Image of Alex, SEND Advisor, sitting at a table in a cafe with a woman. He is writing in a notebook and she is speaking.

SEND Advice

 

 

 

Home > Our services > Children > SEND Advice

Do you need help understanding your child's educational rights?

Our SEND Advice Service offers free, impartial advice, support and advocacy for families navigating the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) system. Our aim is to help you to understand and to apply your rights, and to secure the educational provision your child needs.

Our Advisors have many years of experience working with families in Richmond, including personal experience of the emotional and administrational journeys and battles involved. They can support you through one to one advice and advocating at school, local authority and therapeutic meetings. They will help to ensure that the voice of the child/young person and family remains central in all discussions and decision making. The SEND Team also holds themed workshops and talks on the above processes.

Image of two women sitting on a bench in a community garden. One is blonde and wearing a green t-shirt, the other has caramel hair with a black t-shirt.

We can support you with:

  • Navigating Special Educational Needs (SEND) options for your young person
  • Education Health and Care Plans – how to apply, how to manage the assessment process, placements, what to do if things go wrong, how to get the most out of Annual Reviews
  • Resolving other issues you may have and signposting to other useful voluntary and professional organisations locally and nationally
  • School and local authority meetings, help draft emails and review documents, and advocate on your behalf in mediation sessions

We do not currently offer support with appeals to the First Tier Tribunal and we are not a school finding service; but we will guide you to resources and contacts who can help.

“The service has been like a lifeline to us regarding my son’s Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and what he needs. The advice was invaluable.”

-SEND Advice client

Referral Form

If you would like to access the SEND Advice service, please download the referral form and return it to our team. 

Get in touch

Image of a white, bald man with grey/blue eyes wearing a dark blue t-shirt.

Alex Hardy

SEND Advisor

Image of a white woman with olive skin, dark brown and grey hair and brown eyes wearing a blue and white polka dot shirt and brown glasses on top of her head.

Yolanda Bryant

SEND Advisor


SEND Advice is funded by:

  • The navy blue Hampton Fund logo with a navy blue and green tree on the lefthand side
  • The light blue and medium blue Richmond Parish Lands Charity logo