Usually Panel ask the questions
They generally start with the working doc so you need to have agreed in advance as much as you can or you will both be sent out for an hour to do so
They then go through the working doc and the parts that are not agreed eg Part 2, then 3a then 3b
Where you disagree they will ask each side their views - some bits are from expert advice / to do with placement etc so they will generally say they will come to those in evidence later
Sometimes LA will concede wording or you will - pick your battles don't waste time on things that are not important
eg In ours they said DS did not have any behavioural problems (despite being dx with autism!) so the panel asked his nursery teacher some questions about that and she confirmed he did have tantrums etc so then LA conceded that
After they have done as much as they can on document they will then go through the major disputes - asking questions of you / LA / any witnesses
They often prefer to hear from indep witnesses not the parent
If LA says something you disagree with you can come back on it / challenge it - try an refer to evidence
At end both have to give representations on cost of placement (if relevant)
Then sum up - you / LA are not allowed to raise anything new in summing up that has not been raised in evidence before that
Its good to have a statement you have written up to say in the summing up eg your main 4-5 points about why you want what you want
Key thing is to stick to your 4-5 main points and not let LA sidetrack or waste time - a good chair won't let this happen but if you feel LA are being allowed to waste time say something like 'this is all very interesting, but not relevant I am not here today to talk about x (bizarre legal point etc) but about my DS'
Take a photo of your child to put on the desk in front of you pointing the panel I have no idea whether it has any effect but it is good to remind everyone this is a real child not a case file
Be prepared to have to keep bringing it back to the child if LA try and take over / waste time
Have your main points on a card and try and keep to that and keep bringing it back to that as much as possible
Have lots of egs - Panels like real life egs and LA will not have any / many so things your DS finds hard etc
Be prepared for LA witnesses to tell lies - challenge it but try not to get cross - they often want you to get cross so they can do a 'see what we have to deal with' shrug
Don't be surprised if the Panel don't ask you much at all - they will have read everything before and will only ask for evidence they need to make up their minds - if they don't ask it might mean the panel are already agreed on what they think about it
But you can't rely on that so thats why have your main points and try and make sure you don't leave without saying those 4-5 things.
Good luck, its not as scary as you think and in fact getting to have your say can be quite therapeutic