We can only offer information and advice if you live in Central Bedfordshire. 
If you do not live within Central Bedfordshire, you will need to contact the SENDIASS for your Local Authority.  
Find your local IAS service (councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk)  
The Helpline service runs 9.15-3pm Monday - Friday term time only. It is closed on Wednesdays.
If you require a call outside of these hours, please let us know and we will try and arrange a convenient time with you. 
Our Helpline Officer can help you with most queries including:   
  • SEN Support
  • School attendance (Emotionally School Based Non-Attendance ((EBSNA)
  • Education and Health Care Needs Assessment Requests (EHCNAR)
  • Queries about Contents of an EHCP
  • Annual Reviews
  • Complaints
  • School transport and more. 
Please note that we are unable to book Helpline calls for Mediations or Appeals. We will in the first instance, email the relevant information and guidance for you to have a read through, if we do not hear back from you, we will check in to see how things are and if you require further advice or support.
Due to capacity and the increasing number of referrals we are receiving, CB SENDIASS can offer you information, advice and support that will empower and enable you to move forward independently. The level of support we offer will be determined on a case-by-case basis, with a view to supporting as many families as possible.  
Before the call: 
  • If your child or young person has an EHCP, it may be helpful if you have the most recent EHCP ready to refer to during your helpline call. 
  • You might want to think about what you would like the helpline call to focus on. For example, support for your child or young person’s special educational needs in school/college, how to apply for an EHC Needs Assessment, suspensions, EHCP annual reviews. Are there any questions you would like to ask?  
  • It might help to write them down.  
 During the call: 
  • The Helpline Officer will spend 5-10 minutes asking you questions to gain a better understand of your query and how SENDIASS can help. Anything you say is confidential and will not be passed on to anyone outside SENDIASS without your permission. 
  • The Helpline Officer will then help you to explore your options and possible solutions. 
  • The advice will support you to understand your rights and the legal framework for schools and local authorities. 
  • The advice will be impartial. SENDIASS cannot tell you what to do or what the “right” answer is. 
  • The aim of the helpline call is to give you information, advice and support to empower you to resolve your query. 
After the call: 
The Helpline Officer will send you an email summarising the advice given.
You will usually receive the email on the same day as the call, but at busy times it may be the next working day. 
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NO LONGER NEED THE APPOINTMENT OR NEED TO RE-ARRANGE SO WE CAN OFFER IT TO ANOTHER PARENT.
We understand that family life can be busy and that plans sometimes change. If you are unable to attend, would prefer a different date or time, or need to cancel for any reason, we would be grateful if you could let us know as soon as possible.
As demand for our service is currently very high, this helps us offer the appointment slot to another parent waiting for support.
We endeavour to call at the time given, but on occasions calls can run over, please be patient the officer will call. Our number will show as 0300 300 8088     
If you have a missed call from us, do not call and leave us a voicemail, all calls go straight to our Voicemail, which are processed once a day. We will try calling three times, if we are unable to speak with you, an email will be sent asking if you would like to re-book. The Helpline slots are filled very quickly, and we will not be able to offer an appointment on the same day.
If we do not hear back, we will assume the call is no longer required and close the contact.  
CONTACT US
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