IASS Feedback
We regularly ask the parent’s, children and young people that we work with to share their thoughts about the service they received. Please see some of our feedback below:
Views about the appeals / Tribunal work we do:
This service was absolutely amazing and I would not have managed to go through an appeal without IASS.
We have worked with XXX for several years and at several stages in the EHCP process - including assessment / issue of the EHCP, Annual Review, Tribunal, mediation. We have always been very impressed with her knowledge and support and have felt heard and understood. XXX has taken the time and been proactive in emailing us relevant information and legislation. She has empowered us to go through each stage without the need for costly legal support.
XXX guided us by providing the relevant information which helped us make the right choices including going for mediation and subsequently lodging an appeal with the SEND Tribunal. The success of our appeal was fundamentally because of her in-depth knowledge on the subject matter, which played a pivotal role in the document/evidence submissions prior to our final hearing and presentations on the day of the hearing. She helped me organise myself for the hearing and offered to come to my home to support me during the hearing, something I will always be grateful for. Finally, our appeal has been allowed by the Tribunal. I cannot thank IASS enough. The patience to deal with frustrated parents who are desperately looking for help with their special needs children is no mean feat and I applaud this incredible organisation.
XXX has been an absolute ROCK throughout our tribunal process. Without her, I would not have been anywhere near as prepared as I was and I really don't think we would have got the positive outcome that we did. She has been fantastic and I can't thank her enough.
Amazing support to get the paperwork done for son’s school appeal.
I am truly grateful to XXX for all her support with my son’s school appeal. I was so scared and didn’t know what I was doing, XXX supported me through every step. Thank you.
I was very stressed out and wasn't sure how I was going to understand the process of appeal and tribunal. your advice and service helped so much. Thank you.
XXX has now helped me through 2 tribunals for both of my children with positive outcomes. I absolutely could not have done it without her help. She is very knowledgeable but above else is caring and compassionate and gives you the support you need to help you succeed for your child. The services is invaluable to us as parents and I am very grateful to have been able to access it over the years.
I want to say how incredible XXX was. She was informative and kind and really took the time to listen and help me understand the whole appeal process. It made a huge difference to my journey.
Feedback about child/young person views collection:
XXX was great with my son, she was so patient & took the time to wait until he was ready to talk/answer the questions and went along with what he was playing with at the same time. She made him feel comfortable so he could express his views even though he found it hard.
I’d just like to say how lovely XXX was when we had a meeting yesterday. Amazing at listening to my son express his feelings.
Thank you very much for excellent service, professionalism and understanding given to our daughter during this difficult time.
My son spoke to XXX. He is not very good at speaking to strangers but she put him at ease and showed empathy for his long, emotional journey. She allowed him to form his own views and was led by him in a sensitive manner. XXX said that he liked talking to her and liked her questions. This was the first time XXX was able to speak freely about his own education, rather than feeling like he had to agree to the pressures of professionals in educational roles. It taught me some new things about him too, identified some of his trauma and anxiety. I now know where the support needs to be and how XXX would like his learning to be delivered. Great service - thank you so much.
The whole experience was fantastic. It's so lovely to see XXX’s feelings put down on paper as so many people don't bother to find them out due to his communication difficulties. XXX was fantastic, made him feel reassured. When I read the views report back to him when we received it, he gave a huge smile and said "that's what I told the lady" with a huge sense of pride!
Thank you very much for the time you spent with XXX and for compiling her thoughts in a professional and easy to understand way. XXX felt comfortable at the setting and you knew exactly the questions to ask her. You also gave some food for thought in areas we hadn’t previously considered. Thank you so much for your time and for providing your kind, caring and attentive service to us.
XXX was great with my son. He felt really uncomfortable and XXX helped make him feel at ease. Thank you.
The pupil voice has been and continues to be very important in gaining my child help at school.
Feedback about service in general:
The service you provide is outstanding and is there to help people and I can say everyone needs to ring for help they won’t be disappointed. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.
The staff have expert knowledge about SEND guidelines and the local offering and support. They also have a very good understanding of the parents struggles and difficulties families are facing when their children find school difficult. This made me feel understood and heard and was a great comfort during times of stress due to school avoidance. The service is of highest quality.
Staff are really special people who listen and give advice without judgement. Anyone needing support with their child/ren education should definitely contact IASS.
Fabulous people who really care - makes such a difference. Thank you.
Made navigating a confusing system easier and clearer with relevant signposting.
The service provided by IASS was invaluable to me, my situation and needs. I felt reassured knowing that I had a confident, knowledgeable, professional guiding me and providing me with impartial advice following legal guidelines.
IASS staff member’s responsiveness is always exceptional, she was always there to answer questions, provide clarity, and reassurance during a process which can be very overwhelming for parents. Her dedication made a world of difference, and I truly always feel supported every step of the way.
IASS staff member has been absolutely unbelievable and surpassed any hopes for support I had. Her communications are clear and timely, attention to detail is outstanding, knowledge is encyclopaedic and willingness to help is second to none. I am blown away at the level of help and support she has provided. My son's future prospects are greatly improved thanks to her and I will never be able to say 'thank you' enough. IASS provides a crucial, amazing service for children who need it the most. Thank you.
When a parent of a SEND child is broken, worn down, disillusioned and feels nobody understands your service was a life line. the information you gave over the phone and followed up with an e mail was so helpful
To have a point of contact who you can turn to and ask what the legalities are of any child/school related situation has been a huge benefit to me, knowing there is someone accessible who can provide the facts to base my own decisions on. To the point of my adviser becoming a household name due to the length of time I have required IASS's service, even my child accepting them openly which is a first. They have been consistent and fair throughout and I would not have been able to have come this far without them. Their knowledge gave me strength to keep going
IASS staff member made sure I was well informed and that I totally understood. I felt IASS staff member really invested her time and support into my concerns. She made me feel I had been listened to and taken seriously. She showed compassion. What a fabulous service.
Very professional, really felt we were heard and spoken to with information that we could understand. Information was sent promptly and always got back to if needing help. Was so reassuring that we could contact no matter if it was a while since needing help.
An amazing service, everyone I have spoken with has been wonderful and so helpful and nothing has been too much trouble.
I always recommend IASS to anyone who needs help and support. The service has been amazing and honestly so nice to have people who understand and know the law.
It was nice to talk to someone who showed genuine compassion and care.
Fantastic service so helpful and informative. Provided some much needed information when I was unable to access it elsewhere.
IASS gives me confidence. I know I have somewhere to go if I have questions. I feel rightly informed or correctly redirected.
A fantastic support and listening ear while going through a tough time with lots of worries and concerns.
I can’t thank IASS staff member enough for her incredible ongoing support throughout our journey with the SEN and EHCP process for both of my children. Her knowledge and guidance have been invaluable, especially as we navigated both the application, draft and final stages of the EHCP. She provided clear, impartial advice that made each step so much more manageable.
It has helped us sleep at night, knowing that IASS are there to help others understand us and state what the law requires, which as a parent is hard to state, thank you!
The IASS service has been outstanding. Their knowledge, compassion and commitment have made a significant difference in helping us navigate the complex SEND system. IASS staff has always been incredibly well informed, approachable, and patient. She has taken the time to listen to our concerns, explain our rights clearly, and guide us through through each step of the process with empathy and professionalism. This is always followed up with an email outlining the relevant points of legislation she has shared with me. What really stood out, was her genuine care – not just for the process, but for the outcome for our children. Knowing that I am able to contact IASS any time we have a stage in the process has been invaluable, and has given us reassurance during some quite hideous and stressful times.
Your service at all times has been extremely responsive, professional and informative. IASS staff member has always returned my calls or emails promptly and given her time and expertise to answer any questions and to give impartial advice and support. The service has given invaluable help and always follows up with written summary of our conversation. Thank you.
I know that I can trust my contact at IASS for sound advice if I encounter difficulties with the school. So I never feel alone.
I feel like I always have someone there to guide me and it's a HUGE deal in the SEN world, to always have advice and support
I felt with IASS supporting me in a meeting made the school listen to me. Before my concerns were just brushed aside