IPSEA is a registered charity (number 327691). We cover the whole of England (the law is different in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). We are funded by income from our sales of training, grants and donations.
During the last 5 years we have accepted 3 grants from the Department of Education. These grants have helped us to provide more information, advice and support by increasing our capacity.
We do not use (and have never used) any government or local authority funding to run our range of free services. This means that we are able to provide provide thousands of families each year with independent information, advice and support based on the law.
Our website has hundreds of free and downloadable resources to help families get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs and/or disability.
You can access these resources via our Home page. We have model letters, frequently asked questions, a jargon buster and lots more.
The following services are delivered by IPSEA's trained volunteers:
INFORMATION SERVICE: This operates as a signposting service and is for general legal queries. By completing our online Information Service form, you will get a quick response, signposting you to factsheets and links to information on our website.
ADVICE LINE: This provides next step advice on: problems with schools, requesting statutory assessment, statements and Education, Health and Care Plans, annual reviews, disability discrimination and exclusion. Please click here to book an appointment to get one of our advisers to call you back.
TRIBUNAL HELPLINE: Gives next step advice on SEN appeals and disability discrimination claims to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal. When you call we will also assess whether you need casework support. Please click here to book an appointment to get one of our advisers to call you back.
TRIBUNAL SUPPORT: Our Tribunal Casework Volunteers provide free individual support to families appealing to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal. This unique service can only be accessed by speaking to a Tribunal Helpline volunteer. If our assessment is that you need this support, it will be provided throughout the Tribunal process - including representation at a hearing if needed. Our casework volunteers work with parents to empower them to obtain the best possible result from their appeal.