What do we do?
We offer a free, friendly, independent and confidential telephone helpline for parents and others looking for information and advice on Special Educational Needs (SEN). We concentrate on helping people to find their way through the legal and procedural maze which is so daunting to so many who try to obtain satisfactory provision for a child’s special needs.
Our aim is to encourage parents and carers eventually to become empowered and confident to tackle for themselves the obstacles and difficulties which arise and, in turn, to use their knowledge and experience to help others.
Click HERE to see the Terms of Use.
Who are we?
We started as a small group who have spent much of our lives in education or related services, but now have been joined by a number of parents & friends of children who have SEN.
What help can we offer?
- Interpreting official letters
- Interpreting the SEN Code of Practice and other related documents
- Checking proposed and revised Statements of Special Educational Needs
- Helping prepare letters of request, comment and complaint
- Finding independent professional advice e.g. independent Educational Psychologists, and lawyers
- Giving guidance on the next available procedures which may be suitable
- In special cases we may act as a “friend” to accompany parents on visits to the offices of officials in the education, health and social services and to meetings in schools
- advising on preparation of Appeals to SEND (previously SENDIST - Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal)
- In special cases we may act as representative at the Tribunal
- Helping with complaints to the Local Government Ombudsman
- Organising training workshops and other opportunities for parents and carers to come together.
Where are we based?
We work from Twickenham and Hampton. These locations makes it easy for people from surrounding Authorities to come to see us, if they have a particularly complex problem.
How do we work?
We can be called on the Helpline and one of our team will listen carefully and either provide an immediate answer to questions or, more likely, take a few details and ask the most suitable member of the team to call back.
Why do we do it?
We launched the Helpline in October 2002 because we recognised that there were many parents and carers who are not fully aware of their children’s rights to special education and of the complexities of the procedures to obtain those rights. Many did not have the financial resources to obtain the help of the legal profession but felt that they could not get anywhere without it. Whilst the role of lawyers and expert professionals is very important, much can be done to help particularly if finances are very limited.
How successful are we?
Between October 2002 and November 2008, we have handled over 10,000 calls and
the numbers are still growing fast.
Of the 5,000 calls fielded during the year, about 30% are new referrals. Whilst some queries can be dealt with at source, many require further investigation. Other, more serious cases require more dedicated resource from a SOS!SEN advocate, sometimes requiring them to represent parents at a SEND Hearing. In all, during the year, 32 families have been supported in this way, 16 of which have resulted in a victory for parents at a Hearing. A further 10 resulted in the Local Authority withdrawing from Appeal and agreeing to the parents' requests, with the remaining 6 being successful, having been taken on by Special Needs lawyers.
We have evident success from Tribunal results where most or all of the requests by parents for better provision have been upheld and, amongst other successes, in helping parents negotiate and obtain from their Local Authorities:
- Agreement to carry out Statutory Assessments;
- Rights to school transport;
- Improved Statements of Special Educational Need;
- Increased educational support for their children in mainstream school or by placement in specialist settings;
- Therapy for children with speech and language, sensory, and motor skill difficulties.
As a result of our Workshops, parents are becoming more confident about the types of questions to ask at Annual Reviews or when involved in the drawing up of Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for their children. Above all we have evidence that more and more parents are increasing their knowledge and confidence and that they are passing their knowledge on to other parents.
How are we funded?
To ensure our total independence we will not accept offers of finance from Local Authorities or any other sources where there could be a conflict of interest. Our funds, therefore, come from the usual range of events – social evenings, jumble sales, coffee mornings, workshops and donations. Whilst we now have a separate office, our volunteers can work from home. We are greatly indebted to the ongoing support of parents who have previously been helped by SOS!SEN.