Location: Education and Learning » Schools and Colleges » Special Educational Needs » Special Education Needs: Frequently Asked Questions » What happens if I'm not happy with the statement following an assessment?

What happens if I'm not happy with the statement following an assessment?

A statement is first issued as a proposed statement, and this allows a period of time for discussion about the detail of the statement to take place between parents and the local authority. During this time, the support of the Parent Partnership Co-ordinator parent.partnership@rbwm.gov.uk is available. At the end of this period, the statement is made into a final statement, and it is at this point that it takes legal effect.

Sometimes parents remain unhappy with the contents of the statement, and at this stage they may make an appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal http://www.sendist.gov.uk . Such an appeal must be made within two months of receiving the final statement.

Information about the Tribunal may be obtained from:

The Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal

SENDIST Appeals
Mowden Hall
Staindrop Road
Darlington
County Durham
DL3 9BR

Tel. 0870 241 2555
Fax 01325 391080
Website http://www.sendist.gov.uk/

A booklet is also available explaining the details of the rights of appeal. This can be obtained by contacting the above.

Concurrently with making an appeal, a parent may consult the authority's mediation service:

Global Mediation Ltd (SEN)
Constable House
5 Bulwer Road
Barnet
EN5 5JD

Tel: 0800 064 4488
e-mail: sen@globalmediation.co.uk

Consulting the mediation service does not prevent appealing at the same time to the Tribunal, though the time limit for making an appeal remains the same.

We send more information about the Tribunal and the mediation service at the appropriate time.

Parents are invited to remain in touch with the Parent Partnership Co-ordinator during this time.