Skylarks - SEND Advice Service

We have 2 staff members, Jonathan Rourke and Gemma Smith, who offer advice and information in relation to issues linked to Education.

If you need advice or support around your child's education, please first of all register with us at www.skylarks.charity/register . Then make sure you are logged into your account and then click the orange "Submit your SEND Education Advice Support Request" button on this page

This form will ask you a series of questions so that you can register your own 'Advice case' with us and give us information about what support you are seeking and what outcome you would like. You will receive an advice case number after submitting this form and will be able to review progress on the case using a link in your profile.

The SEND Education Advice team will receive an email alerting us to a new case.

After you have completed the form then please book on to any of our services as listed below to be supported. Please add your case number from the form you completed to the booking.

Please consider booking any 'Talks' or 'Micro Talks' that might meet your needs first before booking 1:1 sessions, as we are aiming to provide a lot of information in small groups to enable us to have the capacity to offer as much support as possible to as many families as possible.

When we are notified of your booking, we will review your request and may ask you to book in a different way if we feel something else we offer will better meet your needs.

Support can be offered in a range of ways. These are:

A regular series of face-to-face group information sessions on a Friday morning covering key issues. The talks on offer this term are:
EHCP's and working with schools at SEND Support (two dates)
Transition to Secondary school (Targeted mainly at parents whose children are in Years 4 and 5 this year)
Education other than at School (EOTAS) and Elective Home Education (EHE). What are they and how do I access them?

A series of online Micro Talks: covering a range of different elements of the EHCP process, Micro Talks will have a maximum of 5 families attending giving you plenty of time to ask questions and learn/ support from each other. Sessions will be about specific elements of SEND processes:
Making a parental request for an EHCP
Refusal to carry out an EHCP assessment
Reviewing a draft EHC Plan (Part 1) (not yet received plan)
Reviewing a draft EHC Plan (Part 2) (how your reports should be recorded in the EHCP)
Refusal to issue an EHCP
Tribunals, appeals and forms
Annual Reviews

Face-to-face 1:1 appointments at the Crossway Centre on Tuesday afternoons

Online bookable 1:1 appointments with the staff team every week for new consultations, held by Google Meets or by telephone if preferred

We also have lots of information sheets which may answer your questions. You can find all our RESOURCES around education here. We urge you to read our information sheets before contacting us please.

You can find our pre-recorded videos below. Please note, you will need to register as a member of Skylarks and then log in to view these. They are free of charge. (There seem to be some technical issues with some of the videos that we are aware of and working to correct.)

Step-by-Step guide to EHCP'S

Annual reviews of EHCP's - video 1 live

Annual reviews of EHCP's - video 2

Needs Assessment for an EHCP

Skylarks have a small team of advisors. Below is a list of alternative providers who may also be able to assist you:

IPSEA have a phone line you can call as well as lots of information on their website.

SOS!SEN also have a helpline and walk-in Advice centres,

All Local Authorities have to provides a SENDIASS which you can find here for your area.

The SENDIASS service for Richmond and Kingston can be contacted here.

The charity RUILS also offer advice for Richmond and Kingston residents

South West London Law Centre provides free 30 minute consultations with an Education Solicitor. Details are here.

We have access to support from Fiona Slomovic of Advocacy and Mediation Consultants that we can offer to families with complex situations. Your case will be considered by our in-house SEND Education Advisors who may refer onwards if deemed necessary.