Information, Advice and Support Services (IASS)

All local authorities, by law, must provide children and young people with SEN or disabilities, and their parents, with information and advice. There is an information, advice and support service in every local authority area. The service will be able to provide information, advice and support about SEN, disability, health and social care.

Although the service is provided by the local authority, IASS is ‘arms-length’ from other local authority services. It is a free, impartial and confidential service. This means we do not discuss any information you share with us with other professionals, except where we believe that someone may be in danger or come to harm, then we have a legal duty to tell the Safeguarding Services of this. If IASS would like to speak to other local authority departments, we will always ask you first and only do so if you agree. All the information IASS gathers from you is stored electronically and is separate and secure from other local authority departments.

Staff and volunteers are independently trained in SEND.

We can help you with:

  • Understanding the law on Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disability, including Health and Social Care.
  • Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and Annual Reviews
  • Advice on School Travel Assistance
  • The Local Offer
  • Understanding local policy and practice
  • Exclusions related to SEN or disability
  • What to do when things go wrong
  • Mediation and dispute resolution, Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal Service and complaints procedures
  • Post 16 provision

How to access service

Telephone: 020 8583 2607 lines open from 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

Outside of these times or if we are unable to answer your call a voicemail service is available, please leave a message and we will call you back within two working days, where possible.

Email us : sendiass@hounslow.gov.uk

In writing:

IASS
4th Floor 
Hounslow House 
7 Bath Road 
Hounslow
TW3 3EB 

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