The Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service for Windsor and Maidenhead is a statutory service. The IAS Service provides free, impartial and confidential information, advice and support to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) up to age 25, and their parents/carers. We can help whether you receive education within the borough or elsewhere, but you need to be resident in the Royal Borough to access our service. A child/young person does not need a formal diagnosis, we can help if you feel there is a Special Educational Need.
The Information, Advice and Support Service for Windsor and Maidenhead provides:
- A free and confidential service provided at “arms length” from education, health and care providers
- Impartial information, advice and support on matters relating to education, health and social care where there is a special educational need or disability
- Advice and support from independently trained Information, Advice and Support Service staff
- Support through statutory processes relating to Education Health Care (EHC) Needs Assessments and planning
- Information and practical support to find answers to your questions
We can support you by:
- Listening to your views and your concerns
- Helping you to feel more confident to express your views
- Explaining your options, rights and responsibilities
- Helping with forms, letters and reports
- Helping prepare for meetings and/or attending meetings with you
- Answering your questions about Educational Health Care Needs Assessments and EHC Plans.
- Supporting you through a Needs Assessment or Annual Review
- Helping you to resolve disagreements
Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) – specific support
We can talk you through the steps of requesting an education, health and care needs assessment and answer any questions you may have. We can also support you through the process by offering appointments to review your contributions to the EHC needs assessment or creating a child/young person’s profile. We can also offer support and guidance if you are not satisfied with a decision made about whether to carry out an EHC Needs Assessment or decisions made during/after the assessment process. This may include supporting you in discussions with the Local Authority, accessing mediation or appealing to the SEND Tribunal.
Parents Share
Parents' Share is a monthly meeting designed to offer support to parents of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND).
We hold a comprehensive programme of information sessions and informal drop in coffee mornings which provide an opportunity for parents "to meet and discuss things with other parents".
These sessions are usually held at Friends House, 14 West Street, Maidenhead, SL6 1RL.
Who can attend?
Any parent or carer of a child or young person with additional needs. You may attend any or all of the meetings. Pre-school children are welcome to attend but you have responsibility for them.
You can find a copy of our Parents’ Share programme on our website www.ias-rbwm.info/events
Is your service accessible?
Our service is based within Riverside Children's Centre which is fully accessible and has an accessible toilet.
We can also arrange to meet clients in their home or other suitable venue if it is more convenient for a client.
Eligibility criteria
Our service is for any child or young person, and their parent/carer that lives within the RBWM Local Authority. If you or your child/young person attends a school within RBWM but you live elsewhere, you must contact that IAS Service for advice and support.
How are referrals made
Ideally, due to our impartiality and confidentiality, we prefer to recieve self referrals directly from parents. However we accept that there are situations where it may be more convenient/appropriate for a professional to refer someone to our service.
In this instance, we will only accept contact details from a professional once it is confirmed that they have spoken to the client and gained permission to do so.
Contact
Phone: 01628 683182
Email: ias@rbwm.gov.uk
Address: Riverside Children's Centre, West Dean, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 7JB
(Office is open Monday - Friday 09:30am to 16:30pm term time only)