Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
(IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice
Accessibility
Get in touch
Donate
Menu
  • Get information and support
    • What are special educational needs?
    • Free legal guides and template letters
    • Back to school hub
    • On-demand SEND law webinars
    • Helplines and services
    • Services for professionals
    • Your stories
  • Book training
    • Learn about and book SEND law training
      • For parents and carers
      • For parent groups, schools and charities
      • For local authorities
      • For SEN professionals and private organisations
    • Subscribe to our legal updates
    • Contact the training team
  • Policy work
    • Learn about our policy work
    • Policy blog
    • Save Our Children's Rights: our joint campaign
      • About the campaign
      • Write to your MP
      • Press and media
    • Schools White Paper: what you need to know
  • Get involved
    • Donate
    • Urgent appeal: Defend children’s rights
    • Fundraise for us
    • Volunteer
      • Ways to volunteer
      • How to apply
      • Volunteer stories
    • For organisations
      • Corporate support
      • Trusts and foundations
    • Other ways to give
  • About us
    • What we do
      • Our strategy
      • Our impact
      • Our history
    • Our people
    • Latest news
    • Our annual reports
    • Work for us
  • IPSEA Legal Resources Portal
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Taking action when things go wrong
  1. Get information and support
  2. Free legal guides and template letters
  3. Taking action when things go wrong

Taking action when things go wrong

Children and young people with SEN and disabilities seem to have more than their fair share of problems arising in relation to their education and training.

Sometimes such problems can be resolved by discussion and informal forms of dispute resolution. However, sometimes problems do not go away and parents of children with SEN and young people may need to take further action.

The steps to take depend on who you need to raise the issue with:

Taking action when things go wrong with/at a nursery, school or college

Taking action when things go wrong with/at a nursery, school or college

Information and guidance on taking action when things go wrong with or at a nursery, school or college Read more

Published: 14th April, 2018

Updated: 18th December, 2024

Author: Emma Brock

Taking action when things go wrong with a local authority

Taking action when things go wrong with a local authority

Information and guidance on taking action when things go wrong with a local authority Read more

Published: 13th April, 2018

Updated: 21st June, 2024

Author: Emma Brock

Taking action when things go wrong with an EHC plan

Taking action when things go wrong with an EHC plan

Information and guidance on taking action when things go wrong with an EHC plan Read more

Published: 11th April, 2018

Updated: 2nd July, 2024

Author: Emma Brock

Taking action when things go wrong FAQs

Taking action when things go wrong FAQs

Frequently asked questions for taking action when things go wrong in getting the education children and young people with SEND are legally entitled to. Read more

Published: 1st January, 2018

Updated: 22nd October, 2025

Author: Holly Johnson

Back to top

Latest

  • Level 3 SEND law: 20 October

    Level 3 SEND law: 20 October

    An advanced level training day designed for professionals advising or supporting families of children and young people with SEND, with particular emphasis bringing different types of appeal to the SEND Tribunal

  • Children and young people with SEND do not lose their right to education in custody

    Children and young people with SEND do not lose their right to education in custody

    Hear from our Policy Manager, Catriona Moore, about how children in custody with special educational needs are frequently misidentified, ignored or left unsupported in secure settings.

  • SEND Tribunal hints and tips (1): 2 September

    SEND Tribunal hints and tips (1): 2 September

    This training is suitable for parents and carers currently going through appeals against a refusal to carry out an EHC needs assessment, appeals against a refusal to issue an EHC plan and cease to maintain appeals

  • Vacancy: Head of Finance and Resources

    Vacancy: Head of Finance and Resources

    We are recruiting for a Head of Finance and Resources to join our team.

Most read

  • Asking for an EHC needs assessment

    Asking for an EHC needs assessment

  • Template letters

    Template letters

    Download and make changes to our template letters to fit your situation

  • Template letter 1: making a request for an EHC needs assessment

    Template letter 1: making a request for an EHC needs assessment

  • EHC needs assessments

    EHC needs assessments

    An EHC needs assessment is an assessment of a child or young person’s education, health and care needs

  • Advice Line

    Advice Line

    Book an appointment for free and independent next-step legal information, advice and support on any educational issue that is a result of a child or young person’s SEND

  • What happens in an EHC needs assessment

    What happens in an EHC needs assessment

  • Choosing a school/college with an EHC plan

    Choosing a school/college with an EHC plan

  • The annual review process

    The annual review process

  • Contact us

    Contact us

  • Appealing to the SEND Tribunal

    Appealing to the SEND Tribunal

    The SEND Tribunal is an independent national tribunal which hears parents’ and young people’s appeals against LA decisions about the special educational needs of children and young people

How you can help IPSEA

How you can help IPSEA

Have you found the information on our website helpful today? If so, please consider donating! At IPSEA, we rely on your donations and fundraising efforts to help keep our vital services running. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 19th March, 2014

Updated: 12th May, 2026

Author:

Sign up to receive regular email updates from IPSEA
The Queen's Award for Voluntary ServiceHelplines Partnership Member
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Terms and conditions of website use
  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Sitemap
  • IPSEA privacy notice
  • Complaints policy

IPSEA is registered charity number 327691
Limited company 02198066

Registered office: IPSEA, 2A Stansted Courtyard, Parsonage Road, Takeley, Bishop’s Stortford, CM22 6PU

Donate
Manage Cookie Preferences