Tribunal

[Worried74]

Can anyone give me any tips about going to 1st tier tribunal? We are appealing sections B, F and I. It's a minefield and I am struggling. Cannot afford representation so have to go it alone.

What are the reports you have already like? Do you need independent assessments? If you do but can’t afford them and you aren’t eligible for legal aid Parents in Need can sometimes help fund them. Submitting SARs to school and the LA could help you gather evidence, too.

Is the placement you want wholly independent?

Have you looked at IPSEA and SOSSEN?

@ThomasWasTortured thanks for the reply. Due to the pandemic etc and lack of resources here we have very little evidence. We recently had a CP carry out an assessment that highlights she cannot cope with mainstream, a letter from CAMHS I am trying to get changed to remove a recommendation for EBSA and Early Help as we have already had years of jumping through those hoops without success and her previous primary school are putting together a report on how they tried to help her over the years but without success.
She hasn't left the house since October unless to go to CAMHS but LA are adamant mainstream is her only option.
We have spoken to Liaise but Ipsea calls are like gold dust, I keep trying.

Make SENDIST aware DD is out of education as hearings for those DC are prioritised.

It would be helpful if you could get at least 1 independent report. Provision in EHCPs is taken from the evidence, so if the evidence is lacking the provision will be too.

Keep trying with IPSEA, they also have helpful information on their website. As do SOSSEN.

Separate to the EHCP process, if DD cannot attend school the LA must make alternative arrangements under s.19 of the Education Act 1996 to ensure DD receives a suitable full time education, or if that isn’t medically possible in any form (the scope of educational provision is wide) as close to full time as is possible.
Email the Director of Children’s Services informing them of the situation and requesting provision. If they ignore, delay or refuse email again threatening judicial review. Then if that fails contact SOSSEN for help with a pre-action letter. They must also provide anything detailed, specified and quantified in F of the EHCP, but if the EHCP is poor there might not be anything enforceable.