Evidence for an appeal to the SEND Tribunal

Sending evidence

·         Index what you send

·         Any evidence that you send to the tribunal you must also send to the LA – this is very important

·         Only send in photocopies

·         Send in a chronology

The evidence needs to.....

·         Address the issues being appealed

·         Be up to date

·         Support the points you are making

·         Be relevant

Examples of evidence

•         Expert opinions from health professionals

•         Teacher reports

•         Parents views and experiences

•         Child or young person views

•         Annual Review paperwork

•         Private assessment

•         Written statement from those that are involved with the child

·         or young person

•         Home to school diaries

•         Exclusion letters

Late evidence

If either the local authority or parent/carer seeks to submit late evidence after the final evidence deadline, a copy of the evidence must be sent to the other party and to the Tribunal.

The evidence will be considered at the final hearing.

The tribunal do not have to accept late evidence.

Evidence bundle

The LA has to collect, index and issue the evidence of both parties electronically.

The parent/carer or young person can ask Tribunal for a hard copy.

Parent/carer or young person must provide copies of the bundle to their witnesses.

Check bundle to make sure all the evidence is included.

Page limits for evidence

There is a page limit that the tribunal will accept on bundles these are:

Section B, F & I = 175 pages each per party

Section B and/or F = 100 pages each per party

Section I = 75 pages per party

Health and Social care recommendations = 50 pages each party

Refusal to carry out an EHC Needs Assessment/reassessment = 100 pages each per party

Refusal to issue an EHC Plan = 100 pages each party