SENDIASS
We offer free, impartial, and confidential information and advice for children and young people aged 0-25 and their parents or carers where a child or young person has or may have special educational needs or disability. We also provide information, advice, and support to professionals on topics relating to special educational needs or disability (SEND).
Rochdale SENDIASS sits within the wider Greater Manchester GM SEND Services.
The SENDIASS Team (who will provide you with information, advice, and support)
Afia Jabeen (working days Wednesday – Friday)
Keelie Rigby (working days Tuesday – Thursday)
Kate Donaghue (working days Monday – Friday)
Would you be interested in being part of a new parent and young person steering group?
We will soon be running a termly steering group made up of current and previous parents and young people who have been supported by our services. If you are a parent of a child or young person with SEND who has an interest in helping us to monitor, develop, and improve our service we would love to hear from you. Your views and experiences are key to ensuring that we are meeting the needs of parents, carers, children, and young people. For more information, please email rochdale.sendiass@barnardos.org.uk
Please note - workshops and events are updated on this website quarterly.
SENDiass offer a range of workshops for both Parents/Carers and Professionals. These workshops can be delivered both online via Microsoft Teams and face to face at the Parent Carer Voice Office in Spotland Bridge Mill or other venues across the borough. Spaces are allocated on a first come first serve basis and tickets can be booked via Eventbrite. Workshop topics are chosen based on common themes and we work closely with parents and carers to ensure that relevant topics are covered
We are currently collaborating with Rochdale Parent Carer Voice around what workshops could be delivered from September 2026. Workshops will be available to book via Eventbrite once agreed.
SENDiass work in collaboration with the Neurodiversity Hub, Homestart and SEND Advice Service, to deliver a 'one stop shop' for parents/carers and professionals.
Join us at any of the following sessions:
10th September 9:30am - 11am at St Thomas' CE Primary, Huddersfield Road, Newhey, OL16 3QZ
10th September 5pm-7pm at St George's Hall, Oakenrod, Bury Road, OL11 4EB
8th October 9:30am-11am at Stansfield Hall Primary, Littleborough OL15 9PR
8th October 5pm-7pm at St George's Hall, Oakenrod, Bury Road, OL11 4EB
5th November 9:30am - 11am at Oak Haven School, Sutherland Road, Heywood OL10 3PY
3rd December 9:30am - 11am at Alkrington Primary School
3rd December 5pm-7pm at St George's Hall, Oakenrod, Bury Road, OL11 4EB
Drop In Sessions:
Middleton - Burnside Community Centre, 36 Burnside Crescent Langley Middleton, M24 5NN,
9:30am - 11am:
Friday 18th Sept
Friday 16th Oct
Friday 13th Nov
Friday 11th Dec
Milnrow - Butterworth Hall, New St, Milnrow OL16 3PQ,
9.30-11.30am:
Tuesday 22nd Sept
Tuesday 20th Oct
Tuesday 17th Nov
Heywood - Heywood Baptist Church, Rochdale Road, Heywood, OL10 1LE,
9.30-11.30am:
Wednesday 30th Sept
Wednesday 25th Nov
Want to access our service along with others, all at once? Join SENDiass, the SEND Advice Service and Rochdale Parent Carers Voice all in one space at Riverside on the following dates:
9.30am - 11.30am
16th Sept 2026
21st Oct 2026
18th Nov 2026
16th Dec 2026
This is a relaxed opportunity to meet other SEND families have a brew and a chat! Some sessions will have professionals attending to share information. Please see Parent Carer Voice website for more information.
*Face to Face appointments* with SENDiass can be made via Rochdale Parent Carer Voice on the following dates between 10am and 12pm:
Tues 8th Sept 2026
Tues 10th Nov 2026
Tues 12th Jan 2027
Tues 9th March 2027
Tues 11th May 2027
Tues 13th July 2027
In addition, Rochdale Parent Carer Voice have also arranged sessions where professionals and services will share information on the following dates:
Tues 13th October 2026
Tues 8th December 2026
Tuesday 9th February 2027
Tuesday 13th April 2027
Tuesday 8th June 2027
SENDIASS works in collaboration with Colourful Minds by attending drop-in sessions. Colourful Minds deliver emotional & wellbeing support for parent carers of families with SEN and disabilities.
SENDiass drop in sessions
The PCV joins together parents and carers who look after children and young people with SEND to bring positive change from their lived experiences. They listen to families to find out what is important to them and determine whether services across Rochdale, Heywood, Pennines, and Middleton meet their needs.
They also work in partnership with local authorities, education settings and health providers to highlight where local services, processes, and commissioners are working well, or challenge when changes or improvements need to be made.
The Neurodiversity Hub is a multi-agency signposting and support service made up of NHS, local authority, and voluntary sector staff. The Hub supports families whose children are neurodivergent or have social communication differences. We are a need led service which means you don’t need a diagnosis to get support. Please note, the Neurodiversity Hub does not carry out autism or ADHD assessments and we don’t refer to these assessment services directly.
The SEND Advice Service provide information and support to parents, carers, and young people. They work together with a range of SEND services in Rochdale to help bring about better outcomes for children and young people aged 0-25-years-old. Their aim is to empower families with early intervention and guidance that helps them to feel more confident in supporting their children's futures.
Website: https://www.ourrochdale.org.uk/kb5/rochdale/directory/service.page?id=yPYwsA_sYDE
The Rochdale Additional Needs Service helps children and young people with additional needs to develop the skills they need to become independent and active members in school and their community.
Website: https://www.ourrochdale.org.uk/kb5/rochdale/directory/advice.page?id=JArsPY7hjqs
The Children with Disabilities Team sits within the Family Support and Protection Service and aims to provide help and protection for children and young people with complex health needs, whose disability significantly impacts their development, safety, or well-being, and who may be at risk without statutory intervention of a social worker.
Although all disabled children and young people who meet the Children Act 1989 and the Equality Act definition of a ‘child in need’ are entitled to a social care assessment, it may not be necessary for a social work assessment in all cases where the family can access support and assessment from Early Help and or short breaks.
The Children with Disabilities Team work closely with the Early Help and Schools Department, and alongside our Special Education Needs, Rochdale Additional Needs, Education Physiology, Hearing Impairment and Visual Impairment Team colleagues.
They work to assess and offer appropriate support and protection, which includes assessments for short break services to children who have a diagnosed disability and or complex health needs and their families.
Home-Start believes that children need a happy and secure childhood and that parents and carers play a key role in giving their children a good start in life and helping them to achieve their full potential. They provide a unique service; recruiting and training volunteers who themselves have parenting experience, to work with families in their own homes, building supportive relationships and responding directly to the family’s individual needs.
Website: https://www.ourrochdale.org.uk/kb5/rochdale/directory/service.page?id=I9m4I4IBlG8
Colourful Minds provides emotional and well-being support for parent and carers of families with SEN and disabilities. They offer a range of support including peer support sessions, wellbeing walks and events, and parent and child groups.
Website: https://www.colourfulminds.org/
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.
You can contact us for more individualised advice and support via phone, email or complete our contact us form.
You can contact us for more individualised advice and support
