If you live in Brighton & Hove or your child attends a school in the city, Amaze can offer you impartial advice and information about education issues via our Telephone Helpline. We also produce a number of publications that include useful advice on education. We may also be able to offer you one-to-one help from our Independent Parental Supporter Scheme. 

• Independent Parental Supporters
• Information for schools

Independent Parental Supporters

Amaze helpline advisers can give in-depth advice and information on education issues, but sometimes it's useful to have more than telephone advice. You might want help with writing a letter or someone to come with you to a meeting. Our Independent Parental Supporter (IPS) scheme can do this. The service is run by a scheme coordinator, with a team of trained volunteers. An IPS will not take over, but will give a helping hand.

What can an IPS do?

• Explain the procedures so you know what to expect to happen and notice when it doesn't 
• Support you in getting your views across clearly 
• Help with writing letters and filling in forms 
• Look through reports with you to be sure you understand them 
• Visit schools with you 
• Help you work in partnership with your child's school.

How do I get an IPS?

Call the Helpline on 01273 772289. Explain what you need. The adviser will help you decide if an IPS would help. If so, the scheme coordinator will contact you to set things up.

What if I'm not happy with my IPS?

• Contact the IPS Scheme Coordinator via the Helpline 01273 772289 and we will try to resolve the problem. 
• Amaze also has a complaints procedure.
  

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Information for schools

Amaze aims to help parents work in partnership with the people and services that are involved with their child. We believe that it is only when parents and professionals work together that the best can be achieved for each child. We value the good relationships Amaze has with schools and the LEA. We think this helps us to help parents.

The Children & Young People's Trust fund Amaze to provide the parent partnership service for the city, as defined in the SEN Code of Practice. As part of this service we provide Independent Parental Supporters who can give parents one to one help on education issues, including the statutory assessment process.

An Independent Parental Supporter may be a member of Amaze staff or a volunteer. To be part of our IPS team, volunteers must:

• Undergo a CRB check 
• Satisfactorily complete 6 mornings of training 
• Attend supervision and ongoing training with the IPS Scheme Coordinator

School Meetings

Often parents will ask their IPS to come with them to meetings at school. We always ask parents to tell schools if an IPS will be with them at a meeting.Schools are welcome to contact us if they want to check the identity of an IPS, or to raise any queries or concerns about the IPS Scheme.

What can an IPS do at a school meeting?

• Help parents arrive prepared
• Empower parents to express themselves clearly 
• Try to promote calm and constructive discussion that focuses on the child, especially where there has been conflict in the past
• Check parent's understanding of what is discussed i.e. ask about unfamiliar terminology
• Take notes - parents often forget some of the discussion especially if they are anxious
• Remind parents of things they have said they want to raise, but forget in the heat of the moment
• Talk things over afterwards

We aim not to speak for parents. Often an IPS will hardly speak in a meeting, unless the parent has specifically asked them to say something on their behalf. An IPS should not express their own opinion, as they are there to support the parent.

Can schools refer a parent to Amaze?

We are delighted when teachers, SENCOs and headteachers encourage parents to use Amaze. Many schools find it helpful that Amaze can spend more time listening and explaining things to a parent. We can support parents through the Statutory Assessment process, and help them think through decisions e.g. about placement. We can also help them with non-education issues, such as claiming disability benefits.

It's best if parents make contact with us themselves. If you think we could be of help to a parent please give them the Helpline number. If you know a parent will have difficulty calling us directly, please get in touch so we can work out an alternative.

Amaze working with schools

Amaze aims to support schools in working positively with parents. We can provide workshops/training/inset. Please contact us to discuss this area of our work.