What support do SENDIASS services offer?

In this ep, CEO Ed Archer sits down with Beth Silcox, a qualified counsellor and specialist in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) advice. With experience spanning therapeutic counselling, education, and family advocacy, Beth brings a powerful mix of professional knowledge and lived experience as a parent of neurodivergent children. Together, Ed and Beth explore the real-world challenges families face when navigating the SEND system – from understanding your child’s rights to finding the right kind of support. Beth breaks down the key services available to parents and carers, including local authority SENDIASS teams, and explains how families can access free, impartial guidance at every stage of their journey. Listeners will gain practical insights into: How to approach your child’s school about additional support. What to expect from your local authority’s “local offer”. The role of SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice, and Support Services). What to do if your request for an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment is declined — and how to manage the appeal process. Why combining legal understanding with empathy is crucial for empowering families. Beth’s compassionate, informed perspective helps parents feel seen, supported, and equipped to advocate for their children — while also addressing the emotional toll the process can take. Part 1 sets the scene for a deeper conversation in Part 2, where the discussion moves toward practical problem-solving, managing burnout, and sustaining hope through the SEND journey. Deeper Dive Subscriber Episode For those who’d like to go further, an exclusive “Deeper Dive” subscriber episode is available through our Training Hub. You can access it here: https://training.pdasociety.org.uk/pd... Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the PDA Society. While we aim to provide balanced and inclusive discussions, individual experiences and perspectives may vary. The PDA Society is committed to using language and terminology that reflects the preferences of PDA/autistic people, but sometimes our guests may use language and terminology which differs. Appearance on our podcast is not an endorsement of an individual, and not all of our guests will align with our position on the issues discussed. Further sources of support and information: PDA Society training hub: https://training.pdasociety.org.uk/pd... PDA Society Website: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/ PDA Society Training: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/support... PDA Society Support Service: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/support... 00:00 Introduction to PDA Society Podcast 00:47 Meet the Guests: Ed Archer and Beth Silcox 02:11 Understanding SEND Support Services 05:58 Empowering Parents in Advocacy 11:15 How can parents effectively prepare for meetings with professionals to advocate for their child's needs? 19:53 Importance of Communication in SEND 33:01 How can parents advocate for their child's needs in school without a formal diagnosis? 38:55 Utilizing PDA Society Resources