Appeal an education, health and care (EHC) plan decision
Before you appeal
What you need to appeal
Your decision letter will tell you what you need to appeal. You can also speak to other organisations that are listed in your letter or with your special educational needs coordinator (SENCO).
Mediation
In most cases, you must consider mediation before you appeal to the tribunal. Mediation is when an impartial professional (the mediator) helps both sides work out an agreement. It’s confidential and usually quicker than going to the tribunal.
You do not have to consider mediation if your appeal is only about which school or other institution you or your child should attend (Section I of the EHC plan).
How to arrange mediation
Your local authority will have sent you a letter giving their decision about the EHC plan. The letter will tell you how to contact a mediation service.
If you do not have the letter, contact your local authority to get details of your local special educational needs mediation service.
A mediation adviser will explain how mediation works. If you want to go ahead, they’ll bring you and your local authority together to discuss the problem.
At the end they’ll give you a mediation certificate, which you’ll need if you still want to appeal.
If you do not want mediation
You still need to contact the mediation service to get a mediation certificate so that you can appeal.
If you do not have a mediation certificate you will need to tell the tribunal why.