Children and Families Act (2014) Part 3

Template letter for parents to use to request the Local Authority to undertake an EHC needs assessment 

Template letter for parents, on being informed the Local Authority has agreed to undertake an EHC Needs Assessment, to tell the Local Authority the professionals they would like to be asked for a report as part of the EHC Needs Assessment as well as a reminder about Regulation 6 (1) of SEND Regs 2014

Template letter for parents to use, having received a report as part of an EHC Needs Assessment which fails to contain any specific recommendations about provision to meet needs or achieve Outcomes, to send to relevant professional where the Local Authority has been reminded of the relevant Regulations which govern how reports should be written.

Template letter for parents to use, having received a report from a professional as part of an EHC Needs Assessment which fails to contain any specific recommendations about provision to meet needs or achieve Outcomes, to write to professional to remind them of the relevant Regulation which govern how reports should be written.

Letter to Director of Children's Services - single route of redress national trial, 24 10 2017

Template letter regarding asking for reports to be written in accordance with Regulation 6

SEND Myths 2017

First-tier Tribunal Practice Directions

First-tier Tribunal Rules

First_tier Tribunal guidance for National Guidance of Single Route of Redress

January 2018, Powerpoint presentation by André Imich, SEN and Disability Professional Adviser, Department for Education, providing an update on the SEND Reforms, including information about the two year trial expanding the powers of the First-tier Tribunal SEND to make recommendations about the health and social care aspects of EHC plans.  This will apply to Local Authority decisions and EHC plans issued or amended by Local Authorities from 3 April 2018.

Request for a S17 assessment under the Children's Act 1989

Example of a 'refusal to undertake an EHC assessment' scenario

Example of a completed appeal form for 'refusal to undertake EHC assessment'

Appeals:  forms and guidance

Case law relating to appeals.

Appeals to the First tier Tribunal are decided in accordance with the evidence.  However, over the years case law has established certain legal principles which need to be taken into account by the Local Authority and, in the case of an appeal, by Tribunal panel when making a decision about your child or young person.  A few years ago David Wolfe QC produced what became known as the 'Noddy guide' to list all the relevant case law which needed to be taken into account when decisions are made about an appeal.  This guide has just been updated (march 2018) and is enclosed to assist with your appeal preparations. 

Research report about Disagreement Resolution for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (including the SEND Tribunal) and the government response (Department for Education), March 2017

Please see here for the latest report, including results of survey by CEDAR, undertaken with over 102 local authorities.

Research undertaken about EHC plans

Results of a survey of parents in 2015 regarding their experience of the EHC plan process.