Solihull SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) Information, Advice and Support Service
About our service
Our vision at Solihull SENDIAS, is that children and young people with SEND, and their parents/carers, will be aware of their entitlement and the options available, and will be able to make informed decisions.
Information, advice and support for children and young people with SEND and their parents/carers will be impartial, free to access, accurate, confidential, comprehensive and easily accessible/understandable.
provide information, advice and support to children and young people up to the age of 25 with SEND
provide information, advice and support to the parents/carers of children and young people up to the age of 25 with SEND
provide impartial advice about matters relating to SEND, including issues relating to health and social care
offer support to parents/carers and children and young people with SEND in participating in decisions made about the child/young person’s education, health and social care.
What we do
We provide information and advice about:
the law on special educational needs and disability
statements of education, health and care plans and procedures
personalisation and personal budgets
the Local Offer – this gives information about Solihull services for young people and parents
managing mediation, appeals to the first-tier tribunal (SEN and disability), exclusions and complaints
SEND support in early years provision, mainstream schools and post-16 institutions
local provision in mainstream, resourced mainstream and special schools
applying information to your own situation
where to go for additional support locally or nationally, including voluntary services
what to do when things go wrong.
Family Action’s SEND information for parents and carers webpage offers useful information on a variety of topics such as money, health, leisure and education. You’ll also find a FAQs section and a list of national support organisations.
We support children and young people with SEND and their parents/carers in a variety of ways, for instance:
individual casework and representation, including arranging and attending meetings, contributing to assessments and reviews, and supporting participation in decisions about outcomes for children and young people
writing and responding to letters and reports, and support with EHC plans
help when things go wrong, including supporting children, young people and parents in arranging or attending early disagreement resolution meetings and in managing mediation, appeals to first-tier tribunal (SEN and Disability), exclusions and complaints on matters related to SEN and Disability and making children, young people and parents aware of the local authority’s and CCG’s services for resolving disagreements and for mediation, and on the routes of appeal and complaint on matters related to SEN and Disability
support through working with parent carer support groups, local SEND youth forums or groups, training events and schools/colleges.
signposting to appropriate alternative and additional sources of advice, information and support locally or nationally.
Do you have some time to spare during the day? Would you like to support Solihull families who have children with special educational needs or disabilities? If so take a look at our Volunteering with Solihull information sheet and complete and return your Volunteer Application Form. We look forward to hearing from you!
Further support and information
Here is a short animation to show the support available to young people with SEND and their families.
Contact Helpline – Freephone: 0808 808 3555 (9.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, free from UK landlines and UK mobiles). Contact can give parents and carers with a disabled child aged 0 to 25 advice, information and support about any concern/question they might have.
FamilyLine is a free service available to support parents and carers manage the challenges of parenthood via telephone, text message and email. Whether it’s emotional support or practical advice on any aspect of parenting or broader family life, call: 0808 802 6666, text: 07537 404282 or email: [email protected]
Here is some guidance regarding how to share your views at an Education, Health and Care plan annual review
Contact Details
Find us
Solihull SENDIAS staff generally work between 8.30am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday all year round. However, there are occasions when the office is unmanned, because staff are out at meetings and events or because staff are working flexibly to meet the needs of the service. We do have a 24-hour messaging service on 01215 165 173 or you can email us at [email protected] We aim to respond to initial enquiries within 5 working days and to engage with ongoing cases as necessary.
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