Tribunal - what happens if LEA don't meet deadline

[Scottishdancer]

we have a tribunal date for middle of March. deadline for Lea to respond was 7th Dec, but on the 6th they asked for some more documents (which we were directed to get to them by the 7th) and given an extension until 21st but as of yet still no response. What happens if they don't reply by the deadline?

In theory you could apply for an order debarring them from defending. But don't bank on anything, my bet is that they will produce a response.

deadline will be 5pm so expect a response at 4.45pm

Tbh the deadlines are often missed by LEA and whilst the tribunal won't be hugely happy they are unlikely to sanction them. I found that the rules whilst they look as if they must be adhered to are not really seen as that important when you get in front of the panel. The authority in my experience are given plenty of leeway.

4:59:59

Well response came, but now I wish it hadn't. It is a pack of lies and twisted facts and they have told me ds is happy at school even though yesterday he was asking me to shoot him rather than make him go to school and I have been unable to get him in for 4 out of the last 10 days. Also told me an Lsa providing 20 hours a week would cost £3000 a year??? I am seething, can't calm down and although we haven't spoken about it with ds he keeps asking what will happen if they don't let him go to the new school.