SENDIASS stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service.
This is the SENDIASS service for people living in Lewisham.
It’s a free, impartial, and confidential service offering information to young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and to their parents and carers. https://www.kids.org.uk/sendiass/services/lewisham-sendiass/
What we do
We are a free, confidential and impartial service, offering information, advice and support to parents and carers of children and young people with SEND.
Our experienced team of local advisors also provide this independent advice directly to young people aged 16 up to 25 years with SEND.
We understand it can be difficult at times. Our approach is to empower parents, carers, and young people by providing you with confidential information and support on all matters relating to SEND. We can support you to understand your rights and offer guidance on the legal framework that all schools and local authorities adhere to.
We aim to empower our parents, children and young people to participate in any decision-making processes and assist you to make informed decisions.
Types of support
We can provide information and advice on all matters relating to SEND including:
- Information regarding the local offer, local policy and SEN/ disability law from independently trained staff
- Advice for parent/carers, children and young people on gathering, understanding and interpreting information and applying it to their own situation
- Personalisation of personal budgets
- Information on the local authority’s processes for resolving disagreements, its complaints procedures and means of redress
- Signposting children, young people and parents to alternative and additional sources of local and national information, advice and support
- Individual casework and representation where needed including support in attending meetings, contributing to assessments and reviews and participating in decisions about outcomes for the child or young person.
- Support for parents and young people in managing mediation and appeals to the SEND Tribunal.
Please download a copy of our service leaflet
SEN Code of Practice 2015, which is statutory guidance from the DfE
Kids SENDIASS Information Webinar – The 20 Week EHCP Process
Kids SENDIASS Information Webinar – The EHCP Annual Review Process
Making a parental request for an EHC Needs Assessment
For key information on SEN Support process
Who is it for?
Families of young people aged 0 – 25 with special educational needs and disabilities. The service is open to parents and carers, and to young people themselves.
When is it open?
We are open Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm.
How much does it cost?
The service is free to access.
How do I contact you?
Contact us using the digital referral form below or emailing us at Lewisham@kids.org.uk
Please click on this link to complete our digital referral form
Drop-in sessions
We offer face-to-face drop-in sessions every month. Sessions are free, confidential, and no appointments are necessary. Just pop in to have a chat – we’ll be happy to see you!
Venue
The Kaleidoscope Centre, 32 Rushey Green, London SE6 4JF
Information & advice
Our advice guides offer information on a wide range of topics relating to special educational needs and disabilities.
Advice
Understanding SEND
An introduction to SEND for people at the start of their SEND journey
Advice
National organisations
National organisations that provide support for families with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
Advice
Who’s who in SEND
A guide to the titles and roles of various professionals you might come across in your SEND journey.
Advice
SEND Glossary
There are lots of abbreviations used in the world of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Find explanations of the most common ones in our glossary.
Advice
What are Special Educational Needs?
Read out guide if you want to find out what special educational needs are.
Advice
The Local Offer
Find out what a Local Offer is and how it can help you find services for special educational needs and disabilities.
Advice
School meetings
Attending a meeting about your child at school can be difficult. Find out how to get the most from school meetings.
Advice
School refusal
How to support a child who is refusing to go to school.
Advice
Personal budgets
Explore the range of personal budgets available to families of children and young people with SEND.
Advice
Choosing a primary school
Top tips on choosing a primary school for a child with special educational needs or disabilities.
Advice
SEND support in schools
Schools are required to provide support to young people with SEND. Find out more in this guide.
Advice
SEN Funding
Schools receive funding to support children with SEN. Find out how you can ensure your child gets the support they need.
Advice
SEND in early years
Discover the support that is available in the early years for children with special educational needs and disabilities
Advice
School exclusions
Find out when and how school exclusions can happen and what your rights are if you or your child is excluded.
Advice
Transitioning to adulthood
Navigate the transition from childhood to adulthood.
Advice
Appealing to the SEND Tribunal
If you want to appeal a decision in your EHC Plan you need to appeal to the SEND Tribunal. This guide shows you how.
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Local Contacts
Lewisham’s Mediation Service
The SEND Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service. We help families resolve disputes with the local authority or health service.
Lewisham SEND Local Offer
The Lewisham Local Offer brings together information about education, health and care services for children and young people from 0 to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities. Please click on the link to explore.
Lewisham Specialist Services for Schools
This is a list of services available for schools to support children and young people with SEND.
Visit Lewisham Services for Schools
How do I get my child assessed for Autism [or ADHD]?
Find out what autism is and get help and advice if you or your child are autistic.
Resources for Autism
A new service in Lewisham to support families with Autism.
Lewisham & Greenwich NHS: Therapies for children and young people
Occupational Therapy; Physiotherapy and Speech & Language Therapy service.
Visit Lewisham & Greenwich NHS
Lewisham Council: Get help with mental health
Find out what to do if you are worried about your child’s mental health.
If you have a safeguarding concern, pls call the Multi- Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) who provide a single point of access to the services that help keep children safe – telephone 020 8314 6660
IPSEA has a wealth of legal advice and resources
IPSEA can help! They have a wide range of topics to help you understand children’s legal rights and entitlements to educational support, plus access to their free ‘quick guides.
CONTACT for families with disabled children
CONTACT is a charity with a wealth of legal advice and resources on a wide range of topics.
Lewisham Parent Carer Forum [LPCF] is there for you!
LPCF provide opportunities for parents/carers to come together to express their views; encourage peer to peer support, and support your input into the planning and delivery of SEND service.
YoungMinds
YoungMinds – is a Charity For Children and Young People with school anxiety and/or emotional based school avoidance [EBSA].
Family fund
Family Fund is a charity providing grants to disabled children and their families.
A Lewisham parent says
“I would not have been able to go through this process without the support of Lewisham SENDASS. The support I received was amazing. I had one-to-one sessions with a professional worker who supported me step by step through the whole process. Being Dyslexic myself, I would not have been able to support my son with trying to get an EHC Plan.”
Contact us
You can contact us by filling in the form below or by phone, email, or by sending us a message via our Facebook page.
We are open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm.
We aim to respond to all queries within 3 working days.
- Phone: 0203 319 2163
- Email: Lewisham@kids.org.uk
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/sendiasslewisham
Please click on this link to complete our digital referral form
Impartiality and quality
Lewisham SENDIASS is a completely independent and impartial service. For more information about how we ensure impartiality and confidentiality please read our SENDIASS policies.
Our SENDIAS services strive for the highest quality. The government publishes Minimum Standards for SENDIASS. Kids aims to meet and exceed those standards in all our work. Our staff are all highly experienced and knowledgeable. They receive regular training and updates on all aspects of SEND policy and law and have a detailed knowledge of Lewisham education services so they can advise you on your family’s rights a