Following a SEND Tribunal decision, either party can apply to the SEND Tribunal for the decision to be:

• set aside
• reviewed, or 
• appealed. 

The number of cases which are successfully set aside, reviewed or appealed are relatively low. You can find out more about each method of challenge below.

If you want to challenge a SEND Tribunal decision, you need to make every effort to make sure your application is registered with the SEND Tribunal within 28 days of the issue of the written decision. You also need to make sure that you provide a complete copy of the Tribunal Bundle, and any late evidence that was accepted at the SEND Tribunal hearing. If you need a copy of this, ask the LA to provide it to you (it must keep a copy of it for at least 6 months after the hearing).

This means that all the necessary forms must be correctly completed within that time. Preparation work must begin well before the deadline. 

If an application is made more than 28 days after the decision was sent, you will need to ask for an extension of time, giving the reasons why it is made late, with the application. If the SEND Tribunal does not agree to extend the time, the application will not be considered.

Set aside

The SEND Tribunal is able to set aside and remake the decision if there has been a procedural error which has put one of the parties at a disadvantage.

For this to happen, it must be in the interests of justice for the decision to be set aside, and one or more of 4 conditions must be met:

1. a document relating to the proceedings was not sent to, or was not received at an appropriate time by, a party or party’s representative
2. a document relating to the proceedings was not sent to the SEND Tribunal at an appropriate time
3. a party, or party’s representative, was not present at a hearing related to the proceedings, or
4. there has been some other procedural irregularity in the proceedings.

Whether it is ‘in the interests of justice’ means the SEND Tribunal will consider whether the procedural irregularity resulted in a party being treated unfairly. For example, if a document was not sent to a parent, but it would not have made any difference to the decision if it had been, then that would be unlikely to result in the decision being set aside.

Review

If there has been a change of relevant circumstances since the case was heard, and you think that the decision should be looked at again because of that change, you can ask the SEND Tribunal to review its decision. This could be, for example, if there had been a sudden and significant change in your child or young person’s needs after the hearing.

Appeal

You can only appeal against a SEND Tribunal decision if you can demonstrate that the SEND Tribunal made (or may have made) an error of law.

You cannot appeal simply because you disagree with the conclusion it reached, or disagree with its interpretation of the facts.

An error of law might involve:

• a failure to explain the reasons for reaching its decision
• taking into account the wrong factual matters
• failing to make a finding about a relevant factual matter, or
• applying the wrong legal test when reaching its decision.

It can be a lengthy process.

An application must be made to the SEND Tribunal for permission to appeal. The SEND Tribunal will first consider whether to review the decision. It will review if it is satisfied that there has been an error of law or because of a change of circumstances. The LA will be given the opportunity to make representations.

If the SEND Tribunal decides not to review, or it does review and decides not to take any action, it must consider whether to grant permission to appeal – the test is whether there is an ‘arguable case’ that there was an error of law. It must send a written record of its decision to the parties as soon as it can.

If the SEND Tribunal refuses permission to appeal, there is a right to apply for permission to appeal from the Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber) (the Upper Tribunal). If permission is granted, the Upper Tribunal may deal with the case on the papers or by way of an oral hearing.

The most likely outcome if the party appealing is successful is that the case will be sent back for consideration at a fresh hearing in the SEND Tribunal.

If you think you have grounds to appeal, or to ask that the decision is set aside or reviewed, you should seek legal advice. Please see our page on where to get help for more information.