In particular situations, some matters are appealable. For example, if you do not agree with a decision made about the special education provision your child has been offered by the Education Authority (EA) you can lodge an appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST).
What is the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal?
The SENDIST is an independent panel which considers parental appeals against the decisions of the Education Authority about a child’s special educational needs. The SENDIST will also consider parental disability discrimination appeals against schools and/or the Education Authority.
The Tribunal only has powers over the educational parts of a Statement of Special Educational Needs (e.g. parts 2,3 & 4). You cannot therefore, appeal against parts 5 and 6 of the Statement, for example, on arrangements for home to school transport.
Click below to view video produced by Patricia Crossan, Chair of Northern Ireland SENDIST explaining what to expect when attending a tribunal
What to expect at a Tribunal – Special Educational Needs & Disability Tribunal (SENDIST)
In what situations can I appeal to the SENDIST?
- If the EA refuses a request made by you, or your child’s school, to carry out a Statutory Assessment or re-assessment of your child’s needs (providing a Statutory Assessment has not been carried out in the last six months)
- If the EA has carried out a Statutory Assessment but decides not to issue a Statement. Sometimes parents are issued a Note in Lieu of a Statement, but this is still a refusal to issue a Statement.
- If following a re-assessment of your child’s needs the EA decide not to change the Statement
- If you disagree with the final Statement, such as the description of your child’s needs in Part 2 or the provision detailed in Part 3 or the school named in Part 4
- If you disagree with the amendments the EA make to an existing statement
- If the EA decides that a Statement is no longer needed for your child
- If the EA turns down your request to change the school named in your child’s Statement. This applies if you have asked for a grant-aided school and your child’s Statement has been maintained by the EA for at least a year.
For further information about SENDIST visit Department of Justice or email tribunalsunit@courtsni.gov.uk
Getting help from SENAC with your appeal
SENAC’s Tribunal Support and Representative Service offers independent advice, support and representation on SEN Appeals for families and those with parental responsibility.
SENAC’s Tribunal Representative will advise on the strengths and weaknesses of your appeal, explain the process for appeal and support you to put forward the best case possible to SENDIST. We cannot guarantee, predict or advise if your appeal will be successful as that decision is made by the SENDIST Panel.
Contacting SENAC’s Tribunal service.
If you are considering contacting us about an appeal please read the Terms of Engagement
Our Tribunal Representative can be contacted by emailing Jennifer.mcnally@senac.co.uk
SENAC can offer help with:
- General advice on SENDIST and its procedures.
- Help with completion of the Notice of Appeal form and Case Statement
- Assisting and setting out reasons for appeal
- Obtaining further evidence as required
- Assessing evidence to be submitted in support of your appeal
- Negotiating with the Education Authority
- Representing and advocating for your child or young person’s case at SENDIST
NOTE: SENAC provides advice and representation in Special Education Appeals against the Education Authority. In the event you wish to take a disability discrimination claim to SENDIST, SENAC can direct you to the appropriate services
Sending documentation and evidence:
To help SENAC advise you fully it is important that our Tribunal Representative has access to all the relevant papers relating to your child’s educational needs.
If you have a deadline for lodging a notice of appeal all relevant papers should be sent to us as soon as possible and no later than 7 working days before the deadline. This is to allow the Tribunal Representative sufficient time to consider the documentation and the evidence and to draft the necessary paperwork for SENDIST. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee support and advice if the necessary documentation is not provided by you in advance of a deadline.
Dispute Avoidance and Resolution Service (DARS)
Parents also have the option to try to resolve issues through DARS. This service provides an independent, confidential informal forum to help resolve disagreements between parents/guardians and either schools or the Education Authority. Whilst the service will facilitate the possible resolution of disagreements, they do not have the authority to impose outcomes.
Please note that SENAC does not provide support for parents in their engagement with DARS.
For further information about this service contact Global Mediation directly www.globalmediation.co.uk/DARS
