SEN Tribunal Solicitors

Although the Tribunal is set up so that parents can make appeals themselves, in practice you might want a lawyer to help make your case.

While you wouldn’t be expected to know the legal technicalities in this area, your case still rests on the strength of the argument you put forward. Reasons you might want to consider using a lawyer include:

• Your local education authority may well instruct a barrister. Barristers and lawyers will know the law in this area very well, which can put you at a disadvantage.
• Making sure your case is as strong as possible. A lawyer can check that your appeal is made on the right grounds, and that you’re concentrating on the right points to win your appeal.
• Getting the right expert evidence to support your case. We have access to a network of expert witnesses who are experienced in giving evidence to the Tribunal.

The Tribunal has a wide range of powers and could help your child access:

• A place at your preferred school (such as a special, independent or residential school)
• 1:1 support
• Speech and language therapy
• Occupational therapy
• A home education programme
• Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) provision
• Equipment they need to access the curriculum.

In addition to this the Tribunal can make recommendations about the health and social care sections of your child’s Education, Health and Care Plan.

You must make your appeal either within:

• Two months of the date of the local authority’s decision letter
• One month of the date of the mediation certificate.

The time limit will be based on whichever of these dates is the later.

You should expect the Tribunal appeal to take roughly four months.

The Tribunal hearing will be approximately 12 weeks after the appeal has been registered. Once the appeal has been heard the Tribunal will send you its written decision within 10 working days.

Our education lawyers are highly rated in the independent legal guides Chambers & Partners, and the Legal 500. We have an experienced team of solicitors, each of who helps many families through the SEND Tribunal process every year.

We’re active members of the Education Law Association. Our lawyers also regularly attend “user group” meetings with the SEND Tribunal to provide feedback. We deliver education law training to charities and groups such as:

• Sense
• Parent Carer Forums
• Contact
• Meningitis Now.

Our team helps people throughout England and Wales from our nationwide network of offices. We have detailed regional knowledge of local authorities, as well as relationships with a large number of expert witness and barrister contacts.

We know the law in this area inside out. We’ll support you throughout the appeal process, and beyond (if you need to take your case to judicial review for instance). We’re proud of the level of service we provide and, being experts in this area, we really understand the importance of getting the best result at the Tribunal.