Appealing about special education

Appeals against decisions by local authorities related to assessments and statements of special educational needs are made to an independent body the First-Tier Tribunal for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). There are more appeals to the Tribunal in England about autism than any other type of SEN.

Appeals may be made:

if the local authority refuses to carry out a statutory assessment of your child’s special educational needs
if the local authority refuses to carry out a statutory re-assessment of your child’s special educational needs
if the local authority refuses to issue a statement after carrying out a statutory assessment
if (following the issue of a final statement, an amended final statement, or the refusal to amend a statement following reassessment) you disagree with the description of your child’s special educational needs, the description of the special educational help, the school named or the fact that no school has been named
if the local authority refuses to change the school named in the statement
if the local authority decides to cease to maintain (end) your child’s statement

You have to appeal within two months of the local authority sending you a letter telling you of your right to appeal. The form for appealing is in the How to Appeal an SEN decision: a guide for parents available from the SEND websites. England: www.sendist.gov.uk Wales: www.sentw.gov.uk