Parent Partnership Service
Contact details
Ann Braham
Parent Partnership Co-ordinator (SEN)
Islington Parent Partnership Service
Cambridge Education @ Islington
First Floor, 222, Upper Street
London N1 1RX
Tel: 020 7527 5856 (voice mail)
Email: ann.braham.camb-ed@islington.gov.uk
Information on range of services provided
IPPS provides support to parents of children with Special Educational Needs
Directly through
• Talks on particular SEN issues, such as Dyslexia, IEPs
• Courses, such as ‘A Guide to SEN for mothers, fathers and carers’
• Contact with local and national voluntary organisations providing
Independent Parent Supporters
• Contact with Parent Support groups and help to set up Parent Support groups
• Events for minority community groups
• Focus groups to look at aspects of IPPS’ work eg leaflets for mothers,
fathers and carers
• An annual Information Day
Through Schools and Early Years Settings with
• Information and Advice packs for SENCOs
• Help to set up school-based Parent Support groups
• Consultancy on developing work with parents – courses tailored to school
needs
Through building networks in the borough, for instance with ACE & the
Education Advice Network, the Turkish Parent Support Network, and the Extended
Schools Network
Disagreement Resolution
A formal Mediation service for disagreement resolution is offered to parents
of children with SEN. This is run by ’KIDS’ and is accessed through the Parent
Partnership Service. Each SENCO has a leaflet on this service.
Training on Mediation Skills is offered to professionals working with parents
such as the Educational Psychologists, SENCOs, Learning Mentors and other
staff in early years settings and schools
DRAFT Confidentiality Policy
IPPS offers a confidential service to parents and in doing so has
responsibilities under Common Law and the Data protection Act. Any information
about a parent or child, including whether or not they have been in contact
with IPPS, will not be shared with anyone outside the IPPS, unless the parents
have given permission for it to be shared or there is a strong public interest
concern; for example, child protection issues. Parents will be informed about
this policy, as will any other agencies with whom the IPPS works.
In addition, IPPS is situated in a ‘SMART’ working area in which there are
confidential telephone pods and lockable cabinets for referral notes. The
space is shared with EPS, SEN, EWS, IAS and Admissions so that the IPPS
Co-ordinator is able both to maintain good working relations and work
privately and confidentially.
DRAFT Impartiality Policy
As part of its support to parents, IPPS offers impartial advice and support by
the following means:
1. IPPS signposts parents to appropriate and impartial support for further
advice and casework where necessary. For example to
• ACE Islington
• Centre 404 outreach
• Centre 404 Family Support
• SEN Solutions (Elfrida Camden)
• Other local and national organisations
2. IPPS holds contracts with the following national and local organisations to
provide sound, quality assured services with impartial content.
• WEA – provides accredited courses for mothers, fathers and carers (see below
for an example of this policy in practice *)
• ACE – provides a dedicated telephone helpline, the Islington Education
Network and training for professionals
• KIDS – provides mediation services
• Centre 404 – provides talks and short courses on SEN issues, a newsletter
and information day
At the moment, the IPPS informally monitors the quality of the services
provided. In future, IPPS will work closely with the LBI Commissioning section
to improve all aspects of this commissioning work.
* The IPPS provides support to each organisation; for example, with the WEA,
the Co-ordinator supports the tutor, discusses issues with parents, provides
visiting professionals and supports the learning progression of the students.
The IPPS does not dictate the content or monitoring of the course – these are
provided by external agencies.
3. Impartial written information to parents is delivered by using the DCSF and
ACE booklets for parents. The IPPS parent focus group advises on other
publications and translations thus maintaining impartiality.
Copies of most published leaflets/newletters
Links to other relevant websites
www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/sen/parentscarers/
Here you will find the document recommended by a group of Islington parents of
children with SEN. It is called “SEN; A Guide for parents and carers” and is
available in English, Turkish, Bengali, Somali and other languages
www.ace-ed.org.uk
For general information on education matters
Islington help line for information packs 020 7704 2776 – 24 hour answer phone
News
The next course for mothers, fathers and other carers of children with SEN
will be held in the summer term 2008 at the new Golden Lane Campus. Please
contact Ann Braham for details