We provide free, impartial, confidential and accessible advice, information and support on matters relating to special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities including concerns relating to health and social care. Our service is for:
- parents or carers of children aged from 0-25 years with SEN or who are disabled
- young people aged 16-25 with SEN or who are disabled
This includes children in early years settings, pupils in schools, students at colleges of further education, young people in apprenticeships and training programmes, young people who may have SEN and who are currently unemployed and in none of the above educational programmes.
Our team comprises of the manager of the service, two caseworkers and an administration assistant, all of whom have received suitable training.
We can:
- Help you with information about how to apply for an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan
- Help with information and advice about support available in local schools for pupils with SEN
- Provide information, advice and support in relation to the take up of personal budgets
- Provide information on the law on SEN and disability, health and social care
- Help you gather information relating to SEN and disability for assessments
- Help you understand and interpret information relating to SEN and Disability
- Provide information on the Local Authority's Disagreement Resolution Service and Independent Mediation Service
- Signpost you to the Independent Support Service in Trafford (which is independent of the Local Authority), who can help co-ordinate the process and provide help and support if your child has an existing Statement of SEN which is being transferred to an EHC Plan
- Provide information about complaints procedures
- Help you lodge an appeal with the SEND Tribunal Service, and support you throughout this appeal
- Signpost you or your child to relevant SEND support groups, organisations and other local authority services including Connexions, housing and young peoples' forums
- Help with information on schools' admissions policies, exclusions policies and school transport policies
We have close links with Trafford Parents' Forum.
We have an independent Parents and Young People's Partnership Service (PYPPS) Steering Group, which meets once per term and monitors the quality, impartiality and confidentiality of the service. This is independently chaired and the majority of members are parents and carers. This group has published terms of reference.
If you are a parent, carer or young person living in Trafford and you would like further information, please contact us on the information below.
The Information Advice and Support Programme is a national government initiative which commenced in June 2018.
The programme seeks to ensure that in every local authority area, children and young people with SEND and their parents/carers have access to impartial and free information, advice and support covering SEND issues.
There are National Minimum Standards that have been published.
An easy read version of the standards is available.