SENDIASS
Portsmouth SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service) offers free, impartial, and confidential advice and information directly to:
Young people with or who may have SEND aged 16-25
Parents and carers seeking support for their child with SEND, including those who do not have a diagnosis
We can help you understand your rights; explore your options; and navigate education, health, and social care processes.
We are here to empower families by helping them make informed choices, ensuring their voices are heard, and promoting positive outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
Our accredited team are trained in SEND law and can offer advice that is in line with the SEND Code of Practice (2014), the Children and Families Act (2014) and other relevant legalisation.
The service is led by the needs of you as a parent, carer, or young person and is available to families that live in Portsmouth.
You don’t need a diagnosis to access SEND information or advice - support is based on your needs.
We can help at any stage, from early concerns through to post-16 options and adulthood
Young people aged 16-25 can contact us directly for independent advice.
All our support is confidential, and we won’t share your information without consent (unless someone is at risk of harm).
Telephone and email advice: We offer advice and support through our helpline via telephone, email, and online form.
One-to-one support: We offer individual support for parents, carers, and young people.
Information Packs: Access our online information resources ADD LINK
Drop-in sessions: We visit drop-ins, coffee mornings, and community events. Contact us for more information.
Information and training for professionals: Please contact us to discuss your needs or enquiry.
Workshops: Coming soon - workshops and webinars for parents and carers.
SENDIASS Service Manager
SENDIASS Advisors
SENDIASS Admin
SENDIASS Volunteers
We have a number of volunteers who support the service at events, with social media and responding to SENDIASS-related queries in the inbox.
If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, click here.
Coming soon!
The Portsmouth SEND Local Offer details information, support, and services that Portsmouth City Council expects to be available in our local area for children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and or a disability (SEND). Website: https://portsmouthlocaloffer.org/ Website: https://portsmouthlocaloffer.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/1.395-Ordinarily-Available-Provision-2022-Accessible.pdfLocal Offer
Ordinarily Available Provision
PPV is run by parents and carers, for parents and carers. Their aim is to help parents and carers of young people aged 0-25 years, with additional needs and disabilities, to shape and improve local services. PPV provides a newsletter, Facebook page, drop-in sessions, information, and training. Phone: 07825 185608 Email: ppv@p-d-f.org.uk Website: www.portsmouthparentvoice.org Dynamite is the voice for young people (14– 25) in Portsmouth, who have a disability (including a special educational need, learning disability or physical disability). Dynamite supports young people to have their say in what services are like. They do this in lots of ways including; young inspectors, young people delivering training, pizza evenings, and surveys. All their work is overseen by a monthly core group of young people. Phone: 07905 682886 Email: dynamiteportsmouth@gmail.com Website: www.dynamiteportsmouth.org.ukPortsmouth Parent Voice (PPV)
Dynamite
Family hubs are a ‘one-stop shop’ within your community – providing information; signposting; and a variety of free services, activities, and support for families with children up to 25=years-old, in one place. In Portsmouth, we have five family hubs in Buckland, Milton, Northern Parade, Somerstown, and Paulsgrove. Each hub has a family hub champion who can offer advice and signpost to further support. The Portsmouth Teenage Project provides activities for young people aged 11 to 16 with a mild to moderate disability or special educational need who live in Portsmouth or is deemed as a ‘Portsmouth looked-after child’. Young people are given the opportunity to socialise with each other and to take part in a range of activities such as arts and crafts, cooking, movie nights, themed nights, or just relaxing and playing computer games. Other activities taking place during the month may include bowling and pool, cinema trips, and attending mixed sports sessions. Some of their longer trips have included days out in London, Beaulieu Motor Museum, laser tag, and a day out at Thorpe Park. Enable Ability also offers a holiday programme, which runs 10am to 4pm daily from a local activity centre. Activities take place throughout the year on a weekly basis, usually on Friday nights, in Portsmouth and the surrounding area.Portsmouth Family Hubs
Enable Ability – The Portsmouth Teenage Project
You can contact us for more individualised advice and support via phone, email or complete our contact us form.
If you are a young person, you can find more information about accessing SENDIASS or support.
If you are a parent/ carer or professional and want more information about SENDIASS.
Resources and information that may help you with your question or query.