Changes to the special educational needs and disability (SEND) tribunal

What this means is that you can ask for recommendations to be made to all parts of the EHC (Education, Health and Care) Plan and not just the Education aspect.

Appeals can't be made just on health and social care issues, you'll also need to ask for recommendations to be made about the education aspects too.

Before your appeal can be heard by the special educational needs and disability (SEND) Tribunal you'll need to follow our appeals procedure first.

You can find the forms you'll need and advice on the Government website. 

The HM Courts and Tribunals service have produced a series of videos explaining the SEND Tribunal process.

Recommendations made by the SEND Tribunal to health and social care aspects of EHC Plans aren't legally enforceable. However we and the health commissioner are expected to follow the recommendations.

If the recommendations aren't followed, we'll put the reasons in writing to you and to the Department for Education.

You can make a complaint to the:

• Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) or       
• Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) or

And seek to have the decision judicially reviewed. 

For further information go to the  courts and tribunals judiciary website.

• SEND Pathfinders website for a guidance trial toolkit    
• Appealing an education, health and care (EHC) plan decision webpage on the UK Governments website    
• The SEND Tribunal: single route of redress national trial guidance document on the UK Government website
• The Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 on the UK Government legislation website
• IPSEA website find information on appealing to the SEND Tribunal and Judicial review
• SOS SEN website