SENDIASS

Impartial information, advice and support for parents, carers, children, young people and professionals.

Overview

SENDIASS provides information, advice and support to:

parents / carers of children (from birth up to 25), with special educational needs and / or disabilities (SEND)
children and young people
professionals

The service make sure that your views are heard and understood and that these views are fed back to influence local policy and practice.

All services provided by SENDIASS are free, confidential and impartial.

SENDIASS is jointly commissioned by the South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and South Tyneside Council.

The service offers information, advice and support on:

you / your child's disabilities, health and social care
the law about SEN and disability, health and social care
finding and understanding information, and applying it to your situation
how special educational needs are identified and assessed by schools and South Tyneside Council
meetings and reviews about your child's needs
how progress is monitored and reviewed
how to request a statutory assessment of your / your child's special educational needs (SEN)
what to do if you are not happy with a decision made about your child's SEN, including information on the Council's processes for resolving disagreements, complaints procedures and how they resolve this
the local offer
details of local and national organisations that can offer help and support
help with filling in forms and expressing your point of view in writing
free training and information sessions to parents / carers, children and young people and professionals, as part of their training offer

The service also includes a Young People IAS, who can support children and young people with SEND.

SENDIASS offers a SEND Youth Forum which aims to provide children and young people with an opportunity to influence the SENDIASS service.

For more information, see SENDIASS SEND Youth Forum.

The service supports children and young people from birth up to 25.

You do not need a diagnosis to access the service.

Parent / carers can make a referral over the phone or on the website.

The service can't accept referrals from professionals. Referrals need to be made by parents / carers directly.

The service can be contacted Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays), 9am to 5pm.

Website: South Tyneside SENDIASS
Phone: 0191 424 6345