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IPSEA (special educational needs legal advice)

Free legal information and advice from volunteer advisers on any school problem that comes from a child's special educational needs or disability (SEND), including exclusions. The Tribunal Helpline, by booked appointment, covers appeals and disability discrimination claims to the SEND Tribunal. The advice is about the law in England.

Call 0300 222 5899Visit their site ↗

Good to know

For parents, carers and family members of a child with SEND, and for young people with SEND. The call is charged at a local rate. If no one answers within 5 minutes the call ends, so try again later that day. For a booked call, use the Advice Line or the Tribunal Helpline on their website: appointments are released up to 4 weeks ahead and you may have to keep checking for one. Advisers can dial in an interpreter.

Before you call

Have ready

  • a note of the issues you are facing now, focusing on what you need next-step advice about
  • a quiet place to talk, a pen and paper, and up to 45 minutes

They may ask

  • personal information about you and the child or young person the call is about. You do not have to answer, but without it they may not be able to advise you

They can

  • give free and independent next-step legal information and advice on any educational issue that results from a child's SEND, including exclusions
  • advise on appeals and disability discrimination claims to the SEND Tribunal, by booked appointment on the Tribunal Helpline
  • dial in an interpreter on a booked call, if you say which language you need when you book

They cannot

  • advise you if a solicitor or another advocate is already supporting you
  • help professionals: the call-in helpline is not suitable for them
  • advise on the law outside England

Demand is likely to be very high. If your call has not been answered after 5 minutes it will be ended: try again later in the day. The calls are recorded for monitoring and training.

In the emergency guides: My child has been suspended or excluded from school →

Phone
0300 222 5899
Website
https://www.ipsea.org.uk/call-in-helpline
Hours
Call-in helpline: Tuesday and Wednesday, 9.30am to 2.30pm (the page also lists Thursday). The Advice Line and Tribunal Helpline are by booked appointment.
Coverage
England
Languages
English
Best for
Parents, Teens & youth
Last checked
October 10, 2026

See something out of date or wrong? Tell us and we’ll check it.

We list this organization because it is a national service for the need on this page. We’re not affiliated with it, and we don’t speak for it. Last checked October 10, 2026: we opened its own site and confirmed this link and number. We don’t call the lines, and hours can change — their site has the latest.

Heavy moment? Call Samaritans on 116 123 — or we’re here.

Shared by FindAngel.org — free, always · https://findangel.org/resources/uk-ipsea/

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