Useful contacts: Education including special educational needs
Advisory Centre for Education
Provides information on state education and free telephone advice on many subjects like bullying, exclusions, special educational needs and admission appeals.
1C Aberdeen Studios
22 Highbury Grove
London N5 2DQ
General helpline: 0808 800 5793
Open M-F 10-5
Exclusions helpline: 020 7704 9822
Open 24 hours
Admin Tel: 020 7704 3370
Fax: 020 7354 9069
Email: enquiries@ace-ed.org.uk
Website: www.ace-ed.org.uk
Independent Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA)
Provides free legal advice to ensure that children with SEN in England and Wales receive the provision to which they are entitled. Can advise re tribunals.
6 Carlow Mews
Woodbridge
Suffolk IP12 1EA
Tel: 01394 384711
Helpline: 0800 018 4016
Open: M-T 10-4& 7-9 and F 10-1 & 7-9
Email: ipsea.info@ipsea.org.uk (only for information not advice)
Website: www.ipsea.org.uk
Joint Educational Trust
Helps children between the ages of 7 and 13 who are ‘at risk'. JET enables these children to attend independent boarding or day schools, or state boarding schools, where they have a real chance of making a new start.
6-8 Fenchurch Building
London EC3M 5HT
Tel: 020 7217 1110
Email: admin@jetcharity.org
Website: www.jetcharity.org
National Education Advice Line.
The line offers free legal advice and information on education matters. It is run by the Children's Legal Service, (See Legal Advice section)
Helpline: 0845 345 4345 M-F 9-6:30
Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST)
The independent tribunal for appeals against Local Authority decisions. The website has excellent links to many other organisations.
Ground Floor, Mowden Hall
Staindrop Road
Darlington DL3 9BG
SEN Helpline (England): 0870 241 2555
Discrimination Helpline (England): 0870 606 5750
Helpline (Wales) 01597 829 800
Fax: 01325 391045
Email: tribunalenquiries@sendist.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.sendist.gov.uk
There is also education information on the government websites, www.direct.gov.uk and www.parentscentre.gov.uk.
