Suffolk's SEND advice service closes helpline for two weeks
They say it's to work through a backlog of enquiries
The advice service for parents navigating Suffolk’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system has closed its helpline for two weeks.
SENDIASS stopped responding to all telephone, email and web form queries at 4pm on March 31 and will start again at 9am on April 17.
A spokesperson for Suffolk SENDIASS, which stands for SEND information, advice and support services, said: “Due to demand for our services being higher than expected, we have developed a backlog of queries that need responding to.
“We have therefore taken the decision to close our helpline for new enquiries over the Easter period, which is traditionally a quieter time for our service, to focus on clearing this backlog and providing the best support we can to families.
“We apologise to anyone wanting to contact us over Easter with a new query. A list of alternative support from national organisations is available on our website.
“We continually review our service, and we are exploring ways we can manage the increase in demand for our service in the long term so similar situations do not occur in the future.”
Last month saw a protest by families that felt “failed” by Suffolk’s SEND system outside Suffolk County Council’s offices in Ipswich.
Ofsted found “Serious weaknesses” in Suffolk’s SEND system in 2016 and 2019, leading the council to commission an independent review into its SEND services in 2021 and develop a 2021-23 strategy based on this review.