Free SEN Advice centres
Come and talk to one of our experienced volunteers. We run free monthly advice centres spread across the month during school term times in Aldershot, Birmingham, Bristol, Hampton Court, High Wycombe, Kent, Manchester, Oxford, 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 (booking form 2019)
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 11 February 2019Mon 11 March 2019April (no advice centre)Mon 13 May 2019Mon 10 June 2019Mon 08 July 2019
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
14 January 2019 (later in month)4 February 20194 March 20191 April 201913 May 2019 (later in month)3 June 20191 July 2019
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
None in January06 February 201906 March 201903 April 2019CANCELLED01 May 201905 June 2019CANCELLED03 July 2019
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
08 January 201912 February 201912 March 2019None in April14 May 201911 June 201909 July 2019
Please note that doors close at 11.55am.
Oxford
(Usually first Wednesday of each month)
From 11am to 1pm. At 85 Jack Straw's Lane, Headington, Oxford OX3 0DW
January (no advice centre)6 February 20196 March 2019April (no advice centre)1 May 20195 June 2019CANCELLED3 July 2019
Please note that doors close at 12.40pm.
High Wycombe
(Usually first Friday of the month)
From 10.30am to 12.30pm. At British Legion Holmer Green,
48 Beech Tree Road, Holmer Green, High Wycombe HP15 6UT
01 February 2019CANCELLED05 April 201907 June 2019
Please note that doors close at 12:10pm.
Watford (Herts.)
Serving Hertfordshire and the surrounding area
From 10.30am to 12.30pm. At Lemarie Centre, 524 St Albans Road, Watford WD24 7RX
Parking is available at Asda, behind neighbouring fire station and just a short walk away. Blue badges only on site.
Tuesday 19 March 2019Tuesday 2 April 2019Tuesday 7 May 2019Tuesday 4 June 2019Tuesday 2 July 2019
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 28 January 2019Tue 26 February 2019Mon 25 March 2019Tue 30 April 2019Tue 21 May 2019Mon 17 June 2019Mon 15 July 2019
Please note that doors close at 12.40pm.
Hampton Court (opposite Hampton Court Train Station)
(Usually on the third Wednesday of each month)
From 10.15 to 12.15. At "Fontenay", 11a Creek Road, East Molesey, Surrey. KT8 9BE
16 January 2019None in February20 March 2019None in April15 May 201919 June 201910 July 2019 (earlier in month)
Please note that doors close at 11.55am.
Waterloo
(Usually on the second Thursday evening of each month).
From 5.30 to 7.30pm. At Chaplin Close Community Hall, Gray Street, London, SE1 8TU.
10 January 201914 February 201928 February 201914 March 201928 March 201925 April 20199 May 201923 May 201913 June 201927 June 201911 July 2019
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
18 January 201915 February 201915 March 2019None in April17 May 201921 June 201912 July (earlier in month)
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
2 April 20197 May 20194 June 20192 July 2019
Please note this is a pre-book 30 minute session and doors will closed at 2.00 pm.
Book your appointment by emailing Midlands@sossen.org.uk.
Birmingham
From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. At Birmingham City University, Curzon Street, Birmingham. B4 7XG
Wed 12 June 2019Wed 10 July 2019
Please note this is a pre-book 30 minute session and doors will closed at 2.00 pm.
Book your appointment by emailing Midlands@sossen.org.uk.