Wandsworth Information, Advice and Support Service (WIASS)

Call back service

• Telephone: 020 8871 8065 (24 hour confidential answer machine)
• Email: wiass@wandsworth.gov.uk

WIASS  provide confidential, impartial, information, advice and support to parents of children and young people (aged 0-25) on special educational needs and/or disability (SEND).

WIASS is part of the national Information, Advice and Support Services Network (IASSN for SEND).

All WIASS staff are legally trained on special educational needs and disability law by Independent Provider of Special Educational Advice (IPSEA).

How we can help you.

We may be able to support you to:

• Find out information related to SEND (including how the Local Authority (LA), early years settings, schools and colleges should work with parents, children and young people)
• Understand and take part in Education, Health and Care Needs assessments/plan and Annual Reviews
• Prepare and or attend school/LA meetings or early years/school/college visits
• Read through and understand letters, forms, and reports on SEND
• Give your views during meetings, visits or in writing
• Know what you can do if you do not agree with a decision made by the LA or an early years setting, school or college.

We are unable to:

• Make decisions for you
• Tell you what we think you should do
• Attend meetings for you if you are not there

Make a referral to WIASS

Referrals by children, young people or parents

Children, young people or parents can contact us directly to make a referral or they can ask other people, services/professionals or schools/colleges to make the referral for them.

All calls/emails and letters received by the WIASS from children, young people and parents are confidential and information is only passed on to other professionals or services with children, young people’s and parents permission.

The only time we may have to pass on information without permission is when an individual is or may be at risk or we have a legal duty to do so.

Making contact through another person, professional or educational institute

Children, young people or parents can get in touch with WIASS by asking another person, service/professional or school/college (ideally the child, young person or parent should be present when contact is made on their behalf) if the child, young person or parent would find this helpful.

Before getting in touch, permission must be obtained from the child, young person or parent to pass on their name and contact details to WIASS.