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
Due to the risk of coronavirus all Advices Centre sessions have been cancelled up to the Easter Break. Please check back for further updates.
Please check this page for updates
BEFORE setting out
Bristol
******* NEW VENUE FOR February, May, July *******
3PB Royal Talbot House, 2 Victoria Street, Bristol, BS1 6BB
Mon 10 Feb 2020Mon 11 May 2020Mon 13 July 2020
From 10am to 1pm.
AND
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 09 March 2020April - closed for EasterMon 08 June 2020
From 10am to 1pm.
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 202003 February 202023 March 2020CANCELLEDNo advice centre (Easter hols.)04 May 202001 June 202006 July 2020
Please note that doors close at 11.30am.
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 202004 March 202001 April 2020CANCELLED06 May 202003 June 202001 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 202011 February 202010 March 202028 April 202012 May 202009 June 202014 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 2020Cancelled11 February 202010 March 202028 April 202012 May 202009 June 202007 July 2020no advice centre in August07 September 202013 October 202010 November 202008 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.
Mon 20 January 2020Tue 18 February 2020Mon 16 March 2020CANCELLEDTue 21 April 2020Mon 18 May 2020Mon 15 June 2020Mon 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 12:15Tue 04 February 2020 - 4:30 to 6:30 pmTue 03 March 2020 - 4:30 to 6:30 pmWed 18 March 2020 - 10:15 to 12:15CANCELLEDApril - no advice centre (Easter Hols)Tue 05 May 2020 - 4:30 to 6:30 pmWed 20 May 2020 - 10:15 to 12:15Tue 02 June 2020 - 4:30 to 6:30 pmWed 17 June 2020 - 10:15 to 12:15Tue 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 202023 January 202013 February 202027 February 202012 March 2020Cancelled due to coronavirus risk26 March 2020Cancelled due to coronavirus risk23 April 202014 May 202011 June 202025 June 202009 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 202014 February 202020 March 2020Cancelled due to coronavirus risk(none in April)15 May 202019 June 202017 July 2020
Please arrive by 11:30am so you are seen before the Advice Centre closes.
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 2020Tue 03 March 2020Tue 07 April 2020CANCELLEDTue 05 May 2020Tue 02 June 2020Tue 07 July 2020
Please note this is a pre-book 30 minute session and doors will close at 2.00 pm.
Request an appointment at Tamworth AC 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 2020Wed 12 February 2020Wed 11 March 2020Wed 08 April 2020CANCELLEDWed 13 May 2020Wed 10 June 2020Wed 08 July 2020
Please note this is a pre-book 30 minute session and doors will close at 2.00 pm.
Request an appointment at Birmingham AC by emailing Midlands@sossen.org.uk. **
** Please note that this email address is for appointments only and is only checked intermittently. We cannot guarantee appointments on any particular date.