Parent & carer information sessions

  • We offer free relaxed information sessions for parents and carers to help build your confidence and understanding around SEND.
  • Currently we are offering these sessions virtually.  
  • We can offer a particular session face-to-face at the request of a group of parents who have identified a time and place which suits everyone.
  • Our training is supported by a range of videos on our SENDIASS YouTube channel.  These include pre-recordings of all our sessions and also some shorter videos which break our training down into small chunks.
  • Our offer is based on the most common concerns and questions raised by families who contact our service and also on our most recent Information and training survey.
  • We aim to coproduce our training with parents and carers so that what we offer matches what you say will build your confidence and understanding.

What parents/carers have said about our sessions:

‘Very informative and so clearly put across!’

‘Brilliant session!  It helped me understand what to expect from the school and what I can do and be more confident in working with the school.’

‘Great to hear the SEN system explained so clearly.’

It was a great insight and a non- biased view.’

‘I feel a lot more confident with the process now and being able to advocate for my child.’

‘I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending your courses to others.’

Our sessions

This is a relaxed online session focussing on the process of support in schools for pupils with special educational needs (SEN). The session explores:

  • Key principles of SEN support and whole class and whole group inclusive approaches;
  • The graduated approach to SEN support and how you and your child are involved;
  • What happens if a child needs more support;
  • Key considerations for pupils with medical needs or disabilities.

During the pandemic we offered a series of online sessions exploring support for pupils with different types of SEN.  Families can access recordings of these sessions on our SENDIASS YouTube channel.

This is a relaxed online session coproduced with parents and carers, for parents and carers. It explains the process of support for children in early years settings who have special educational needs (SEN), exploring:

• Key principles of SEN support and early assessment.

• Whole group inclusive approaches.

• The graduated approach to SEN support and how families are involved.

• What happens if a child needs more support.

• Support for children with medical needs and disabilities.

The webinar was co-produced separately with parents and multi-agency practitioners and explores:

  • The purpose and threshold of an EHC needs assessment and when one might be requested;
  • Your options if you receive a refusal for an EHC needs assessment.
  • What happens if an EHC needs assessment is agreed and how you and your child are involved;
  • What happens at the end of the process.

The webinar was co-produced with parents and explores:

  • the purpose of and EHC plan and an Annual Review;
  • the different stages of review and how you and your child are involved;
  • what decisions can be made at the end of the review process;
  • early and transition reviews.

This online session stems from an EHC plan workshop which was coproduced with parents and carers. 

It explores:

  • the process of drafting and finalising an EHC plan and how you and your child are involved;
  • key sections of the plan and what to look for in a good EHC plan;
  • the process of consulting and naming a school;
  • Finalising an EHC plan.

This online session was coproduced with parents and carers.

It aims to help you and your child prepare for the transition from early years to school reception, including additional transition support for children with additional needs.

This online session was coproduced with parents and carers.

It aims to help you and your child prepare for the transition to secondary school and includes ideas for working with the primary and secondary school around additional transition support.

We can also offer:

A practical interactive workshop for groups of parents and carers which can be offered online or face-to-face on request.  We use whiteboards and scenarios to explore solution focussed strategies for preparing for and managing meetings and conversations with schools or the local authority.

Contact us if you are interested in this session.

We aim to collaborate with other services to offer some additional sessions for families each term around an area of SEND which goes beyond our expertise and training.  These sessions are hosted by SENDIASS while experts deliver the presentation. The content of these sessions is led by the issues and requests shared by families who contact our service.

Go to events calendar