Independent Provider of Special Education Advice
IPSEA) has the following objectives: To promote and advance education of children and young adults with special educational needs, particularly by providing advice, assistance and support for parents and others to obtain appropriate special educational services and to conduct and disseminate research, information and training on special education needs.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that unrestricted reserves of £918,665 exceed the trustees' stated policy target of holding between £675,000 and £750,000. The charity reported a net incoming resource of £222,132 for the year, with total income of £1,251,603 and total expenditure of £1,029,471. The auditor confirmed no material uncertainties exist regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“The number of employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000 is as follows: £90,000 - £100,000 1” — page 44
“The number of employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000 is as follows: £90,000 - £100,000 1” — page 44
“IPSEA should hold between £675,000 and £750,000 as unrestricted reserves.”
Year-over-year changes
- Reserves position vs the charity's own policy moved from "within" (FY2024) to "above" (FY2025).
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Madeleine Cassidy — Chief Executive
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (12/08/2026)
Trustees
- Alexa Charnley
- Amy Kyla Abbott
- Carol Margaret Long
- Chamika Hand
- David Anthony Arnold
- David Buckle
- Lea Trussler
- Lucy Maudsley
- Sinthubiravi Sivakumaran
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £1.3m | £1.0m |
| 31/03/2024 | £1.1m | £989k |
| 31/03/2023 | £871k | £815k |
| 31/03/2022 | £835k | £691k |
| 31/03/2021 | £852k | £572k |
Common questions
Is Independent Provider of Special Education Advice financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted reserves of £918,665 exceed the trustees' stated policy target of holding between £675,000 and £750,000. The charity reported a net incoming resource of £222,132 for the year, with total income of £1,251,603 and total expenditure of £1,029,471. The auditor confirmed no material uncertainties exist regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Azets Audit Services.
What does the highest-paid employee of Independent Provider of Special Education Advice earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £90,000 - £100,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.
Who funds Independent Provider of Special Education Advice?
Funders whose own accounts filings name Independent Provider of Special Education Advice as a grant recipient include THE PEARS FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE ALAN EDWARD HIGGS CHARITY, THE ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING FOUNDATION, THE HOBSON CHARITY LIMITED, SCHRODER CHARITY TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE PEARS FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £80k | Core Funding |
| THE ALAN EDWARD HIGGS CHARITY | FY2024 | £10k | Training to improve educational support for children/young people in Birmingham with SEND |
| THE ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £8k | |
| THE HOBSON CHARITY LIMITED | FY2022 | £5k | Disability |
| THE ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £5k | |
| SCHRODER CHARITY TRUST | FY2024 | £4k | |
| The Patricia Routledge Foundation | FY2025 | £3k | |
| THE ALAN EDWARD HIGGS CHARITY | FY2023 | £3k | Training to improve educational support for children/young people in Birmingham with SEND |
| The Patricia Routledge Foundation | FY2024 | £3k | |
| THE JESSIE SPENCER TRUST | FY2022 | £500 | Education |
| THE JESSIE SPENCER TRUST | FY2023 | £500 |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| A B Charitable Trust | 11/06/2026 | £25k | A grant to Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA) |
| A B Charitable Trust | 10/07/2025 | £25k | A grant to Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA) |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 04/02/2025 | £20k | Free SEND law training for parents and carers |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 30/08/2022 | £10k | Free training for parents/carers of children with special educational needs |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 25/06/2021 | £10k | A pilot ‘Call-In’ service for IPSEA’s free legally-based advice |
| A B Charitable Trust | 08/10/2020 | £10k | A grant to Independent Provider of Special Education Advice - known as IPSEA |
| A B Charitable Trust | 27/06/2019 | £10k | A grant to Independent Provider of Special Education Advice - known as IPSEA |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 23/05/2019 | £10k | Legal Resources Website |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 17/05/2018 | £10k | Legal Resources Website |
| Northern Rock Foundation | 13/02/2001 | £15k | Grant awarded to Independent Parental Special Education Advice (North East) |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE MRS L D ROPE THIRD CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT | 1 | £35k |
| CHRIST EMBASSY | 1 | £27k |
| THOMAS POCKLINGTON TRUST | 1 | £22k |
| THE CHILDHOOD TRUST | 1 | £8k |
| UBS UK Donor-Advised Foundation | 1 | £5k |
| THE CARMELA & RONNIE PIGNATELLI FOUNDATION | 1 | £5k |
| THE PETER KERSHAW TRUST | 1 | £2k |
| The Dentons UK and Middle East LLP Charitable Trust | 1 | £1k |
Charities like this
- THE CENTRE FOR SPECIALIST EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
- SANDS END ASSOCIATED PROJECTS IN ACTION
- IESE FOUNDATION UK
- THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS (NASEN)
- THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION
- ISSA FOUNDATION
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Provider of Special Education Advice | £1.3m | £90,000 - £100,000 | 1 | above | — | no doubt |
| THE CENTRE FOR SPECIALIST EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE | £159k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| SANDS END ASSOCIATED PROJECTS IN ACTION | £239k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| IESE FOUNDATION UK | £357k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS (NASEN) | £4.3m | £100,001 - £110,000 | — | within | — | no doubt |
| THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION | £1.9m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |