IPSEA

[hidetheelephant]

Are they able to provide representatives to attend tribunal with you like Cerebra and SOSSEN does or is just a helpline?

Also on one of their websites it says "Do not go to meetings alone take a partner or friend to take notes." I took my mum along for a meeting with the head of DS' new school but he made me and my mum see him seperately. If he tries to do this again does this mean we could insist that we see him together?

he made you see him seperately, that is seriously of course you have the right to support in meetings, I would be having serious doubts as to his motives for doing this. What's parent partnership like in your area, they can be a good source of support.

here makes it sound like they will provide representatives but only at their discretion.

I used IPSEA in two tribunal cases. They came with me to both. This doesn't always happen. I was lucky that my cases were deemed to both be complicated. Apparently it depends on their assessment of how much help they think you need. If you want a rep to come with you you need to emphasise why ie I said that I was worried I would be too nervous / stressed to put my case forward without some support.

That is terrible. I would be seriously questioning the motives of this particular head. Yes, next time insist you go in together.

What is the point of seeing your mum on her own, he can't discuss anything with her, so he is just wasting time. Or perhaps it was a way of checking out your knowledge of what he can/can't do (get away with).

Parent partnership should be able to to help with a representative, they can be quite useful with note taking, keeping meetings on track, but don't rely on them to advise you what your next course of action is going to be without checking it out elsewhere.