40 years of support and influence

In 1983, IPSEA was set up to support parents and carers who wanted mainstream placements for their children with special educational needs. Today, IPSEA is the leading charity in England helping children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to get the support, education, and training opportunities they are entitled to under the law.

Over the past four decades, through tireless advocacy and continually developing our services, IPSEA has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of children and young people with SEND. We have grown and developed our expertise to help give children and young people with SEND the opportunity to achieve their potential.

But we haven’t yet achieved our ultimate goal – that all children and young people with SEND receive the education they are entitled to by law.

In fact, even with the strengthening of rights and entitlements that we’ve seen over the past 40 years, many children and young people with SEND are not getting the support that they need. Unlawful decision-making is more prevalent than ever, and families are having to fight harder to get the provision and support to which their children are legally entitled.

So instead of celebrating our 40th anniversary, we are working harder to achieve our mission. We are redoubling our efforts to ensure a future where all children and young people with SEND receive the right education.

That future starts here.

Take on #Challenge40 in 2023!

To mark IPSEA's 40th birthday, we invite you and your loved ones to participate in #Challenge40. The concept is simple: choose a challenge related to the number 40 and raise funds to support IPSEA's mission to ensure all children and young people with SEND receive the right education. Funds raised through your challenge will help IPSEA to train an estimated 50 new volunteers for our advice services as we do all we can to meet the incredible demand for our free support.