Kirklees Information Advice and Support Service (KIAS)
All about us
An impartial service and everyone who works in the service is helpful and friendly and knows about laws and your rights around education, health and social care. We work with parents, carers, children and young people jointly but also offer a service to the child or young person themselves, in their own right, if they request it.
KIAS team members are:
- Joanne Grenfell, KIAS Manager,
- Samantha Booth - KIAS Officer - Samantha.booth@calderdale.gov.uk
- Sheila Hickerton - Young Person Advocate - Sheila.hickerton@calderdale.gov.uk
- Sarah Knada - KIAS Officer - Sarah.knada@calderdale.gov.uk
Who is this service for?
Children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (aged 0-25) and their parents/carers. Under SEN (Special Educational Needs) law, once a young person reaches the end of compulsory school age (end of year 11) they take responsibility for decisions about their education and training. This is usually with the support of parents but the young person’s wishes must be taken into account in all decisions made.
How to access what we do
We offer a face-to-face, telephone and email information and advice service, as well as casework and representation when required, including support at meetings. We take direct referrals from parents/carers and young people. We are happy for professionals to tell parents/carers and young people about our service and give them our contact details but referrals cannot be taken from professionals without the consent of the parent/carer or young person.
Referrals can be made by telephone, email or through our website. If we are
closed you can leave a voicemail message and we will call you back.