Citizens Advice Shropshire will continue to provide free, impartial and confidential advice and support for children, young people and their parent carers on matters relating to special educational needs and disability.
Citizens Advice Shropshire has been re-awarded the contract to deliver the SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) for the next four years, with an option to extend for a further year. The contract will start on 1 September 2024.
Citizens Advice Shropshire has been delivering Shropshire IASS since 2015 and has built a reputation for providing high-quality, impartial and accessible service to the local community. The service has helped hundreds of families to navigate the complex and often challenging system of SEND provision and to achieve positive outcomes for their children and young people.
The service provides:
- Free, impartial, confidential information, advice and support about education, health and social care for children, young people and their parent carers on matters relating to special educational needs and disability
- Support and help to promote independence and self-advocacy for children, young people and parent carers
- Support to understand options, rights and responsibilities including exclusion, complaints, SEND processes, and SEND appeals
- Information, advice and support before, during and following a SEND Tribunal appeal
- Help with paperwork and preparation for meetings
Councillor Kirstie Hurst-Knight, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for children’s services, said:
“We are delighted to award the contract for SEND Information, Advice and Support Service to Citizens Advice Shropshire, who have proven to be a trusted and reliable partner in providing this vital service.
“We recognise the importance of having a strong and independent service that can support and empower our children, young people and their parent carers to make informed decisions about their education, health and social care needs.
“We look forward to continuing our work with Citizens Advice Shropshire to ensure that our SEND community receives the best possible information, advice and support.”
Jackie Jeffrey, chief executive of Citizens Advice Shropshire, added:
“Myself and the team are very pleased to have been re-awarded the contract for SENDIASS, which reflects our commitment and expertise in delivering this service. We are proud of the positive feedback we have received from our clients, who have valued our impartial, confidential and person-centred approach.
“We are grateful for the support and collaboration of Shropshire Council, as well as the other local organisations and groups that work with us to improve the lives of children and young people with SEND and their families. We are looking forward to continuing and developing our service to meet the needs and aspirations of our SEND community.”
For more information about Shropshire IASS visit their webpages.