Advocacy for children, families & adults
Lycali provides person-centred advocacy for children, young people, families, adults and carers. We help you understand processes, communicate your needs and navigate education, social care, benefits, employment and housing systems.
This includes SEN and SEND advice, liaising with schools, meeting support and guidance around EHCPs and educational provision.
What We Can Help With
Practical advocacy and communication support for children, families, adults and carers.
SEN & SEND Advice
Understand SEN support, reasonable adjustments, school provision and the options available to your family.
Liaising With Schools
Support communicating your child's needs clearly with teachers, SENCOs and other education professionals.
EHCPs, Meetings & Reviews
Prepare for EHC needs assessments, EHCP reviews, SEN meetings and multi-agency discussions.
Children & Family Advocacy
Support navigating education, SEND, social care and financial entitlements while keeping the child's voice central.
Adult & Carer Advocacy
Help with adult social care, benefits, workplace adjustments, housing needs and communication with services.
Preparation & Representation
Review documents, clarify desired outcomes, prepare for important conversations and provide agreed meeting support.
Support Between Families and Schools
When communication feels difficult or you are unsure what to ask for, Lycali can help you organise your concerns, understand relevant information and communicate with the school in a constructive, child-centred way.
Before a Meeting
- Clarify your main concerns and desired outcomes
- Review relevant reports and school information
- Prepare questions and points to raise
- Help you understand terminology and processes
Working With the School
- Help communicate with teachers and the SENCO
- Support discussion of needs and reasonable adjustments
- Help ensure the child's or young person's voice is represented
- Support clear, respectful communication between everyone involved
After a Meeting
- Help make sense of decisions and agreed actions
- Identify questions or information still outstanding
- Support follow-up communication
- Discuss practical next steps and other relevant services
Advocacy means standing alongside you: helping you understand processes, express needs, prepare for decisions and communicate effectively with schools, professionals and statutory services.
Children and Families Advocacy
Education & SEND
Support navigating education systems, SEN support, statutory processes, EHCP discussions, school provision and reasonable adjustments.
Social Care
Help families communicate needs, understand early help or Child in Need processes, and prepare for care-planning discussions or referrals.
Financial Support
Guidance on disability-related benefits, grants or funding, articulating the impact of needs and liaising with relevant agencies.
Advocacy for Adults and Carers
Lycali also supports adults and carers who need help understanding processes, communicating their needs and engaging with organisations.
Adult Social Care
Support preparing for assessments and care-planning discussions, communicating with providers or local authorities, and understanding available entitlements.
Benefits & Financial Support
Help understanding benefit processes, preparing applications and communicating with the DWP or other relevant organisations.
Employment & Housing
Support communicating about workplace adjustments, housing needs, adaptations and related support plans.
How Advocacy Support Works
Tell Us What Is Happening
Contact Lycali and briefly explain your concerns, the organisations involved and the support you are seeking.
Initial Consultation
We discuss your situation, review relevant documents and clarify the outcome you hope to achieve.
Agree the Support
We explain the practical support Lycali can provide, such as preparation, liaison, meeting support or follow-up.
Move Forward
Your advocate works alongside you to communicate your needs and take the agreed next steps.
Common Questions
Can Lycali liaise directly with my child's school?
Where this forms part of the agreed advocacy support, Lycali can help communicate with school staff and other professionals, support clear discussion of needs and help families follow up agreed actions.
Can you help me prepare for an SEN meeting?
Yes. We can help you organise your concerns, review relevant information, prepare questions and identify the points you want discussed. Meeting representation may also be available where agreed.
Can advocacy help with an EHCP?
Advocacy can help families understand the EHC needs assessment and review process, prepare for discussions, organise evidence and communicate the child's needs and desired outcomes.
How do I know if my child needs advocacy?
Advocacy may help if your child's needs are not being understood, communication with school feels difficult, meetings feel overwhelming or you need support navigating education, SEND or social care processes.
Will advocacy guarantee a particular outcome?
No. Advocacy helps ensure that needs, evidence and desired outcomes are clearly understood and communicated. Final decisions remain with the relevant school, organisation or statutory authority.
Looking for Advocacy Support?
Whether the support is for a child, family member, adult or carer, tell us what is happening and our team will help you understand whether Lycali's advocacy service is the right next step.
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The fees are an accurate guide, but can vary depending on the service required. Please contact us for an individualised quotation.
*When applicable, we can provide means-tested discounts. If you're experiencing financial difficulties, please inform us, and we'll assess whether we can assist in covering part of the service expenses.
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We accept payments via BACS Transfer.
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We accept credit and debit card payments via Stripe for your convenience.
Please note that card payments are subject to a 2.99% processing fee, which will be added to the invoice total to cover transaction costs.
All payments are processed securely through Stripe, a trusted global payment provider.
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For assessment services, we offer the option to pay in two instalments. The total fee can be split into two payments of 50%:
50% is payable at the time of booking to secure your assessment appointment.
The remaining 50% is due upon completion of the assessment, prior to the release of the final report.
There is no additional fee if paying via BACS.
Please note that any applicable card or Buy Now, Pay Later processing fees will be added if these payment methods are used.
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If your assessment or therapy expenses are set to be covered by your private medical insurance, kindly provide us with your insurer details for seamless payment coordination between you and your insurance provider. Our affiliation encompasses registration with Aviva, AXA, BUPA and Vitality Health, facilitating a streamlined process for your convenience.
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We are pleased to offer flexible payment options to make accessing our services easier. Clients can choose to pay via Klarna or PayPal “Buy Now, Pay Later”, subject to approval by the payment provider.
Please note that payments made using Klarna or PayPal Pay Later will incur an additional 4.99% processing fee, which will be added to the invoice total to cover transaction costs.
Availability of these payment options is subject to eligibility and approval by Klarna or PayPal, and we are unable to influence or guarantee approval decisions.
Our Payment Options
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Reviews
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"Lycali provided a thorough and compassionate autism assessment. Everything was explained clearly, and I finally feel understood. I wish I’d done this sooner."
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"I’ve worked with other services before, but Lycali stands out for their professionalism and empathy. My therapist helped me navigate some really difficult times with sensitivity and skill."
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I just wanted to say thank you to Dr Isobel Robb and Stephanie for making the assessment comfortable for both me and my parents to conduct. It was very thorough and the outcome will definitely help me in my future. I'm really thankful for receiving the results so quickly
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“Thank you so much for all your help, support and care. You have explained everything we needed and thank you for saying I can get in touch if we need any more help.”
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“You were very patient with our son and always gave us ideas so that we could support him between therapy sessions. Thank you so much!”
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“After our daughter's Speech and language assessment, you offered great feedback and your report was very detailed. This was a huge help towards the EHCP process.”
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"My daughter’s speech has improved so much in just a few months. Our speech therapist at Lycali was kind, engaging, and always kept us involved with providing follow up activities. I highly recommend them."
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“Heidi was very engaging and really listened to the needs of my son. She explained her methods and gave us tips to try at home. We are really pleased with the service.”
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“The calls have helped me to find more space and given me a safe space to discuss and release emotions. Tim's nature and communication is comforting and supportive, he adds thoughts and questions which offer space to analyse and to help growth.”
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"Heidi was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. She gave our son room to explore and enjoyable targets".
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"Heidi was very patient with my child and has made him confident to use his voice"
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"I can’t thank you enough for your help and support with my son. I will most certainly be coming back to your services again for an autism assessment".
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"The ADHD assessment process was seamless, evidence-based, and respectful. I felt listened to throughout, and the diagnosis has helped me finally understand myself."
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Everything has been amazing so thanks to you, Isobel and Stephanie. You have made things really easy with clear and quick communication and they really created a safe environment instantly.
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Thank you so much. It was a pleasure working with your staff. They were really kind and helpful and made the process easier for both me and Matilda.
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"We had a brilliant experience with Lycali. The assessment process was clear, kind, and professional from start to finish. My son felt at ease, and we finally have a clear plan for supporting his needs."
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"I was nervous about starting therapy, but the team at Lycali made me feel heard and respected from day one. Their care was outstanding, and the progress I’ve made is life-changing."
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Lycali offers a professional and friendly service where time and attention can be taken to ensure the service received is of the highest standard and there is minimal waiting time. Our specialist team will always take the time to provide expert advice so you are aware of all the pre- and post-diagnostic and therapy services available. Our clinic is for children and adults, based in Thanet and surrounding areas. We provide online or in-person therapy sessions.
About Lycali
Because Every Individual Deserves to Be Understood