Wakefield Early Support Advice Information and Liaison Service
COVID-19 Update
In order to reduce the spread of Coronavirus/Covid-19 many SEND support services are suspending face-to-face meetings and are instead asking people to phone or e-mail instead.
We are doing this in Wakefield so going forward please use the email or phone line for WESAIL – WESAIL@barnardos.org.uk or 01924 304152 – if no one answer your call we suggest sending an email rather than leaving a voice message.
You can also find lots of useful information, ideas and resources on our facebook page: WESAIL Facebook
*NEW!*
Introductory pack for parents and carers.
After you request a referral for SENDAISS or key worker support you would usually get a pack sent to you. These packs would contain personalised letters, data protection information and information about support services.
Due to COVID-19 we have made this information available to you online.
Download the introductory pack contents here:
Back to School Support
Who are we for
Wakefield Early Support Advice Information Liaison (WESAIL) is available to parents and carers of a child or a young person, who has, or may have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) aged 0-25 years who are living within the Wakefield District.
This service is also available to young people themselves and those working with families.
What do we do
Wakefield Early Support, Advice,Information and Liaison (WESAIL) provides a free, confidential and impartial service - which means we do not take sides and try to ensure everyone is given opporunities to express their views and feel listened to.
WESAIL provide information, advice, support and signposting according to need by either by telephone or where needed on an individual or targeted basis or through events and workshops. We share details of events on the Local Offer, our facebook page and provide information through the Information Network.
WESAIL offers information covering a range of matters relating to Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) including education, health, social care, personalisation, personal budgets along with benefits and leisure.
The aim of the WESAIL service is to support children, young people, their parents, carers and families by providing information to navigate systems and processes so that they can play an active role in decision making about matters relating to their or their children's health, education, social care to support and empower them in meeting their child's needs and promoting self-advocacy.
Referrals for support can be made by telephone or directly to the service by either
- Young People
- Parents or Carers
- Someone working with the family where the parent/carer or young person has given consent
WESAIL is also responsible for updating the Local Offer and engaging with children, young people, families and stakeholders in its ongoing development and review. The aim of the local Offer is to help people easily find information about the services, activities and supportavailable in the local area for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and /or Disabilities and their families.
When are we available
You can contact us directly Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm by telephone or email.
Please note we do not offer appointments at our stated office address.
Contact us
- Telephone: 07961 897036
- Email: WESAIL@barnardos.org.uk
- Website: Apologies but due to some national changes, our website is currently unavailable or limited in it's information. We are working on this and hope to have it rectified as soon as possible.
- Like our Facebook page: Wesail Wakefield
- Address: Barnardo’s Wakefield Services, Room 249, Castleford Civic Centre, Ferrybridge Road, Castleford, WF10 4JH
Parent/Carer Workshops
WESAIL Parent/Carer Training places on the workshops, included in the brochure below, can be booked using Eventbright.
Please type in “wesail” in the search box to view all the workshops available and select the one you are interested in. You then need to click on the green “register” button which takes you to a brief online booking form.
Confirmation of your booking will then be emailed to you, along with a reminder of the details nearer to the date of the event.
Please do not hesitate to contact us on 01924 304152 if you require any assistance or have any queries.
WESAIL Workshop Brochure 2019-20
WESAIL Policies
To find out about our policies on how we may use your details, our service and what to do it you have a complaint about WESAIL, please see the policies listed below.
Your Data Your Rights WESAIL Service Specfic Information - February 2019
WESAIL Updates
Minimum Standards
The new Minimum Standards for Information Advice and Support Services (IASS, sometimes known as SENDIASS) were finalised in September 2018. These are part of the Information Advice and Support Programme (IASP) and will be the basis of future operational plans and linked funding in 2019/20.
The standards were drawn up by a group of IASS managers, parents, Local Authority representatives and the chair of the IASP board, in consultation with the Department for Education. They are based on the law, the SEND Code of Practice and the IASS Quality Standards (which they now supercede). The consultation process received feedback from IAS Services, LA staff, third sector organisations, health services and parents.
We use the term ‘advocacy’ in these standards, and we are using a definition of advocacy which we think accurately describes the work and role of IASS.
An easy read version of the standards is available to download below.
IASS Minimum Standards - Easy Read VersionUseful Information
You can find out more information about a range of SEND topics by downloading the documents included here.
We will be adding more useful handouts to this section over time.
If there are any key topics you think should be included, please click on the Feedback button at the bottom of the page and let us know.
NEW!
Other factsheets:
SENDIASS Handout - Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions in Schools - revised November 2019
SENDIASS Handout - Requesting a Statutory Assessment - December 2019
SENDIASS Handout - Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs) - revised September 2019
SENDIASS Handout - Bullying - revised August 2019
SENDIASS Handout - Disagree about SEN Provision
SENDIASS Handout - Going to Meetings
SENDIASS Handout - Challenging Decisions - Mediation and Appeals - revised August 2019
SENDIASS Handout - Making a Complaint to School - revised November 2019
SENDIASS Handout - Making a Complaint about Schools - revised November 2019
SENDIASS Handout - Personal Budgets for SEN - revised August 2019SENDIASS Handout - SAM Meeting.docx
Factsheet - What is a disability
Reasonable Adjustments factsheet
Deferred Admissions for Summer Born Children Factsheet
Appeal factsheet - Contents of EHCP
Appeal Factsheet - Annual Review Decisions
Appeal Factsheet - Appealing school
Appeal factsheet - Refusal to assess
Just for Kids Law, a member of the Special Educational Needs Consortium the Council for Disabled Children chairs, have launched a new Exclusions Hub.
It contains accessible information, support, advice and guidance regarding the process and practice of school exclusions and how to challenge them.
This is a free resource which can be used by a child or young person, or a family member, who would like information, advice and support regarding school exclusions.
You can access the Hub here https://justforkidslaw.org/school-exclusions-hub
SOS!SEN, included on the SEND Information and Advice Providers document available below, also has a number of handounts available to download free of charge. They offer a helpline service during term time and have several mini guides available to buy from there website.
If you live outside the Wakefield District, you can find details of the SENDIASS service in your area by visiting the Information, Advice and Support Services website.
Find your local Information Advice Service