In Torbay are a range of information and support services available for parents of children with SEN & disabilities:

Torbay's Independent Parent Partnership Service

This service provides impartial information, guidance, support and training to parents / carers on any special educational needs and / or disabilities issues. The Parent Partnership Officer or an Independent Parental Supporters (IPS) volunteer can: listen to parent / carers concerns; provide parents / carers information about school action, school action plus, assessments and statementing; help parent / carers prepare for and attend meetings; and signpost parents / carers to other appropriate services. parents / carers should contact this service themselves if they feel it would be useful.

Pupil & Parent Liaison Officer

The Pupil & Parent Liaison Officer also provides impartial information, guidance and support for parents / carers of children with special educational needs and / or disabilities. The Pupil & Parent Liaison Officer works closely with the Special Needs Section at the Local Authority and will proactively contact parents directly if: their child is put forward for a Statement; the local authority would like to know parents / carers views on issues with their child's educational support or placement; the local authority would like to know pupils views on issues with their educational support or placement; or the local authority is proposing to cease their child's Statement. The Pupil & Parent Liaison Officer will offer phone support, home visits, support at meetings, and feedback from meetings attended in place of parents / carers or professional's only meetings. The Pupil & Parent Liaison Officer can also be contacted directly from pupils / parents / carers.

Disagreement Resolution

This service provides access to independent mediation to help when parents / carers and the education authority cannot agree on how to meet a child's special educational needs.

	Additional and/or Different Support in Mainstream Schools A guide for parents and carers of children with special educational needs to the types of funding available within mainstream schols for their child. Last updated: 10/06/2008 (48 KB)
	Disagreement Resolution Information leaflet from Wessex Mediation which helps people who are unable to agree with your Local Authority or school about their child’s special educational needs. Last updated: 10/06/2008 (1.1 MB)
	Parents Information A guide for parents and carers of children with special educational needs (SEN) which provides an overview of SEN. Last updated: 10/06/2008 (57 KB)
	School Action & Action Plus A guide for parents and carers ti is to help you understand how provision is made in school for children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. Last updated: 07/05/2008 (51 KB)
	Statutory Assessments & Statements of SEN A guide for parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities about the assessments carried out to identify a child’s needs and any special provisions that he/she may require. Last updated: 07/05/2008 (190 KB)
	Torbay’s Independent Parent Partnership Service - Information, Guidance, Support & Training Information on the service which provides The service provides support and guidance to parents/carers who may have concerns about their child’s education and listens to their views. Last updated: 10/06/2008 (378 KB)
	What if we can't agree? A guide to what to do if you are worried or unhappy with a child’s progress or the way in which a child’s needs are being met. Last updated: 07/05/2008 (54 KB)

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