SEN Advice centres
Come and talk to one of our experienced volunteers. We run free advice centres spread across the month during school term times in Aldershot, Birmingham, Bristol, Hampton Court, Kent, Manchester, Tamworth, Thornton Heath, Watford, Worcester Park and near Waterloo Station in Central London.
- No appointments, just turn up at the designated times.
- Be prepared to wait your turn
- Unless you have a booked time (Tamworth & Birmingham), please arrive during the first hour of the advice centre opening.
- Do sign in and complete a parent information form, this will help us direct you to the right adviser.
- If you are bringing a child, please ensure another adult is available whilst you are seeing the adviser. This is to ensure their safety and prevent disturbance to other parents who have come for advice.
- Please do not arrive before the start time because waiting space is very limited.
- Bring along any relevant papers, preferably filed in date order to save time and make it easier to help you.
- We cannot offer refreshments, you may want to bring a cold drink with you.
- Consultations will have to be keep to a maximum time limit of 20 minutes if the Advice Centre is busy.
- We cannot guarantee to see anyone arriving after the designated 'door closing' time.
- Please note that time will not permit us to help with long pieces of work such as checking draft EHC Plans and appeal grounds.
- Please also note that we cannot guarantee that any specific volunteer or member of SOS!SEN will be at any given Advice Centre. If you need to see a specific person, please book a 1:1 session, see our services page.
Advice Centre dates are subject to change
Please check this page for updates
BEFORE setting out
Bristol
From 10am to 1pm. At the Community Room at Tesco Eastville, Eastgate Road, Bristol, BS5 6XU
Follow the signs for café at the back of the store, use the escalator/lift and turn right.
- Mon 10 February 2020
- Mon 09 March 2020
- No advice centre in April
- Mon 11 May 2020
- Mon 08 June 2020
Please arrive before 12.30.
Thornton Heath
(Usually on the first Monday morning of each month)
From 10.15 to 12.15. At the Salvation Army, 66 High Street, Thornton Heath, Surrey, CR7 8LF
06 January 2020- 03 February 2020
- 02 March 2020
- No advice centre (Easter hols.)
- 04 May 2020
- 01 June 2020
- 06 July 2020
Please note that doors close at 11.55am.
Worcester Park
(Usually on the first Wednesday evening of each month)
From 4.30 to 6.30pm. At SOS!SEN Charity Shop, 90 Central Road, Worcester Park KT4 8HU
08 January 2020 (later in month)- 05 February 2020
- 04 March 2020
- 01 April 2020
- 06 May 2020
- 03 June 2020
- 01 July 2020
Please note that doors close at 5:30pm.
Aldershot
(Usually on the second Tuesday morning of each month)
From 10.15 to 12.15. At The Games Shop (opposite Costa Coffee), 6 Wellington Street, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU11 1DZ
14 January 2020- 11 February 2020
- 10 March 2020
- 28 April 2020
- 12 May 2020
- 09 June 2020
- 14 July 2020
Please note that doors close at 11.55am.
Watford (Herts.)
Serving Hertfordshire and the surrounding area
From 10.30am to 12.30pm. At Stanborough Centre, 609 St Albans Road, Watford WD25 9JL
Free Parking on site and level access.
Venue subject to change please check this page before setting out
14 January 2020Cancelled- 11 February 2020
- 10 March 2020
- 14 April 2020
- 12 May 2020
- 09 June 2020
- 07 July 2020
- no advice centre in August
- 07 September 2020
- 13 October 2020
- 10 November 2020
- 08 December 2020
Please arrive by 11.30am so that you will be seen before the advice centre finishes.
Manchester
From 11:00 am to 1:00 pm At Levenshulme Inspire Centre, 747 Stockport Road, M19 3AR
Inspire is situated on the A6 main route and is well served by public transport with Levenshulme train station a 5 minute walk away. Free parking on surrounding side streets as well as parking bays which are free for two hours on the A6 itself.
** Note dates subject to confirmation **
Mon 20 January 2020- Tue 18 February 2020
- Mon 16 March 2020
- Tue 21 April 2020
- Mon 18 May 2020
- Mon 15 June 2020
- Mon 13 July 2020
Please note that doors close at 12:40pm.
Hampton Court (opposite Hampton Court Station)
(Tuesdays 4:30 to 6:30 pm and Wednesdays 10:15 to 12:15 each month).
At Fontenay, 11a Creek Road, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9BE.
Wed 15 January 2020 - 10:15 to 12:15- Tue 04 February 2020 - 4:30 to 6:30 pm
- Tue 03 March 2020 - 4:30 to 6:30 pm
- Wed 18 March 2020 - 10:15 to 12:15
- April - no advice centre (Easter Hols)
- Tue 05 May 2020 - 4:30 to 6:30 pm
- Wed 20 May 2020 - 10:15 to 12:15
- Tue 02 June 2020 - 4:30 to 6:30 pm
- Wed 17 June 2020 - 10:15 to 12:15
- Tue 07 July 2020 - 4:30 to 6:30 pm
Please note that doors close 30 minutes before end of session
Waterloo
(Usually on the second and fourth Thursday evening of each month).
From 5.30 to 7.30pm. At Chaplin Close Community Hall, Gray Street, London, SE1 8TU.
09 January 2020- 23 January 2020
- 13 February 2020
- 27 February 2020
- 12 March 2020
- 26 March 2020
- 23 April 2020
- 14 May 2020
- 11 June 2020
- 25 June 2020
- 09 July 2020
Please note that doors close at 7.10pm.
Please note the hall is behind security fencing. Press 39 on the entry keypad, then the call button, and ask for the SOS!SEN advice centre.
Kent
(Usually on the third Friday morning of each month)
Just outside the M25 and close to Ebbsfleet International
From 10am to 12pm. At Eastgate, 141 Springhead Parkway, Northfleet, Gravesend, Kent DA11 8AD
17 January 2020- 14 February 2020
- 20 March 2020
- (none in April)
- 15 May 2020
- 19 June 2020
- 17 July 2020
Please note that doors close at 11.40am.
Tamworth
Serving the Midlands area
(Usually on the first Tuesday of each month)
From 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. At ASDA, Ventura Park, Tamworth B78 3HB
- Tue 04 February 2020
- Tue 03 March 2020
- Tue 07 April 2020
- Tue 05 May 2020
- Tue 02 June 2020
- Tue 07 July 2020
Please note this is a pre-book 30 minute session and doors will close at 2.00 pm.
Book your appointment by emailing Midlands@sossen.org.uk.
Birmingham
(Usually on the second Wednesday of each month)
From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. At Birmingham City University, Curzon Street, Birmingham. B4 7XG
Wed 08 January 2020- Wed 12 February 2020
- Wed 11 March 2020
- Wed 08 April 2020
- Wed 13 May 2020
- Wed 10 June 2020
- Wed 08 July 2020
Please note this is a pre-book 30 minute session and doors will close at 2.00 pm.
Book your appointment by emailing Midlands@sossen.org.uk.