SEND Tribunal
You can make an appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunal if you disagree with a decision the Council has made about a child’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs or plan.
You can appeal if you do not agree with the EHC plan the Council has made, or if they:
- refuse to carry out an EHC assessment or reassessment
- refuse to create an EHC plan after carrying out an assessment or reassessment
- refuse to change the sections of an existing EHC plan which are about education (sections B, F and I)
- decide you or your child does not need an EHC plan any more
You can appeal as either:
- someone with parental responsibility for a child
- a child’s foster parent or carer
- a young person
You have two months from the date on your decision letter from the Council, or one month from the date on your mediation certificate to make an appeal, whichever is later.
You must contact mediation before you can appeal to the SEND tribunal.
The process
1
Contact mediation
2
Download and fill in the correct form
3
4
Evidence gathering
5
Appeal hearing heard
6
Decision communicated
Other actions
There are specific actions that you must make if you want to:
Change
an appeal
Withdraw
an appeal
Challenge a
Tribunal decision
Want to know more?
The SEND Tribunal is known as the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability). It is administered by the HM Courts & Tribunals Service.
The HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) have produced a set of videos to explain more about the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal:
Help you can get
Legal aid can help pay for legal advice. You can check if you can get legal aid on the GOV.UK website.
You can also get free help and advice from the Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA).
Get in touch with us
If you can't find what you need, feel free to get in touch with us. Our opening hours are:
- Monday to Thursday from 9.30am to 3pm
- Friday from 9.30am to 2pm
We aim to respond to all enquiries within 3 working days.
Other sources of help and support:
Hertfordshire Local Offer
The Local Offer lets parents and young people know what special educational needs and disabilities services are available in Hertfordshire, and who can access them.
Visit the Local Offer →
Contact
A charity for families with disabled children offering information and advice.
Visit Contact →
HPCI
An independent parent carer organisation ensuring family voices are heard.
Visit the HPCI →
IPSEA
Independent information, advice and support, with free guides, resources and template letters.
Visit IPSEA →