Our Service and Team
Our Service and Team
Welcome to IASS Westminster
The service is an impartial and confidential service that provides information, advice and support (IASS) to parent carers of children and young people up to the age of 25 who have or may have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) about education, health and social care issues relating to their SEND.
We are operating at arms-length from Westminster City Council. The law requires all local authorities to provide children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their parents/carers with information, advice and support.
Aims of Information Advice Support Service
Our aim is to empower children and young people and their parent/carers to make an informed decision about their rights in education, health and social care relating to their SEND needs.
We do this by providing the information, advice and support at different stages of their special educational needs journey so that children/young people with SEND and parent carers:
- Understand their rights and what the options
- Are enabled to have their views, feelings and wishes heard
- Become more confident and can use the skills and knowledge in the future
We are an impartial service; this means we do not take sides. The information, advice and support we provide is based on the law, guidance and local policy and practice that is in place.
What We Do
We offer a range of information and advice in:
- Getting extra support in nurseries, schools and colleges
- Requesting EHC needs assessment and understanding EHC Plans
- Identifying suitable schools
- Explanation of educational procedures
- Information on Personal Budgets
- Attendance and Exclusions
- Disagreements, Mediation and SEND Tribunal appeal
- Transport and assistance
- Rights on your social care and health matters related to SEND
- Advice on the Equality Act and reasonable adjustments
We will not:
- Make decisions on your behalf
- Fill in/write forms on your behalf such as appeal
- Provide reports about your child
- A translation or interpreting service
- Give advice on matters not related to SEND such as benefits, housing etc
We offer training to young people parents/carers and professionals to increase their understanding of law and guidance related to special educational needs and disability.
Click below for information about Information Advice Support Service in British Sign Language:
Our Team
Rahmin
Sarah
Mahalia
All staff are trained and experienced advisors in SEND law and case work. They hold the accredited IPSEA Legal Level 3 training.
Staff hold an up-to-date enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) certificate.
Who is the service for?
- the child or young person who has a special educational need and or a disability, living in Westminster
- the parent or carer of the child or young person with special educational needs and/or disability
- the child or young person does not need to have a diagnosis of a special need or a disability to access IAS Service.
Who can contact the service?
- Parents, carers and legal guardians who live in Westminster
- Young people aged 16-25 years, who live in Westminster
- Professionals working with SEND children and young people and their families
