SENDIASS and the Local Offer: Free SEND Support Services Explained

Two of the most frequently mentioned free SEND support services in England are SENDIASS and the Local Offer. Both are statutory requirements. Both can be genuinely useful. Both also have real limitations that parents discover quickly when they are in the middle of a crisis. Here is an honest account of what they are, what they can do, and where they fall short.

What SENDIASS Is

SENDIASS stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service. Every local authority in England is required by the Children and Families Act 2014 to provide this service. It must be free, confidential, and impartial.

The "impartial" part is the key claim. SENDIASS is supposed to operate at arm's length from the local authority — it should be independent of the LA's decision-making so that it can give genuinely neutral advice to parents who may be in dispute with the authority itself.

In practice, SENDIASS is funded by the local authority, which creates an inherent structural tension. Many parents report concerns about how genuinely impartial the advice is when they are fighting the same council that funds the service. That does not mean all SENDIASS services are compromised — many SENDIASS advisers are genuinely skilled, well-trained advocates. But it is worth understanding the structure before placing complete reliance on any single adviser.

What SENDIASS Can Do

SENDIASS services are required to provide information, advice, and support on all matters relating to SEND. This includes:

• Explaining the SEND system and the legal framework
• Advising on SEN Support and the APDR cycle
• Explaining the EHC needs assessment process and your rights at each stage
• Reviewing draft EHCPs and advising on whether the wording is legally adequate
• Supporting parents before and during meetings with schools and local authorities
• Helping with SEND Tribunal appeals — advising on the process, reviewing evidence bundles, and in some cases attending hearings

Some SENDIASS services also offer group workshops on specific topics, such as the annual review process or preparing for a tribunal.

What SENDIASS Cannot Always Do

SENDIASS is not a legal representative. It is an information and support service. In practice, there are significant constraints on what individual SENDIASS workers can deliver:

Capacity is limited. Many SENDIASS services are chronically under-resourced. Waiting times for a phone callback can be weeks. In the middle of a 15-day draft EHCP review window or a two-month tribunal appeal deadline, waiting three weeks for advice is often not viable.

Attendance at meetings is variable. While some SENDIASS services can send a worker to SENCO meetings or Annual Reviews, many are so stretched that they can only advise parents to attend independently, rather than attending alongside them.

They are not SEND law solicitors. SENDIASS advisers are trained in SEND legislation, but they are not qualified solicitors. For complex legal arguments, case law interpretation, or formal legal representation at Tribunal, you may need IPSEA or a SEND lawyer.

How to Contact Your Local SENDIASS

Each LA has its own SENDIASS service, usually accessible through the LA's website. Searching "[your local authority] SENDIASS" will find the specific service for your area. Some are standalone organisations; others operate through charities like Barnardo's.

Contact them early — before a crisis if possible. The services that can help most are the ones where you have already made contact and they have some context about your situation.

What the Local Offer Is

Every local authority is required to publish a Local Offer — a website or document that describes all the services, support, and provision available to children and young people with SEND in that area. This includes:

• What SEN Support schools are expected to provide
• The EHC needs assessment process and timelines
• Education, health, and social care services available locally
• Information on short breaks, parent carer forums, and specialist provision

The Local Offer is a legal requirement under the Children and Families Act 2014. LAs must keep it updated and must involve parents and young people in its design.

The Honest Assessment of the Local Offer

In theory, the Local Offer is a comprehensive, searchable directory that makes navigating local SEND services much easier. In practice, Local Offer websites vary enormously. Some are genuinely useful, up-to-date, and well-structured. Others are difficult to navigate, out of date, or contain contradictory information.

The most useful things to look for in your LA's Local Offer:

• The LA's specific Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP) guidance — what schools are expected to provide before requesting LA top-up funding
• The local EHCNA request process — the specific contacts and procedures for your area
• Available specialist school places and the referral process
• Any local SEND-specific support services — occupational therapy, SALT, CAMHS pathways, and their waiting times

The Local Offer cannot tell you how to advocate effectively or what to do when the system fails. It describes the system as it is designed, not as it functions under pressure.

For a toolkit that covers both the legal framework and the practical advocacy skills needed to navigate the system, see the England EHCP & SEN Blueprint.

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