We offer mediation support for families challenging Local Authority decisions relating to Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments and Educcation, Health and Care Plans. 

Our mediation packages are designed to help you understand the decision, identify the key issues in dispute, prepare clear written points and supporting evidence for the Local Authority, and feel confident about what you want to achieve from the mediation. Attendance at the mediation meeting can be added separately where required. 

All work listed within each package is included within the total price. Any work outside of the chosen package is chargeable at our hourly rate of £45 per hour, unless otherwise agreed.  

No additional work will be completed without prior agreement and a clear quote.

Where Compass Advocacy SEND is already, or has previously been, involved with your family, relevant information gained through previous advocacy work, meetings or professional discussions may also be incorporated where appropriate. 

Mediation - Refusal to Assess 

This package is suitable for parents and carers who have requested an EHC Needs Assessment and the Local Authority has refused to carry out the assessment, and who want support preparing for mediation. 

This package includes:

• Review of the Local Authority's refusal to assess decision and the reasons given. 
• Review of the original EHC Needs Assessment request. 
• Review of relevant supporting evidence, including school information, reports, assessments, support plans and professional correspondence. 
• A focused consultation to discuss your child or young person's needs, the support currently in place and the points you disagree with. 
• Identification of the strongest arguments and evidence supporting why an EHC Needs Assessment should be carried out.
• Preparation of a clear written mediation statement setting out:
  • the issues in dispute
  • the key evidence supporting your position
  • the points you want the Local Authority to address
  • the outcome you are seeking
• Practical prompts and questions to use during the mediation meeting.
• Preparation of the document in a format that can be sent to the Local Authority and mediation service in advance.
• Brief guidance on what to expect during mediation and how to use the document effectively during the meeting.
• Final review and quality check before the mediation document is sent to you.
• Following your feedback, ONE round of amendments to the mediation document, if required.

This package does not include attendance at the mediation meeting. If you would like Compass Advocacy SEND to attend with you, this can be added separately through the Mediation Attendance Add-on.

Package time: 3 hours

Package Price: £120

Typical turnaround: 5-7 working days from receipt of deposit, refusal decision, original request, all relevant supporting evidence and any additional information required.

Mediation - Refusal to Issue 

This package is suitable for parents and carers where the Local Authority has completed an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment but decided not to issue an EHC Plan, and who want support preparing for mediation.

This package includes:

• Review of the Local Authority's refusal to issue decision and the reasons given.
• Review of the EHC Needs Assessment and relevant professional advice obtained during the assessment process.
• Review of relevant supporting evidence, including school information, reports, assessments, support plans and professional correspondence. 
• A focused consultation to discuss your child or young person's needs, the provision currently available and the points you disgaree with.
• Identification of the strongest arguments and evidence  supporting why an EHCP should be issued. 
• Preparation of a clear written mediation document setting out:
  • the issues in dispute
  • the key evidence supporting your position
  • the points you want the Local Authority to address
  • the outcome you are seeking
• Practical prompts and questions to use during the mediation meeting.
• Preparation of the document in a format that can be sent to the Local Authority and mediation service in advance. 
• Brief guidance on what to expect during mediation and how to use the document effectively during the meeting. 
• Final review and quality check before the mediation document is returned to you. 
• Following your feedback, ONE round of amendments to the mediation document, if required.

This package does not include attendance at the mediation meeting. If you would like Compass Advocacy SEND to attend with you, this can be added separately through the Mediation Attendance Add-on.

Package time: 4 hours

Package Price: £160

Typical turnaround: 5-7 working days from receipt of deposit, refusal decision, assessment advice, all relevant supporting evidence and any additional information required.

Mediation - Section B, F and I (Content and Placement)

This package is suitable for parents and carers who disagree with the content of an Education, Health and Care Plan, including the description of needs in Section B, the special educational provision in Section F, and/or the placement named or proposed in Section I, and who want support preparing for mediation.

This package includes:

• Review of the current or draft EHCP.
• Review of the relevant professional reports, assessments, school information and other supporting evidence. 
• Review of the Local Authority's position and the areas of Sections B, F and/or I that remain in dispute. 
• A focused consultation to discuss your child or young person's needs, the provision required and any placement concerns. 
• Identification of the strongest arguments and evidence supporting the changes you are seeking. 
• Consideration of whether Section B accurately reflects the identified special educational needs.
• Consideration of whether Section F is specific, quantified and sufficient to meet those needs.
• Consideration of Section I and parental preference where you already have a school or placement in mind. 
• Preparation of a clear written mediation document setting out:
  • the sections and wording in dispute
  • the key evidence supporting your position
  • the changes or outcomes you are seeking
  • the points you want the Local Authority to address
• Practical prompts and questions to use during the mediation meeting. 
• Preparation of the document in a format that can be sent to the Local Authority and mediation service in advance. 
• Brief guidance on what to expect during mediation and how to use the document effectively during the meeting. 
• Final review and quality check before the mediation document is returned to you.
• Following your feedback, ONE round of amendments to the mediation document, if required. 

This package does not include researching or identifying potential schools or placements where you do not already have a placement in mind. Placement research can be provided as additional work and will be quoted separately. 

This package does not include attendance at the mediation meeting. If you would like Compass Advocacy SEND to attend with you, this can be added separately through the Mediation Attendance Add-on.

Package time: 5 hours

Package Price: £200

Typical turnaround: 7-10 working days from receipt of deposit, EHCP, all relevant supporting evidence and any additional information required.

Mediation - Attendance Add-on

This add-on is available for families who have purchased on of our Mediaton Support Packages and would like Comapss Advocacy SEND to attend the mediation meeting with them.

(Note: Mediation sessions are typically held via teams. In person attendance is only available for those within our local area. In this instance we would come to you at your home address, or other suitable location. For those outside our local area, we are able to join remotely via teams)

This add-on includes:

• Review of the mediation document and key points, with you, immediately before the meeting.
• Attendance at the mediation meeting for up to 2 hours. 
• Advocacy during the meeting to explain and support your position. 
• Support responding to the Local Authority's points and any proposals made during the mediation.
• Assistance keeping the discussion focused on the key issues in dispute.
• Clarification of any agreement reached and the next steps following mediation.
• Brief post-meeting follow-up.

Ths add-on does not include preparation of substantial new evidence, significant new drafting, school or placement research, or work outside the scope of the original Mediation Support Package. Any additional work required will be discussed and quoted separately before it is undertaken. 

Add-on time: 2.5 hours

Add-on price: £110

Additional attendance: £45 per hour where the meeting exeeds 2 hours