IPSEA

Who we are

All children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have a legal right to an education that meets their individual needs. But many tens of thousands of children and young people with SEND are not getting the support they are legally entitled to. 

At IPSEA, we are here to change that. 

We are the leading charity in the field of SEND law in England, and we provide free and independent legal advice and support to families of children and young people with SEND. We also provide training on the SEND legal framework, and we influence policy at both a local and national level.

How we help 

Outside of the SEND sector, the assumption is that all children receive a suitable education, but this is simply not the case. Although there is a sound legal framework in place for supporting children and young people with SEND, it is frequently not complied with. The SEND system is littered with unlawful decision-making, and parents and carers turn to us because they are told that their child can’t have the support they need. 

That is why our work at IPSEA – advising and empowering families, providing free casework support and ensuring that the rights of children and young people with SEND are upheld – is absolutely critical.