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Ruils Independent Living

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Image of Alex, SEND Advisor, sitting at a table in a cafe with a woman. He is writing in a notebook and she is speaking.

SEND Advice

 

 

 

Home > Our services > Children > SEND Advice

Do you need help understanding your child's educational rights?

Our SEND Advice Service offers free, impartial advice, support and advocacy for families navigating the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) system. Our aim is to help you to understand and to apply your rights, and to secure the educational provision your child needs.

Our Advisors have many years of experience working with families in Richmond, including personal experience of the emotional and administrational journeys and battles involved. They can support you through one to one advice and advocating at school, local authority and therapeutic meetings. They will help to ensure that the voice of the child/young person and family remains central in all discussions and decision making. The SEND Team also holds themed workshops and talks on the above processes.

  • Download the SEND Advice Leaflet
Image of two women sitting on a bench in a community garden. One is blonde and wearing a green t-shirt, the other has caramel hair with a black t-shirt.

We can support you with:

  • Navigating Special Educational Needs (SEND) options for your young person
  • Education Health and Care Plans – how to apply, how to manage the assessment process, placements, what to do if things go wrong, how to get the most out of Annual Reviews
  • Resolving other issues you may have and signposting to other useful voluntary and professional organisations locally and nationally
  • School and local authority meetings, help draft emails and review documents, and advocate on your behalf in mediation sessions

We do not currently offer support with appeals to the First Tier Tribunal and we are not a school finding service; but we will guide you to resources and contacts who can help.

“The service has been like a lifeline to us regarding my son’s Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and what he needs. The advice was invaluable.”

-SEND Advice client

Referral Form

If you would like to access the SEND Advice service, please download the referral form and return it to our team at sendadvice@ruils.co.uk. 

  • Download the SEND Advice Referral Form

Get in touch

Image of a white, bald man with grey/blue eyes wearing a dark blue t-shirt.

Alex Hardy

Senior SEND Advisor

  • Telephone:  07507 805 966
  • Email: alexhardy@ruils.co.uk

Image of a white woman with olive skin, dark brown and grey hair and brown eyes wearing a blue and white polka dot shirt and brown glasses on top of her head.

Yolanda Bryant

SEND Advisor

  • Telephone: 07498 906346
  • Email: yolandabryant@ruils.co.uk
Man with short hair, wearing glasses with blue eyes.

Richard Wilding

SEND Advisor

  • Mobile: 07930 635758
  • Email: richardwilding@ruils.co.uk

SEND Advice is funded by:

  • The navy blue Hampton Fund logo with a navy blue and green tree on the lefthand side
  • Logo that reads "Funded by Richmond Foundation" with an abstract green grid of shapes next to it

Ruils Independent Living

  • Ruils is a Registered Charity
  • Charity no. 1127896
  • Company no. (England & Wales): 6682677
  • © Copyright 2025 Ruils Independent Living

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  • Telephone: 020 8831 6083
  • Email: info@ruils.co.uk
  • Address:

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    4 Waldegrave Road
    Teddington
    TW11 8HT


  • About us
    • Our story
    • Our vision
    • Our impact
    • Our trustees
    • Our team
  • Our services
    • Children
      • SEND Family Matters
      • Bright Futures SEND transitions
      • SEND Advice
      • FriendBee SEND Befriending
      • SEND Minecraft Group
      • Workshops
    • Adults
      • Direct Payment Support Service
      • Advice for Independent Living
      • Payroll & Managed Accounts
      • Pathways – Housing & Benefits
      • Connect to Tech
      • Befriending Service
      • Counselling
    • Health & Wellbeing
      • Social Prescribing
      • Health in Your Hands
      • Proactive Anticipatory Care
      • Community Health and Wellbeing Programme
    • Activities
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • Fundraise
      • Challenge Events
      • Corporate Fundraising
      • Fundraising Events
      • Legacy Donations
      • Ruils Champions
    • Campaign
      • Current Campaigns
      • Campaign Events
      • User-led Groups
    • Become a member
  • Work with us
  • Information Hub
    • SEND Transitions
    • Publications
  • News
  • Search
  • Accessibility
  • Contact us
  • DONATE
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