SEND Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

Last updated: 03/10/2023

West Berkshire Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) is available to parent carers of children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and/or a disability (SEND) and also to children and young people with SEND themselves.  The support and advice provided is impartial, confidential and free. We will listen to your concerns and answer your questions about anything relating to your special educational needs and disabilities. Our service is statutory and is available to parents, carers, children and young people living in West Berkshire who pay their council tax in Newbury.  ‘Parents’ includes all those adults with parental responsibility.

Who to contact

Contact Name
West Berkshire SENDIASS
Contact Position
West Berkshire Helpline
Telephone
0300 303 2644 (local rate)
E-mail
westberksiass@roseroad.org.uk
Website
West Berks SENDIASS
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/WestBerksSENDIASS/

Where to go

Address
County of West Berkshire
Notes

We can support you over the phone, by email or in person at an agreed local venue.  Our advisers are home based within West Berkshire.

Time / Date Details

When is it on
Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm
Time of day
Afternoon
Morning

Other Details

Costs

Details
Free

Availability

Age Ranges
0-1
1-4
4-11
11-16
16-18
18-25
Referral required
No
Referral Details

Self referral is welcomed.

Other notes

The area we cover is based on the child/young person's permanent residential address. If this does not fall within the West Berks Council area, you may need to refer to a different IASS service. Use this postcode checker to find out: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

Our service caters for additional support needs. Please see our website for more information.

Local Offer

Description

We: 

  • Provide a confidential and impartial help line

  • Provide web resources and information about Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

  • Listen to your concerns

  • Look at different options

  • Help you prepare for meetings.

  • Look at ways of overcoming differences where there is a disagreement

  • Signpost to other services

  • We offer information on: 

    1. Your rights and responsibilities

    2. Who to talk to about your concerns

    3. How your child is assessed and helped in school

    4. How to request and what happens during an Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessment

    5. What you can do if you are not happy with a decision

    6. West Berkshire’s policies and processes

    7. National policies and the law

Contact Name
Jen Jones (Parent Adviser), Hayley Legg (Children and Young Peoples Adviser)
Contact Telephone
0300 303 2644
Contact Email
westberksiass@roseroad.org.uk
SEN Provision Type
Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties, Medical, Specific Literacy Difficulties, Speech & Language Difficulties, Behavioural, Emotional & Social Difficulties, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Physical Disability, Hearing Impairment, Moderate Learning Difficulties, Severe Learning Difficulties, Visual Impairment
Local Offer Age Bands
0 to 1
1 to 4
5 to 7
7 to 11
12 to 14
15 to 16
16 to 18
19 plus

General Provider

Is your service accessible? (consider in general terms how you make your service accessible, in addition to any specific premises issues)

Yes, we can arrange to meet in an accessible building should the need arise.

What are the eligibility criteria for your service? (please include any age restrictions, types of need catered for etc)

The service is for parent carers of children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and children and young people with SEND themselves. To be eligible for our service you need to be living in West Berkshire. We can answer your calls Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, and put you in touch with a local adviser who should contact you within five working days. We have a comprehensive website which provides 24/7 information.

How are referrals/applications made to your service? (include details of who can refer/apply and referral and application process)

Schools, the SEN team or professionals can refer to our service but we also accept self referrals from parent carers, children and young people.

What is your service standard for responding to referrals/accessing services? (include timescales for responding to referrals and accessing services)

We will answer your call between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. If we need to put you in touch with a local adviser, they will contact you within five working days.

Who provides / funds your service?
Local Authority
Are children, young people, parents / carers charged for your service?
No
Inspection outcomes/quality awards

N/A

Feedback and complaints procedure

We believe that compliments and complaints are a valuable indicator of quality of service and an opportunity to refine our performance. If you would like to provide feedback about any aspect of our service, please contact westberksiass@roseroad.org.uk or call 0300 303 2644.

Quality checks

  • DBS check

West Berkshire Council do not promote or endorse any of the services listed in this Directory. For more information on this please read our disclaimer.

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