care law relating to SEND
- national and local SEND policies
- SEND processes, including challenging a Local Authority decision.
We provide support in the following areas:
- empowering you to share your views and actively participate in assessments, reviews, and decisions
- guidance on the EHC plan process, statutory assessments, and 20-week timelines
- support preparing for and attending meetings with nurseries, schools, or colleges
- advice on school exclusions related to SEND
- assistance understanding complex documents and completing forms
- explain how schools and the local authority handle disagreements and complaints about SEND
- support you to resolve disagreements, including mediation or appealing to the First-tier SEND Tribunal
- signposting to other relevant local and national services
- individual casework support, depending on need.
We cannot:
- Provide counselling or emotional support (we offer information and advice only on SEND-related issues)
- Provide emergency support and intervention
- Influence or change Local Authority or school policies, practices or procedures
- Agree placements, provisions or make decisions on behalf of any organisation
- Give personal opinions or make decisions for families or professionals
- Spend excessive time revisiting enquiries that have already been answered by our service.
- Give advice or support if you are already receiving help from another advisory service, SEND advocate or legal professional (such as a solicitor). This helps prevent conflicting advice.
- Act as statutory advocates or provide legal advocacy. We are not lawyers and cannot take on that role.
The main aim of our service is to help you understand your rights and feel confident in speaking up for your child’s needs and wishes.