Wirral SEND Partnership
Who we are and what we do
Under the Children and Families Act (2014) it is a legal requirement that all Local Authorities have a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS). WIRED are commission to deliver this service in Wirral. This service is known as Wirral SEND Partnership.
Wirral SEND Partnership (SEND IASS) provides free, impartial legally- based information, advice and support to children and young people, those with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) aged 0 – 25 years and their parent/carers and also professionals who work with them.
We aim to respond to all enquiries within 5 working days. Time-critical enquiries (where you may have a specific timeframe to respond to a decision) are given priority.
How can we help?
We provide information, advice and support on a range of Education, Health and Social Care topics relating to SEND including:
- First concerns that a child may have SEND (a child or YP does not need a diagnosis to be identified with SEND)
- SEN Support in Schools including the Graduated Approach
- Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
- Education, Health & Care Needs Assessments (EHCNA)
- Education, Health & Care Plans (EHCP’s)
- Appeals and Tribunals (including Mediation and Disagreement Resolution)
- Annual, Interim and transition Reviews
- Post-16
- SEND-related Health topics including advice about pathways
- SEND-related Social Care topics
- Preparation for Adulthood
- Exclusions, suspensions and other sanctions
- Choosing a School
- Transport
- Disability Discrimination
We can advise you about what the duties and responsibilities of Parent/Carers, as well as your rights and the rights of a young person; What the Local Authority (LA) should do to help and what Education providers such as Nurseries, Schools and colleges should do.
We do not provide any advice or support about claiming benefits for a child or YP with SEND. Click here for support.
Who can use our services
Information is available in a range of languages and formats if needed and Information, advice and support can be about any issue related to special educational needs or disability. You can self-refer or can ask someone else to refer on your behalf. Young people (aged 16-25) can ask for support separately from their parents/carers if they wish. Click on the dedicated webpage for information about SEND for children aged 11-15 and young people aged 16-25.
The office is open Monday to Friday from 9.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. We recommend meetings are arranged by telephone appointment.
Wirral Local Offer
Wirral SEND Partnership also help parents to navigate Wirral’s ‘Local Offer’ of services. The Local Offer provides information on what services children, young people and their families can expect from a range of local agencies, including education, health and social care as well as information about other local support services. Knowing what is out there gives you more choice and therefore more control over what support is right for you and your child. Go to https://www.sendlowirral.co.uk/ to find out what services are available in Wirral for children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and disabilities.
Parent Carer Forums
Parent Carer Forums are representative local groups of parents and carers of children and young people with disabilities who work alongside local authorities, education, health and other service providers to ensure the services they plan, commission, deliver and monitor meet the needs of children and families.
Para 1.13 SEND Code of Practice 2015
Their activities are funded by the Department for Education, and we are overseen by a National Charity – ‘Contact’. They are the recognised “voice” by Contact, and the Department for Education to participate with and co-produce services with the Local Authority.
Your local Parent Carer Forum is Parent Carer Participation Wirral (PCPW). Click here to find out more.
How to access our services
Parents or young people can contact our services directly using the telephone number or email address below. Professionals can also contact Wirral SEND Partnership in the same way.
How to contact Wirral SEND Partnership
To contact Wirral SEND Partnership please call on:
0151 522 7990 – Option 2 (staffed Monday to Friday 9am – 4.30pm)
or email ias@wired.me.uk
National SEND Helpline
Contact’ operate a helpline for parents and carers in any part of the UK with a disabled child aged from birth to 25.
- Freephone: 0808 808 3555 (Monday-Friday, 9.30am-5pm).
- Or visit their website https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/
IPSEA are the leading charity in the field of SEND law in England, and provide free and independent legal advice and support to families of children and young people with SEND aged 0-25 years.
