Independent Parental Special Education Advice (known as IPSEA) is a registered charity (number 327691) operating in England. IPSEA offers free and independent legally based information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). We also provide training on the SEND legal framework to parents and carers, professionals and other organisations.

Why families need IPSEA

By law, children with SEND are entitled to educational support that meets their individual needs. Since IPSEA was formed in 1983, we have helped to improve educational support for thousands of children with all kinds of SEND. We do this by providing free and independent legally-based information, advice and casework support.

How we help

IPSEA has a suite of free downloadable legal guides and resources available to parents and carers. These guides are complemented by a free Advice Line which provides legally based information and next step advice on any educational issue that is a result of a child's SEND. IPSEA’s Tribunal Helpline gives next step advice on appeals and disability discrimination claims to the SEND Tribunal and is also the gateway to our Tribunal Support Service where a referral can be made for more extensive casework support from a volunteer, including representation at the hearing. Our advice services are delivered by a national network of around 200 highly-trained volunteers, supervised and supported by IPSEA’s Legal Team members.

IPSEA provides accredited legal training for parents, school staff, parent carer forums, support groups and other organisations in order to increase their knowledge and understanding of the SEN legal framework. The proceeds raised from our training courses helps fund IPSEA’s core services(Advice Line, Tribunal Helpline and Tribunal Support Service).

We also work to challenge unlawful SEND policy and influence policy development at both a local and national level. Our policy work is informed by information and evidence captured through our training and advice services, and has been instrumental in shaping law and policy in the field of special educational needs and disability. 

We offer a free, friendly, independent and confidential telephone helpline for parents and others looking for information and advice on Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).

We concentrate on helping people to find their way through the legal and procedural maze which is so daunting to so many who try to obtain satisfactory provision for a child’s special needs.

What we do

SOS!SEN is a national charity aiming to empower parents and carers of children with SEN to tackle successfully themselves the difficulties they face when battling for their children’s rights.

We concentrate on helping people to find their way through the legal and bureaucratic maze that is so daunting to so many.

To empower parents and carers we provide a free and friendly service including:

• a telephone Helpline 5 days per week during term time
• monthly drop in advice centres in some areas during term time
• information sheets on many topics

We also offer small ‘hands-on’ one-day Workshops on such topics as:

• Appeals Against Contents of EHCP
• Writing Working Documents
• Contents of EHC Plans
• 16+ and 18+ Transfers
• Annual Reviews
• Enforcing SEN Provision

Our Vision - The long-term wider change we’re aiming for:

Children and young people achieve better outcomes because their parents will have been able successfully to navigate the SEND system. Additionally, those working with such children can access good quality information and improve their ability and communication skills when working with families

Our Mission:

Special Needs Jungle creates easy to understand resources, articles and information for parents and carers of children with special needs, disabilities and health conditions to better enable them to navigate the special needs system. We aim to inform, educate and empower families to self-advocate confidently, so their children get the help they need to live the best life they can.

The Council for the Registration of Schools Teaching Dyslexic Pupils, our aim is to help parents and also those who advise them choose an educational establishment for children with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD).