1. SENDIASS Michael Hughes FAcSS, FRSA
Member of Birmingham SENDIASS independent management board.
Member of Healthwatch England board

2. SENDIASS Special Educational Needs, and Disability Information
Advice, and
Support
Service

3. Birmingham SENDIASS Successor to the Parent Partnership
Wider responsibilities (Education, Health, and Care)
Greater catchment (pre-school to post-school)
Information, Advice, and Support to:
Children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities,
and to their parents and carers.
SENDIASS staff work for the City Council
But must offer impartial and confidential advice at ‘arms-length’ from other LA services.
there is also an independent management board.

4. Free and impartial
The Children and Families Act, and the SEND Code of Practice give the City Council duties to provide information and advice about matters relating to their SEN or disabilities, including matters relating to health and social care.
The information, advice and support offered by SENDIASS must be impartial, confidential, accessible and free.
SENDIASS staff are all independently trained in SEND law and practice.
the obligations and expectations of an IAS Service are set out in Chapter 2 of the SEND Code of Practice and
the standards expected of SENDIASS can be found in the IASS Network Quality Standards

5. SENDIASS work Information, advice, and support for:
Assessment processes
Education, Health and Care Plans
SEN and disability provision in nurseries, schools and colleges
Social care and health issues that are related to education.
Individual casework support for:
Preparing and attending meetings
Preparation and attendance at complaints hearings
Preparation and attendance at Tribunal hearings
Confidential and impartial support for year olds:
Choices
Making decisions

6. Engagement and development
SENDIASS works to ensure that parents, carers and young people are kept informed about, and consulted on, local SEND policy and practice.
SENDIASS holds regular locality meetings across Birmingham as well as larger meeting in the City Centre to give voice to the views of parents, carers and young people with SEN and disabilities.

7. Partnership SENDIASS Parent Carer Forum and SENDIASS
Works with schools and colleges: - maintained and independent, mainstream and special.
Supports the 4 Locality Groups in the City.
Links to national and local government and voluntary sector agencies.
Parent Carer Forum and SENDIASS
Observation and assessment of local implementation of Children and Families Act
Employment of Independent Support workers to assist the transition from ‘Statements’ to ‘Plans’
Advice and assistance to schools, colleges, and others.

8. Issues for
The match between provision in Birmingham and children’s needs
The quality of information and advice available to parents
The quality of the local offer
How well are children formerly at School Action and School Action Plus supported under the new system?
SEND Home to School Transport

9. Next City-Wide meeting:
To contact SENDIASS
Telephone:
Webpage:
Next City-Wide meeting:
Friday, 9th January, 10:00 – 13:00 Council House