SEN / Education - Helpful Information.

SENDIST SEN Tribunal Website

http://www.sendist.gov.uk/

DOUGLAS SILAS Incredibly useful website with Tribunal guidance, most info free on website with free email programs to sign up to

http://www.specialeducationalneeds.co.uk/

SOS!SEN Legal Support Website

http://sossen.org.uk/

SENLEGAL Legal Support website

http://www.senlegal.co.uk/aboutus.html

IPSEA Independent Parental Special Education Advice

http://ipsea.org.uk/

NAS Advocacy for Education helpline 0845 070 4002

http://www.autism.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=143

Education Act 1996 Part IV should be ALL SEN PARENTS bedtime reading and bible

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1996/ukpga_19960056_en_1

:: Part 4 link ->

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1996/ukpga_19960056_en_20#pt4

SEN Code of Practice (this is the official guidance for anything to do with SEN - all parents/carers with SEN children should utilise this)

http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk

SEN Toolkit :: Downloadable guidance (Very useful)
•Principles and Policies
•Parent Partnership Services
•Resolution of Disputes
•Enabling Pupil Participation
•Managing Individual Education Plans (What's your involvement? What does an IEP contain? What SHOULD it contain?)
•Strands of Action to meet Special Educational Needs
•Writing Statements of Special Educational Needs (Very useful guide on what a statement SHOULD look like)
•Guidelines for Writing Advice (Does the professional report follow this guidance? It SHOULD, and it can)
•Preparing for and Conducting Annual Reviews (What's meant to happen at Annual Reviews, does everything that should get covered actually get discussed?)
•Transition Planning
•The Role of Social Services
•The Role of Health Professionals

With the above documents/guidance, you are in a stonger position to respond to LA/Schools/SEN Professionals with the guidance given by the DCSF/Government. (If you're not sure of a deciscion, you can always ask 'With which legislation are you basing your descision on?)

If a report doesn't look like the 'Guidance for Writing Advice' Refer to it and ask the professional to either re-asses if they haven't gathered the right info to support the written guidance and re-write, or re-write the report.

http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk

Link to all SEN schools, search by need, age, day/residential status, borough etc etc

http://www.specialneedsuk.org/