Disagreeing — mediation & appeal

Your formal routes when things go wrong

If the council refuses to assess, refuses to issue a plan, or you disagree with its content, you can challenge this through mediation and then the SEND Tribunal.

Your rights: The SEND Tribunal is independent, free to use, and its decisions on Sections B, F and I are legally binding.

Common pitfall: Appeal deadlines are strict and rarely extended — diarise them the moment you receive a decision letter.

Your voice: Tribunal panels weigh parental evidence alongside professional evidence. A clear, factual account of your child's day-to-day reality is powerful evidence.

• Request mediation (free, and a legal prerequisite before most tribunal appeals)

• Get a mediation certificate even if you choose not to attend — you need it to appeal

• Lodge a Tribunal appeal within 2 months of the decision, or 1 month after mediation