Education
Northumberland Parent Partnership Service
The Northumberland Parent Partnership Service is a free and confidential service which provides impartial information, advice and support to parents and carers of children with special educational needs.
The Service helps parents and carers to work in partnership with others involved in their child's education by:
Offering practical advice and support in understanding the special educational needs system, listening to parents and helping them to express their views.
- Helping parents to prepare for meetings and attending meetings with them if required.
- Helping parents with paper work;
- Helping parents to explore the options open to them for their child's education
- Putting parents in touch with other organisations and groups that can support them
The service has a team of trained volunteers called Independent Parental Supporters who work directly with parents. Voluntary organisations and parent support groups can also offer advice and support.
The service produces a range of leaflets including:
- Parent Partnership
- Choosing a school
- Visiting a school
- Parents rights and responsibilities
- Listening to children
The service can be contacted on 01670 533694 or www.northumberland.gov.uk (search for parent partnership)
Fact sheets
- Starting a New School (Download .pdf)
- Listening to Children (Download .pdf)
- Parents' Rights (Download .pdf)
- Special Education Needs (Download .pdf)
- Special Education Factsheet (Download .pdf)
Advisory Centre for Education (ACE)
ACE is an independent national education advice centre for parents. It offers information and advice to parents on a wide range of educational issues, including exclusion, bullying, disability discrimination, special educational needs and school admissions appeals. Advice leaflets are available to download from the website.
ACE also now provides free, independent advice by text message through their new service; AskACE. This service enables parents to contact ACE simply and quickly. all you have to do is text the phrase AskAce to 68808 and follow the instructions. You will be asked what subject your enquiry is about and will be able to choose from a series of options. you can also ask your own specific questions, and request lists of tips and ACE information booklets. All texts are Free to send and receive.
Contact details:-
| Unit 1c |
| Aberdeen Studios |
| 22 Highbury Grove |
| London |
| N5 2DQ |
Website: www.ace-ed.org.uk
Telephone: 080 800 5793
IPSEA - Independent Panel of Special Educational Advice
IPSEA is a registered charity which offers free and independent advice and support to parents of children with special educational needs, including free advice on how a school is meeting a child's special educational needs, requesting an assessment, exclusion of children with special needs and disabilities, and disability discrimination. They also provide advice, support and possible representation for parents appealing to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SEND)
Contact details:
| 6 Carlow Mews |
| Woodbridge |
| Suffolk |
| IP12 1EA |
Website: www.ipsea.org.uk
Telephone: 0800 018 4016
For a comprehensive list of services, go to the Service Directory, Education pages.
