Ready for Help?

Contact the DSDT by email here or tel: 01323 893323

If you need information advice and support with your child’s EHC plan, support at school, an annual review, an appeal to the SEND tribunal, or anything related to being the parent of a child or young person with SEND, please see the options for help and support listed below.

If you would like more information about the Down Syndrome Development Trust and the services offered by DSDT, or have a particular question for the DSDT, or you cannot find the help you need, please email full details to the DSDT office manager, Marianne at marianne.dsdt@gmail.com or Senay Smallwood, DSDT Director at sensmallwood.dsdt@gmail.com.

Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

SENDIASS offers free information, advice and support on anything to do with special educational needs and disability (SEND) including education, health and social care. They offer:

• A website and resources
• A telephone and email advice line
• One to one advice for more complex issues
• Workshops
• DLA/PIP benefits advice

There is high demand for SENDIASS and you may not be able to get an immediate response.

Helpline: 01273 772289 | Email: sendiass@amazesussex.org.uk.
Find out more here: https://amazesussex.org.uk/parent-carers/services-and-support.

Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA)

IPSEA offer free and independent legally based information advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people.

They offer free services:

• A suite of free downloadable legal guides and resources.
• An advice line and call in helpline.
• A tribunal helpline to give next step advice on appeals and disability discrimination claims to the SEND tribunal.
• Tribunal Support Service (on referral from the tribunal helpline).
• Training.

Demand is high and you will need to book a call to speak to an advisor.

Find out more here: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/Pages/Category/service-overview.

Legal Aid for appealing to the SEND Tribunal

If you are on a low income or receiving certain types of benefits you may be eligible for legal aid if you are appealing to the SEND tribunal.  In some cases a young person may qualify for legal aid in their own right.

Legal help will provide help to prepare a case (in some exceptional situations funding for additional evidence) but not representation at a Tribunal hearing.

Further information about eligibility and how to apply: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/where-can-i-get-help-with-making-an-appeal.

SOS SEN

SOS SEN offer a free, friendly, independent telephone helpline for information and advice on SEND.  They also offer workshops, advice centres and some 1:1 sessions.

Free and some costed support.

Helpline: 0300 302 3731 or 0208 538 3731
Find out more here: https://sossen.org.uk.

Child Law Advice

Child Law Advice is operated by Coram Children’s Legal Centre.  They provide specialist advice and information on child, family and education law.

They have a telephone and email helpline and resources.

Find out more here: https://childlawadvice.org.uk.

SEN Ninja

Independent support with your child’s current school or help to get a placement at the school of your choice, including appealing to the SEND tribunal.

Initial free 30 minute phone call then an hourly rate cost for ongoing consultancy.

Find out more: https://sen.ninja/elementor-555.

Independent SEND Consultant: Rebecca Whippy

Working with families of children and young people with SEND to access support and benefits.

• EHC plans or other SEND support
• Accessing transport to school or college
• Claiming DLA/PIP
• Lasting Powers of Attorney
• Representation at Tribunals

Please note there is a cost for this service.

Call: 01323 404835 | Email:  info@rebeccawhippysend.com.
Find out more here: https://rebeccawhippysend.com.

Solicitors with good experience in SEN and Disability matters:

Please note there will be a cost.

https://rightsinreality.wordpress.com/2014/09/13/solicitors-with-expertise-in-disability-and-sen-cases.

EHC plan support focusing on the syndrome specific learning style of children and young people with DS.

Education, Health and Care plans can be a daunting prospect for parents.

Parents maybe transferring their child’s Statement to the current EHC plan or maybe in the process of completing an EHC plan for their child. DSDT can provide support and advice on EHC plans and the process involved. We focus on Down’s syndrome specific matters and can help with how to include the good practice guide for educating children with Down syndrome into your child’s EHC plan. Please contact us either by phone or email to request advice.

For more information please contact DSDT

• Tel: 01323 893323
• Or email: hello@downsyndromedevelopment.org.uk

Testimonials

Read a testimonial here on the support they received from DSDT.

“Information I received made me aware of my and my sons rights and built my confidence. Resources I received were very helpful and supported what I wanted for my child. Overall I received lots of support and help which I am very grateful for. Feelings of stress or anxiety decreased, problem solving skills increased, self confidence increased”.

An all party Parliamentary Group has published the Good Practice Guidelines for children and young people up to 25 years. The report calls on government to: Recognise the specific developmental and educational needs of children and young people with Down syndrome.

The report requires government to:

1. Recognise the specific developmental and educational needs of children and young people with Down syndrome as a unique group
2. Ensure effective planning and monitoring for this population of children/ young people
3. Develop the inspection framework so that the inspection process is informed by and checks against identified good practice with pupils with SEN, and specifically Down syndrome
4. Promote and support syndrome-specific approaches tailored to the learning profile of children and young people with Down syndrome, and endorse the principles set out in this document
5. Develop government led, centrally produced, evidence based guidance for practitioners on Down syndrome
6. Protect the provision of specialist Down syndrome support services
7. Recognise and meet the need for provision of additional resourcing

The report summarises information about the specific learning needs of children with Down syndrome and sets out principles for effective education practice.

More information can be found at:
https://www.dseinternational.org/en-gb/news/2012/12/01/appg-good-practice-guidelines/