I am a child
Being a child with disabilities or with special educational needs can be difficult and even more so when you can't find the information, advice or support you need.
Our main aims are to provide you with the skills and knowledge to feel confident that your voice is being heard, and to understand what you need to do and when. We do that by giving you clear, straightforward information about your options.
My voice
It is really important that you get your say about what you want to achieve and how grown-ups can help you with daily tasks. 
You could use this yellow brick road to write on: the idea is to put something you would like to be able to do near the sun (example: make friends) then create small steps along the path which will help you to achieve this (example: sit near a child of my age who has similar interests to me; ask a child who sits near me to help me with my work or if I can help them with their work; talk to a child of my age about something I like to do; ask a child of my age about what they like to do; take part in an activity with a child I have been talking to with the support of a grown up; do something with a child I have been talking to that we will both enjoy).
Who can help me?
SEND Partnership Service has some Information and Advice Officers and Volunteer Supporters who could meet with you to talk about what you find difficult, how other people might be able to help you and what you would like to be able to do better. They can either speak with you by yourself or with another grown up such as one of your parents or someone else you trust (possibly a key worker from a group you go to).
Meetings About Me
Sometimes grown-ups will meet to talk about how they can help you better with daily tasks such as getting to school and spending time in the classroom.
You may be able to go to that meeting and tell them what you think they could do to help or if you would find that difficult you could ask someone to help you make a video of you sharing your thoughts or you could write your thoughts down.
You may want to use these examples to share information about you and how people can help you or make up your own version.
Other People who Might be Able to Help
Here are some links to other websites and organisations that might be able to give you some support with things you find difficult. These links will open in a new window or tab.
Video Clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1RfIfa15jk
What is an IASS (Information, Advice and Support Service) and how can they help?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sgboG7xcjE
What is an Education, Health and Care Plan?
IASS
https://cyp.iassnetwork.org.uk/
All about Information, Advice and Support Services for Children and Young People
Rainbow Resource
https://www.rainbowresource.org.uk/
Bath and North East Somerset’s Local Offer - Local information for families with a child or young person with additional needs, a special educational need or disability
14+ Preparing for Adulthood
https://www.preparingforadulthood.org.uk/
Giving everyone equal life chances as they move into adulthood. Working to ensure that young people with SEND achieve paid employment, independent living, housing options, good health, friendships, relationships and community inclusion
Children & Families Act
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/young-persons-guide-to-the-children-and-families-act-2014
A young person's guide giving a summary of the main changes and provisions of the act and how they may affect children and families.
Off the Record
http://www.offtherecord-banes.co.uk/
Provides a range of free, independent and confidential services for children and young people that support the development of their emotional health and well-being.
Youth Connect South West
https://www.youthconnectsouthwest.org.uk/
Youth Connect provides a range of services for young people, from positive activities and advice through to individual support for those who need it the most for moving on into adulthood and work or training
Young Carers
https://www.banescarerscentre.org.uk/youngcarers/
For children and young people who do a lot to help look after family.
Young Epliepsy
https://www.youngepilepsy.org.uk/
Better futures for young lives with epilepsy and associated conditions
1BigD B&NES
https://www.bathnes1bd.org.uk/
Local family information. Discover organisations and events in Bath and North East Somerset for a range of family issues, childcare, parenting support, benefits, school and much, much more.
Wellbeing Options
http://www.wellbeingoptions.co.uk/
Wellbeing Options supports adults in Bath and North East Somerset to live full and independent lives. You will find information about local care providers, services and activities, along with links to other useful websites and resources.
IPSEA
https://www.ipsea.org.uk/
Offers free and independent legally based information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Coram Children’s Legal Centre
https://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/
Provides free legal information, advice and representation to children, young people, their families, carers and professionals on child law and children’s rights.
Get your Rights - NHS
Everything you need to get the most out of the NHS
Contact
https://www.contact.org.uk/
Supports families with the best possible guidance and information. Brings families together to support each other and help families to campaign, volunteer and fundraise to improve life for themselves and others.
Council for Disabled Children
https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/
Works collaboratively, from policy into practice, to ensure the best outcomes for children and young people
FLARE Top Tips for Professionals
https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/help-resources/resources/flares-top-tips-professionals
FLARE's Top Tips for Professionals: Virtual Communication with Children and Young People. Especially useful at the moment, where most communications are virtual.
Useful guidance on completing Tribunal Application Form.
Suffolk SENDIASS have produced two YouTube videos which families may find helpful when completing a Tribunal Appeal Application. There are separate videos for each section so you can go to the video which is relevant to you.
Tomorrow’s Leaders: A world beyond Disability
https://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/content/etf3202
This page contains a link to the booklet ‘Tomorrow's Leaders: A world beyond Disability’ which includes Case Studies from Disabled Young People about their career path achievements.
Healthwatch - Bath and North East Somerset
https://healthwatchbathnes.co.uk/
The independent champion for people who use health and social care services
Global Mediation
https://www.globalmediation.co.uk/
An independent service that will provide a trained mediator to facilitate a discussion.
Education Health and Care Plans – examples of good practice
These resources have been produced to help practitioners write good quality EHC plans that meet both the letter and the spirit of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Examples of good practice
A document to support the development of skills in writing good quality Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans
Examples of good practice year 9 and beyond
This guide seeks to build on the first resource with a particular focus on how plans should evolve for young people from year 9 reviews onwards.
Request for an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment
https://www.ipsea.org.uk/making-a-request-for-an-ehc-needs-assessment
A template letter, from IPSEA, to request an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA)
Developing Outcomes in Education, Health and Care Plans
https://www.sendpathfinder.co.uk/delivering-better-outcomes-together
This resource has been developed by the Delivering Better Outcomes Together consortium to support the development of outcomes in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) and can be accessed from this webpage.
Preparing for Adulthood - key topics to cover at Annual Review from year 9
https://www.preparingforadulthood.org.uk/downloads/education-health-and-care-planning/447.htm
A checklist designed around the four life domains that are widely used to think about planning for an adult life in the community
Things I Might Need to Know
These are easy to read information sheets about things you might hear being talked about. Please select by clicking on the list below, These will open in a new window or tab.
Information, Advice and Support you can get - What should happen
Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments - Finding out what support you need
Education, Health and Care Plans - Getting the right support
Confidentiality - Keeping what you say private
The Local Offer - Finding out about support near you
Personal Budgets - What are they
How to share your views for your Annual Review - A resource created to support children and young people who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
These are more detailed information sheets about things you might hear being talked about. Please select by clicking on the list below, These will open in a new window or tab.
Annual Review of an Education, Health and Care Plan
Checking your Draft Plan
Choosing a New Educational Setting for your Child or Young Person
Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment for Children and Young People
Education, Health and Care Plans
Funding for Special Educational Needs in Mainstream Schools
Glossary
Personal Budgets for Special Educational Needs
Special Educational Needs Support in Mainstream Schools
The Local Offer
What do we mean by Impartial Information, Advice and Support?
What if I do not agree with decisions about SEN Provision?
Getting involved
We want to hear from you about other ways we may have been able to help you and if we have been able to provide answers to the questions you had.
Part of our responsibility is to find a way for you to influence which services the Local Authority Commissions to support children and young people with SEND the policies they implement and processes they use.
If you would like to be involved, this could be completing a survey, attending a meeting or just letting us know your views. Please let us know