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Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

Offering free, impartial and confidential information, advice and support to children and young people (0 to 25 years) with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and their parents and carers.

Your local SEND IAS Service Co-ordinator will listen to your concerns and can offer:

  • Appropriate support, impartial information, and advice on a range of SEND related queries including - identifying a need, exclusions from school, complaints, and disagreements when something goes wrong
  • Advice regarding SEND related health and social care matters
  • Detailed explanations of how the Special Educational Needs (SEN) process should work, for example the support that should be ordinarily available for all children and young people with SEND in early years, schools, and post 16 settings
  • Information about local and national voluntary organisations
  • Information about young peoples and parents support groups in your area
  • Support through the Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) Process including annual reviews
  • To help you learn more about the SEND Code of Practice and your legal rights
  • Support at meetings where appropriate

A child or young person may have learning difficulties caused by: 

  • A physical disability
  • A problem with sight, hearing or speech
  • Difficulties with reading, writing or mathematics
  • Emotional or behavioural problems
  • Communication and social interaction. 

For self-referral, please contact your local co-ordinator:

Area Co-ordinator Phone Email
Coniston and Ambleside area Sally Godfrey 07795 110940 sally.godfrey@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Barrow, Ulverston and Grange area Celia Jones

07917 041116

 celia.jones@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Kendal and East Cumbria Emma Stephenson 07766 935446 emma.stephenson@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

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