Cumberland SEND Information, Advice and Support Service

Values and Principles

Our work with children, young people and their parents or carers will be done in a way which promotes the following principles and values:

  • Equality – Cumberland Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service (SEND IASS) uses an open access policy. It will make sure all service users have the same ease of access and are not restricted for any reason. The intention being to remove barriers, real or perceived around disability, cultural or language differences. The service listens to service users’ views and acknowledges service users’ feelings and concerns.
  • Impartiality – The service will provide information to enable children, young people and their parents or carers to make their own informed decisions and choices. Cumberland SEND IAS Service staff will remain impartial, in respect of the information and support it provides.
  • Independence – The service will 'signpost' parents to alternative sources of information and support.
  • Confidentiality – Client confidentiality is respected. Information will be shared only with the full understanding and consent of children, young people and their parents or carers.

Aims of the service

To ensure children and young people (0 to 25 years) with special educational needs and or disabilities and their parents or carers are provided with accurate, impartial information on the SEND process, enabling everyone to make informed decisions.

To make it clear to all service users that the information, advice and support is free, accurate, impartial, confidential and in formats which are accessible and responsive to their needs.

To ensure service users are informed about other agencies, such as Health Services, Social Care Services and voluntary organisations, which can offer information and advice about their own or their child’s particular special educational need or disability.

To make sure the provision of information, advice and support helps promote independence and self-advocacy for children, young people and their parents or carers.

To support Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities Alliance Cumbria (SENDAC) and other local parent support groups to provide opportunities for the sharing of information and discussion on new national initiatives and developments within the LA.

To offer advice and awareness raising to schools, Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs), Special Eduational Needs (SEN) governors, Local Authority (LA) officers and other agencies to help them develop positive relationships with children and young people with SEND and their parents or carers.

To work with other LA staff to facilitate reducing conflict with young people (over 16 years) and parents or carers of children under 16 years, without recourse to Special Educational Needs and Disability Support Service (SENDISS) Tribunals.  To liaise with the staff of the independent SEN Disagreement Resolution Service and Mediation Service appointed by the Local Authority where appropriate.

To encourage more children, young people and their parents or carers to contribute information and to confidently participate in any decision making.

To work with other colleagues to improve person centred planning. Ensuring the views and wishes of the child or young person are sought and taken into full consideration.