IPSEA offers a consultancy service for professionals advising parents of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), or those who are supporting them.

Organisations we have previously provided consultancy for have included schools, colleges, parent groups and charities. Such a service might be appropriate for those requiring clarification of the law in relation to a particular parent's situation, or for professionals seeking more general advice to help improve the support they give to parents and young people.

We are also able to provide individual telephone support or advice on a specific piece of casework.

Recent examples of our consultancy work

• We visited a group of parent supporters to review the paperwork they had prepared for a number of appeals to the SEND Tribunal in which they were supporting and representing parents. A member of IPSEA’s legal team reviewed the paperwork, and provided tactical advice on how to prepare and present these particular appeals, as well as future similar appeals. 

• We prepared written advice for a parent carer network on Local Authority proposals to introduce a non-statutory scheme which would distribute funding for SEN support instead of parents requesting an EHC needs assessment.  

Our consultancy is provided by a member of IPSEA’s legal team, and the fee for this service is calculated on an individual basis depending on the time required to carry out the work. Please contact our Fundraising and Communications Manager, Susan Curtis, by email on [email protected] or by telephone on 01799 582030 if you would like to discuss using this service.