Tribunal

[Stressedoutmummyof3]

So we received part 3 of our mediation certificate. We were waiting to hear back about mediation but the operator I spoke to said LA were refusing to engage so they'd issued the certificate so we can go to tribunal.
For those of you who have been through this what sort of cost is it? Is it really expensive? How did you afford it.
Even more annoying the EHCP team lied to our current school claiming we didn't ask for medication so now I look like a liar to school.
I'm so fed up. What's the point in fighting anymore if they just let?

It doesn’t cost to submit an appeal to SENDIST.

Representation isn’t essential. The majority of parents do not pay for representation.

You do need evidence. If you need independent assessment but can’t afford them and you aren’t eligible for legal aid, which can fund independent assessments if necessary, there are charities, e.g. Parents in Need, who can help. Or further into the appeal process, you could ask SENDIST to direct the LA to seek certain advice and information. However, SENDIST may not agree to and where they do, it doesn’t guarantee good evidence.

Don’t worry about what the LA is telling the school. More fool the school if they believe everything the LA say.

Don’t give up. That is what the LA want.

I appealed to the tribunal four times. The LA lied to everyone. Generally, the tribunal saw through those lies and imo, it did them no favours! I don’t know why LAs think annoying the tribunal is a way to win friends and influence people? It doesn’t and I’ve seen chairs get angry with the LA at every hearing I’ve been to (I’ve also been there as a witness or observer) Continue to be your genuine, honest, reasonable self and it will show through.

DD got the right provisions and schools for the majority of her education - 14 years of that is way more important than a bunch of lies in the run up to a tribunal.

Now DD is grown up, the independent reports I got, were worth their weight in gold for years, not just for that tribunal and still are. Nobody could say one report was a snapshot on one day - because reports at age 4,7, and 17 were consistent. Even the LA ed psy reports were quite good and showed information that is still useful (and DD is in her 30s). For instance, one LA ed psy did a lot of tests on memory. The fact DD could only retain one piece of information in working memory informs all her care, even now in social care.

OTOH, DC might go to university and even historical reports about dyslexia, etc can be useful to get extra help.