Tribunals

Services, Packages & Prices

We offer a range or support for parents and carers appealing decisions made by the Local Authority about Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments and Education, Health and Care Plans.

Our Tribunal services can support you at different stages of the appeal process, from preparing the appeal and organising evidence through to case management, hearing support and full advocacy representation. The level of support can be tailored depending on how much of the process you would like to manage yourself and where you would like professional advocacy support.

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 £55 per hour, unless otherwise agreed. This may include: meetings with the Local Authority, placement research, requesting changes, late evidence submission and additional correspondence with the Local Authority or Tribunal.

Tribunal Appeal - Refusal to Assess Package

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 would like support preparing and progressing the appeal while remaining responsible for managing the Tribunal Case themselves.

This package includes:

Review of the Local Authority's refusal to assess decision and reasons given.
Review of the original EHC Needs Assessment request.
Review of relevant supporting evidence, including school information, professional reports, assessments, support plans and correspondence.
A focused consultation to discuss your child or young person's support needs, the support currently in place and the reasons you disagree with the Local Authority's decision.
Identification of the strongest evidence and arguments supporting why an EHC Needs Assessment should be carried out.
Completion of the SEND35A appeal form and preparation of the grounds of appeal.
Organisation and compilation of the initial appeal evidence into a clearly labelled submission file ready for the parent/carer to submit.
Review of the Tribunal's case directions once received, including noting key deadlines for the purpose of planning our work.
Review of the Local Authority's case response when received.
Explanation of the Local Authority's position and any key issues arising from their response.
Preparation of the Final Written Submission, responding to the Local Authority's position and setting out the remaining issues in dispute.
Review and preparation of any final evidence to accompany the written submission.
Compilation of the final evidence and written submission into a clearly organised file ready for the parent/carer to submit to the Local Authority, and Tribunal where required.
Completion of the Case Review Form when required, once the parent/carer has provided us the relevant information ready for the parent/carer to submit to the Local Authority and Tribunal.
Review of the Tribunal bundle once issued to check the evidence submitted appears to have been included.
Brief overview of next steps.

Under this package, you remain responsible for managing the Tribunal Case. Tribunal correspondence and directions will be sent directly to you, and you will be responsible for monitoring deadlines, forwarding relevant documents to us, submitting documents to the Tribunal and Local Authority, and contacting us when further work included within the package is required.

Compass Advocacy SEND will not be listed as your representative under this package and will not independently monitor or chase Tribunal deadlines or correspondence.

If you would prefer Compass Advocacy SEND to be listed as your representative and manage Tribunal correspondence, deadlines and case administration on your behalf, this is available separately through our Case Management Add-On.

This package does not include hearing attendance or representation at the final hearing. Hearing advocacy can be added separately where required.

Package time: 7 hours

Package price: £350

Typical turnaround: Initial appeal preparation is usually completed within 7-10 working days of receipt of deposit, all relevant information and evidence. Later stages are completed in line with Tribunal directions and deadlines, provided all documents are forwarded to us in sufficient time.

Tribunal Appeal - Refusal to Issue Package

This package is suitable for parents and carers where the Local Authority have completed an EHC Needs Assessment and the Local Authority but decided not to issue an EHC Plan, and who would like support preparing and progressing the appeal while remaining responsible for managing the Tribunal Case themselves.

This package includes:

Review of the Local Authority's refusal to issue decision and the reasons given.
Review of the EHC Needs Assessment and professional advice gained during the assessment process.
Review of relevant supporting evidence, including school information, assessments, reports, support plans and correspondence.
A focused consultation to discuss your child or young person's needs, the provision currently in place and why you disagree with the Local Authority's decision.
Identification of the strongest evidence and arguments supporting why an EHCP should be issued.
Completion of the SEND35 appeal form and preparation of the grounds of appeal.
Organisation and compilation of the initial appeal evidence into a clearly labelled submission file ready for the parent/carer to submit.
Review of the Tribunal's case directions once received, including noting key deadlines for the purpose of planning our work.
Explanation of the Local Authority's position and any key issues arising from their response.
Preparation of the Final Written Submission, responding to the Local Authority's position and setting out why an EHCP is required.
Compilation of the final evidence and written submission into a clearly organised file ready for the parent/carer to submit to the Local Authority, and Tribunal where required.
Completion of the Case Review Form when required, once the parent/carer has provided us the relevant information.
Review of the Tribunal bundle once issued to check the evidence submitted appears to have been included.
Brief overview of next steps.

Compass Advocacy SEND will not be listed as your representative under this package and will not independently monitor or chase Tribunal deadlines or correspondence.

This package does not include hearing attendance or representation at the final hearing. Hearing advocacy can be added separately where required.

Package Time: 9 hours

Package Price: £450

Tribunal Appeal - Content and Placement Package (Sections B, F & I)

This package is suitable for parents and carers appealing the contents of an Education, Health and Care plan, including Sections B, F, and/or I, and who would like support preparing and progressing through the appeal while remaining responsible for managing the Tribunal case themselves.

This package includes:

Review of the final EHCP and the Local Authority's decision.
Review of relevant professional reports, assessments, school information and other supporting evidence.
A focused consultation to discuss the sections in dispute, the provision required and any placement concerns.
Identification of the strongest arguments and evidence supporting the amendments being sought.
Detailed consideration of whether Section B accurately and comprehensively reflects the child or young person's special educational needs.
Detailed consideration of whether Section F is specific, quantified and sufficient to meet identified needs.
Consideration of Section I and parental preference where a school or placement has already been identified.
Completion of the SEND35 appeal form and preparation of the ground of appeal.
Preparation of the Working Document, setting out the amendments sought to the relevant sections of the EHCP using the appropriate Working Document key.
Up to TWO substantive rounds of Working Document amendments during the appeal.
Review of the Tribunal's case directions once received, including noting key deadline for the purpose of planning our work.
Review of the Local Authority's case response.
Explanation of the Local Authority's position and any key issues arising from their response.
Preparation of the final written submission responding to the Local Authority's position and setting out the remaining issues in dispute.
Review and preparation of any final evidence to accompany the written submission.
Compilation of the final written submission and evidence into a clearly organised file ready for the parent/carer to submit to the Local Authority, and Tribunal where appropriate.
Completion of the Care Review Form when required, once the parent/carer has provided the relevant information, ready for the parent/carer to submit to the Local Authority and Tribunal.
Review of the Tribunal bundle once issued to check the evidence submitted appears to have been included.
Brief overview of next steps.

Compass Advocacy SEND will not be listed as your representative under this package and will not independently monitor or chase Tribunal deadlines or correspondence.

This package does not include hearing attendance or representation at the final hearing. Hearing advocacy can be added separately where required.

Package Time: 12 hours

Package Price: £600

Case Management Add-On

This add-on is available alongside any of our Tribunal Appeal Packages for parents and carers who would like Compass Advocacy SEND to be listed as their representative and manage the administrative progress of the appeal.

This add-on includes:

Compass Advocacy SEND being listed as your representative on the Tribunal case.
Receiving Tribunal and Local Authority correspondence directly.
Monitoring and diarising case directions and deadlines.
Maintaining an up-to-day case timetable.
Submitting documents prepared as part of your Tribunal package to the Tribunal and Local Authority.
Managing routine case correspondence.
Forwarding important updates to you and explaining any action required.
Prompting you where information, evidence or instructions are needed.
Monitoring receipt of Local Authority responses and Tribunal documents.
Checking that required documents are submitted by the relevant deadlines.
Keeping the case organised throughout the appeal.
Managing routine administrative communication with the Tribunal and local Authority.

This add-on is case administration, correspondence and deadline manamgement only. It does not include additional substantive advocacy work beyond that already included within your Tribunal package.

Any further drafting, additional evidence review, substantial Working Document amendments, school or placement research, further written submissions or other additional advocacy will be discussed separately before being undertaken.

Package Price: Case Management set up: £50 one off. Ongoing Case management: £25 per month while the case remains active.

Hearing Support Add-On

This service is suitable for parents and carers who are representing themselves at a SEND Tribunal hearing but would like practical support alongside them during the hearing. Typically, Refusal to Assess hearings are held 'on the papers', therefore no attendance is required.

Support may include:

Helping you stay organised throughout the hearing.
Prompting you about points or questions you wanted to raise.
Helping you locate relevant evidence within the Tribunal bundle.
Pointing you towards information already contained within your evidence or written submissions.
Taking brief notes during the hearing.
Helping you to keep track of any actions, agreements or points raised.
Providing practical and emotional support throughout the hearing.
A brief discussion afterwards to help you understand next steps.

Compass Advocacy SEND will not address the Tribunal, present your case, question witnesses or act as your prepresentative under this service. You will remain responsible for speaking on your own behalf throughout the hearing.

This service is generally provided by attending with you in person while you join a remote Tribunal hearing. This is available within our local area, with travel of up to aproximately 60 minutes each way available, subject to location and availability.

Where Compass Advocacy SEND has not previously been involved with your Tribunal appeal, additional preparation time will be required before hearing support can be provided. This may include reviewing the Tribunal bundle, understanding the background to the appeal, identifying the remaining issues in dispute, reviewing the key evidence and discussing the case with you before the hearing.

The amount of preparation work required will depend on the complexity of the appeal and the size of the bundle. This time will be quoted separately before the booking is confirmed.

Package Time: 4 hours for half day / 7 hours for full day

Package Price: £200 for half day / £350 for full day. Milage is charges at £45p per mile and travel time is charged at £15 per hour.

Advocate Hearing Representation Add-On

This service is suitable for parentd and carers who would like Compass Advocacy SEND to represent them at theur SEND Tribunal hearing and present their case on their behalf.

Representation may include:

Review of the final Tribunal bundle and key evidence.
Review if the remaining issues in dispute.
Pre-hearing discussion with the parent/carer to confirm priorities and any recent developments.
Preparation of hearing notes, questions and key evidence references where required.
Attendance at the Tribunal hearing.
Responding to questions from the Tribunal panel.
Responding to the Local Authority's position and evidence.
Questioning witnesses where appropriate.
Drawing the Tribunals attemtion to relevent evidence within the bundle.
Clarifying the provision, amendments or outcome being sought.
Preparing any final oral or written points required for the hearing.
Brief post-hearing discussion regarding what happened and any next steps.

This service can provided by attending with you in person while you join a remote Tribunal hearing. This is available within our local area, with travel of up to aproximately 60 minutes each way avsilsble, subject to location and availability. Alternatively, I can join remotely for cases across England.

The amount of preparation work required will depend on the complexity of the appeal and the size of the bundle. This time will be quoted separately before the booking is confirmed.

Package Time: 6 hours for half day / 10 hours for full day

Package Price: £390 for half day / £650 for full day.