Free 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 (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 09 September 2019~~
~~Mon 14 October 2019~~
~~Mon 11 November 2019~~
Mon 09 December 2019
Mon 13 January 2020
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

~~09 September 2019~~
~~07 October 2019~~
~~11 November 2019~~
~~02 December 2019~~
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

~~11 September 2019~~
~~02 October 2019~~
~~06 November 2019~~
~~04 December 2019~~
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

~~10 September 2019~~
~~08 October 2019~~
~~12 November 2019~~
10 December 2019
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

~~10 September 2019~~
~~08 October 2019~~
~~12 November 2019~~
~~03 December 2019~~
13 January 2020
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.

~~Mon 16 September 2019~~
~~Mon 14 October 2019~~
~~Mon 18 November 2019~~
Mon 16 December 2019

Please note that doors close at 12.40pm.

Hampton Court (opposite Hampton Court Train Station)

(NEW - Tuesdays 4:30 to 6:30

and Wednesday 10:15 to 12:15 each month)

At "Fontenay", 11a Creek Road, East Molesey, Surrey. KT8 9BE

~~Tue 24 September 2019 - 4:30 to 6:30pm~~
~~Tue 01 October 2019 - 4:30 to 6:30pm~~ Cancelled
~~Wed 16 October 2019 - 10:15 to 12:15~~
~~Tue 05 November 2019 - 4:30 to 6:30pm~~
~~Wed 20 November 2019 - 10:15 to 12:15~~
~~Tue 03 December 2019 - 4:30 to 6:30pm~~
Wed 15 January 2020 - 10:15 to 12:15
Tue 04 February 2020 - 4:30 to 6:30pm
Tue 03 March 2020 - 4:30 to 6:30pm
Wed 18 March 2020 - 10:15 to 12:15
April - no advice centre (Easter hols.)
Tue 05 May 2020 - 4:30 to 6:30pm
Wed 20 May 2020 - 10:15 to 12:15
Tue 02 June 2020 - 4:30 to 6:30pm
Wed 17 June 2020 - 10:15 to 12:15
Tue 07 July 2020 - 4:30 to 6:30pm

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.

~~26 September 2019~~ moved to 10th Oct.
~~10 October 2019~~
~~24 October 2019~~
~~14 November 2019~~
~~28 November 2019~~
12 December 2019
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

~~18 October 2019~~
~~15 November 2019~~
13 December 2019
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 03 September 2019~~
~~Tue 01 October 2019~~
~~Tue 05 November 2019~~
~~Tue 03 December 2019~~
Tue 07 January 2020
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 11 September 2019~~
~~Wed 09 October 2019~~
~~Wed 13 November 2019~~
Wed 11 December 2019
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.