West Berkshire SENDIASS

17/11/2025

📝 How should school record absences if your child or young person is experiencing Emotionally Based School Absence (EBSA) -this is when a child experiences extreme anxiety and distress in relation to attending school. 📝

🟢 We frequently get asked "How do I ask the school to record EBSA absences correctly?", "What are my options if I don't have any medical evidence", or "I am being threatened with prosecution by the school?"

📑 For detailed guidance, check out our factsheet "How Should Schools Record Absences?" here 👉
https://westberkssendiass.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/WB-How-school-should-record-absences-School-AnxietyEBSA.pdf

16/11/2025

💬 Have you contacted West Berkshire SENDIASS recently and awaiting contact from our triage team? 💬

🟢 Our role as an information, advice, and support service (IASS) is to help parents/carers, children, and young people build their knowledge, understanding, and confidence in SEND procedures, policies, practices, and law - Enabling them to communicate their own needs, wishes, aims, and rights.

🟢 The aim of West Berkshire SENDIASS is always to enable parents/carers and young people to make confident, independent, and informed decisions. We will therefore assess every situation to understand the level of support required.

📑 This chart outlines the four levels of support we offer. To better understand our process, we’ve provided a link to our SENDIASS process flowchart. This chart outlines the four levels of support we offer. 👉https://westberkssendiass.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/West-Berks-SENDIASS-process-flow-chart.pdf

15/11/2025

📚 Is your child or young person receiving SEN support in school? 📚

🟢 If a child or young person has Special Educational Needs (SEN) but does not have an EHC plan, they are still entitled to the support necessary to meet their needs. This additional support is called SEN support.
🟢 SEN support received by the child or young person should be REVIEWED by everyone involved to see if it is working. If it is, it might continue. If it is not working, or if the outcomes have been achieved, some of the arrangements might be changed.
🟢 The SEND Code of Practice (2015) is not specific about the frequency of reviews, but termly would fit in with the requirement to meet parents three times per year. Parents should be fully involved.

The following graduated approach should be followed:

1️⃣ Assess ➖ Identify the child's needs and gather information from various sources, including teachers, parents, and specialists.
2️⃣ Plan ➖ Develop an individualised support plan tailored to the child's specific needs, setting clear, achievable goals.
3️⃣ Do ➖ Implement the support plan, providing the necessary resources and interventions.
4️⃣ Review ➖ Regularly monitor the child's progress and adjust the plan as needed to ensure it remains effective.

🟢 If a child requires more intensive support, they may be considered for an Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plan, which provides a more detailed and legally binding document outlining the support they need.

📑 Read our factsheet on SEN support here 👉https://westberkssendiass.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/WB-SEN-Support-Summary-Sheet.pdf

🌐 Further detailed guidance is available on IPSEA's link here 👉https://www.ipsea.org.uk/FAQs/what-does-sen-support-in-school-mean

🌐 A child does not need a formal diagnosis in order to receive support in school. Support should be available based on the child’s needs.
Further detailed guidance is available here 👉
https://www.ipsea.org.uk/blog/the-myth-of-needing-a-diagnosis-before-you-can-get-support

14/11/2025

📄⛔ Have you applied for an EHCP and had your request for an EHC Needs Assessment refused? ⛔📄

🟢 Are you planning to appeal the decision? We understand how frustrating this process can be — it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed or even discouraged.

📅❗ Make note of your appeal deadline ❗📅
Make sure to record any key dates in your calendar or diary - You must submit your appeal form to the SEND Tribunal within two months of the LA’s decision letter, or within one month of receiving your mediation certificate — whichever gives you more time. If your deadline falls in August, you have until the first working day in September to submit your form.

📑 Please find our 'Appealing a Refusal to Assess Decision' factsheet 👉https://westberkssendiass.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/WB-Appealing-a-Refusal-to-Issue-Decision-2024.pdf

💻 Our webinar, 'What to do if an EHC needs assessment is refused,' is available to watch here 👉 https://youtu.be/g1HKoWJ2u6I

13/11/2025

📚 Appealing the School Named in Your Child’s EHCP 📚

🟢 If you're not satisfied with the school or setting named in your child's EHCP, you have the right to appeal. Southampton SENDIASS provides a clear guide on how to navigate this process.

🤔 Key Reasons for Appeal:
🟢 Unsuitability: The named school is not suitable for your child's age, ability, aptitude, or special educational needs.
🟢 Incompatibility: Attending the named school would be incompatible with the efficient education of others or the efficient use of resources.

💡 Ensure that Sections B (needs) and F (provision) of the EHCP accurately reflect your child's requirements, as the Tribunal will select a school that can meet these needs.

📑 Please find our 'Appealing The School Named In EHCP Decision' factsheet here �https://westberkssendiass.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/WB-Appealing-the-School-named-in-your-EHCP-2024.pdf

12/11/2025

📋 EHCP Summary Guide – Quick & Simple! 📋

🟢 Looking to better understand your child’s EHCP? This factsheet breaks down the process step-by-step — from understanding each section to making sure the plan truly reflects your child’s needs - Perfect if you're new to EHCPs or want a refresher!

📑 Please find our 'Checking your EHCP: Summary' downloadable factsheet here 👉https://westberkssendiass.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/WB-Checking-your-EHCP-Summary.pdf

11/11/2025

💼 Have you seen our factsheet on Meeting and Tribunal Support? 💼

🟢 We regularly receive requests for West Berkshire SENDIASS to attend meetings. Due to the high number of families, children, and young people we support, we’re not able to attend every meeting we're invited to. However, each request is carefully considered, and decisions are made in line with the criteria outlined in our factsheet.

📑 We encourage you to take a moment to read our Meeting and Tribunal Support factsheet here 👉https://westberkssendiass.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/West-Berks-Factsheet-Meeting-and-Tribunal-Support.pdf

11/11/2025

💼 Do you have an upcoming school meeting to attend? 💼

🟢 School meetings can sometimes feel overwhelming, with confusing terms that go over your head and not knowing what you're entitled to say or ask.

💻We’ve got you covered! Check out our webinar on the website, "How to Prepare for a Successful Meeting." It’s packed with useful tips to help make meetings less stressful. Find the webinar here: 👉 https://youtu.be/yhoQ73aTolQ

📑 We also have a great factsheet available for additional guidance: 👉https://westberkssendiass.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WB-Top-Tips-for-Meetings.pdf

11/11/2025

10/11/2025

📄 Have you seen our "What to Expect from West Berkshire SENDIASS" factsheet? 📄

🟢 This helpful factsheet is designed to help you get the most from SENDIASS. It explains what SENDIASS is, what we do and don’t offer, and how we can best support you.

📑 If you’ve recently contacted us, we encourage you to take a moment to review our "What to Expect from SENDIASS" document, which clearly outlines the scope of our services. Find it here 👉https://westberkssendiass.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/West-Berks-What-to-expect-document.pdf

09/11/2025

💬 Need help understanding mediation? 💬

🔴 Our factsheet explains what mediation is, how it works, and answers some frequently asked questions.

🤝 You might be offered an informal meeting — these can be useful, but it’s important to know they don’t replace your legal right to mediation or to appeal to the SEND Tribunal.

📑 You can download and read our factsheet for further guidance on 'Mediation' factsheet here 👉https://westberkssendiass.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Mediation-1.pdf

09/11/2025

📋 How to Use the EHCP Working Document 📋

🟢 If you're appealing parts of your child’s EHCP, the Working Document is a key tool. It allows both you and the local authority (LA) to make and track amendments before a Tribunal hearing.

🟢 It's an editable copy of your child’s EHCP, showing agreed changes and unresolved issues for the Tribunal to decide.

📑 Please find our 'Checking your EHCP: Your Working Document' factsheet here 👉https://westberkssendiass.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/WB-Checking-your-EHCP-Your-working-document.pdf