NEWS OF A RECENT SEND TRIBUNAL HEARING SUCCESS

The SEND Tribunal has ruled in favour of another parent whose youngster with Autism and AHDH I assessed earlier this year. After a 4 year fight by his mum, 8 year old N, from one of the London Boroughs, will now be attending an independent specialist school as a day student.

All good wishes, and congratulations to mum and N !

Governments Green Paper on the future of SEN system. 

The Coalition Government has recently published its consultation document – a green paper -on the future of Special Educational Needs, and proposed changes to the SEN system.  You can access a copy here by clicking on the pdf icon below:

 You can also access a copy of the current SEN Code of Practice by clicking on the pdf icon below:

A change in the law – and a real breakthrough for parents

A recent amendment to section 328 of the Education Act 1996 provides parents with a new right of appeal to the SEND Tribunal. Parents will now be allowed to appeal to the Tribunal if their local authority does not amend their child’s SEN statement following an annual or interim review.

The legislation for this was passed in the last days of the former government, based on a recommendation from the Lamb Enquiry Report. However, it was not brought into force until 1st September 2010. 

The new legislation effectively allows for a statement to be organic, and so ends the sense of powerlessness parents have experienced when local authorities have simply refused to make changes. Following annual reviews and interim reviews, parents will now be able to appeal rather than have to go through the extremely daunting and potentially lengthy process of requesting statutory reassessment.