SENDIASS: FAQs & Testimonials

Each Local Authority must have its own SENDIASS who offers free, impartial and confidential information, advice and support to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their parents and carers.

2. Is the service confidential?

At Hounslow SENDIASS We offer an impartial and confidential service. This means we do not share information about you and do not speak to schools or the local authority without your consent, unless we feel that you or someone else is in danger. We may alert the appropriate service in order to keep people safe.

3. What service can I expect from SENDIASS?

SENDIASS Hounslow has lots of knowledge about the local area and can signpost you to organisations that might be able to support you the most. We are an impartial service, which means we will give you honest, clear and professional information so you can make choices and decisions which best suit you and your family.

We are unable to tell you what to do but will help you understand your choices and options. If you contact the Service, we can chat with you over the phone or email to help you with your query.

4. Is there a cost to me to use Hounslow SENDIASS?

No, the Service we provide is free. There will never be a cost to using our Service. However, we may signpost you to services where they could offer training/courses for a fee.

5. Does Hounslow SENDIASS work weekends?

No Hounslow SENDIASS do not operate over the weekend. We are a small service with limited resources. The service operates from Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm. We have a 24hr answer machine and respond to all enquires within 5 working days.

6. I think that my child may have special educational needs, will Hounslow SENDIASS still be able to help me?

Yes, Hounslow SENDIASS will be happy to discuss your situation further and provide you with Information, Advice & Guidance to help you to work a way forward with your situation.

7. Will Hounslow SENDIASS support my child if they are over 16?

Yes, Hounslow SENDIASS will provide Information Advice & Guidance to Young People with SEND aged 16-25 on matters relating to Education, Health & Social Care. Young people (aged 16 to 25) can contact us directly for Information Advice and Support. They can choose to allocate someone else to speak to us if they are not able to do so on their own.

8. Does Hounslow SENDIASS have the authority to issue an EHCP?

We are only an advice and support service providing information around SEND matters. We are not decision-making officers so cannot request or issue EHCPs.

9. Is Hounslow SENDIASS part of the SEND Team?

Hounslow SENDIASS is an advice and support service, and we are not part of the SEN team. We are an impartial and confidential service with no access to Hounslow files.

10. Does SENDIASS support parents through the Transport appeal process?

We are only able to provide Parents/families with information and guidance of the process. We are unable to run the appeal or to prepare documentation.

11. Does Hounslow SENDIASS represent you in SEND Tribunals and Mediation?

We don’t have the remit to provide a service to manage appeals. We don’t represent through appeals, but we can provide you with general advice about the process.

We can attend Mediation meetings to support Parents /families, but this is subject to availability.

12. What is a Special Educational Need?

The Children and Families Act (2014) Section 20 states that:

“A child or young person has special educational needs if he or she has a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her. A child of compulsory school age or a young person has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she:

Hounslow SENDIASS assisted me with a wide range of difficult issues in relation to my daughter who has special needs. I had many interactions, both over the phone and in person. I couldn’t thank Hounslow SENDIASS enough, not only for the extremely helpful guidance but for the moral support I badly needed. They are exceptionally thoughtful and understanding, going far above and beyond to resolve problems, and shed light in the often-complex SEN world. (Parent)

SENDIASS also accompanied me at the ARM which made me feel more confident and reassured. The ARM went very well due to the fact I had the resources and support provided by SENDIASS. I very much appreciate their valuable advice and support. Thank you SENDIASS (Parent)

SENDIASS understood my difficulties and helped me through the process. I am very grateful for this support received. (Parent)