You have the right to free, confidential, impartial advice and support.
T he Children and Families Act 2014 (Section 32) .
The legal breakdown of your rights over your Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) when it transitions from your parents to you at the age of 16.
When you turn 16 in England, you officially move from being a child to a young person, the Children and Families Act 2014 (and its partner the SEND Code of Practice), sets out a clear legal framework that shifts the decision-making power from your parents directly to you.
Section 32 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a legal duty on every Local Authority in England to provide information, advice and support (IAS) to you.
In every area, this service is known as SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice, and Support Service).
SENDIASS is free, confidential and impartial, they do not work for the council, they don’t save the council money - they are there to explain the law to YOU and get you what you are entitled to.
As you are 16, you can contract SENDIASS directly without telling your parents, they can:
help you with the small print
read you EHCP to make sure your support is accurately recorded
come to meetings with you to make sure your voice is being heard
if the Council refuses to give you the college place you want, SENDIASS helps you navigate the paperwork to fight that decision.
Every Local Authority must have a SENDIASS website, the can find your local service at www.sendiass.org.
When you go into a meeting about your future it can feel like an unfair match where you are outnumbered by professionals, talking in SEN speak. If you feel pressured to sign anything, agree to anything that you don’t want to do, or you just don’t understand.
This is your Power Phrase:
I wish to pause this discussion to consult with my local SENDIASS. Under Section 32 of the Children and Families Act, I am entitled to impartial and confidential advice to ensure my rights are being upheld before I make a decision.
Why this works:
It stops the clock: It signals that you know the meeting cannot force a decision on you right then and there.
It shows legal literacy: By quoting Section 32, you are telling the professionals that you know your rights are protected by an Act of Parliament, not just school rules.
It levels the playing field: It reminds them that you have access to experts who know the law just as well as they do.
For further information:
The young person’s guide to the Children and Families Act 2014