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Support with SEND mediation
Providing you with professional support to help you prepare for mediation
Mediation provides an opportunity to discuss areas of disagreement with the Local Authority before an appeal proceeds to the SEND Tribunal. In some cases, it can lead to an agreement without the need for a hearing.
Being well prepared is important. You need to understand the issues in dispute, the relevant legal framework and the evidence supporting your position so you can explain your concerns clearly, respond to the Local Authority and remain focused on the outcome your child or young person requires.
We review the circumstances of your case, identify the key issues and consider the available evidence. We help you understand the points to raise, the questions to ask and where further clarification or agreement should be sought, so you enter mediation feeling informed, prepared and confident.
Advanced IPSEA SEND Law
Support and advocacy at mediation
Multi-Award Winning
All work is grounded in SEND law.
Advocates experienced in health, education and law.
First-hand SEND and neurodivergence experience.
Well-prepared mediation gives you the opportunity to present your case clearly, explore solutions and potentially resolve disputes before they progress further.
After receiving a decision notice from the Local Authority, mediation may be your first formal opportunity to discuss the areas of disagreement in detail. While not every case is resolved, a well-prepared meeting may lead to an agreement, narrow the issues in dispute or clarify each party’s position before the appeal progresses.
We help you identify the key legal and factual issues, review the available evidence and prepare the points and questions to raise. One of our advocates can also attend the mediation, help present your position and ensure the important issues are properly addressed.
Our aim is to help you approach mediation feeling organised, informed and confident about your position and the outcome you are seeking.
Key benefits
How we help with Mediation
Understanding the mediation process and what to expect before, during and after the meeting
Reviewing the Local Authority’s decision, available evidence and key areas of disagreement, including any gaps requiring further support
Helping you identify the outcome you are seeking and the legal and evidential basis for your position
Preparing written submissions, mediation documents, key points, questions and proposals where appropriate
Attending the mediation and advocating on your behalf, where included within your chosen service
Advising on your options and next steps if an agreement is not reached, including your right of appeal and SEND Tribunal preparation
You’re not alone
When families often seek Mediation support
Families often seek our support when one of these situations sounds familiar.
★★★★★
“She explained what mattered before the meeting and made the whole process feel far more manageable.”
Kayleigh Davies
Parent we supported
The Local Authority has refused to carry out an EHC needs assessment, refused to issue an EHC plan, or issued a plan with content and/or placement they do not agree with
They need help organising the evidence and presenting their case clearly
They are unsure which legal points are relevant or what should be included in their written preparation
They want to understand the legal test that applies before meeting with the Local Authority
Attempts to resolve the disagreement informally have not been successful and mediation is the next formal step
They would like an advocate to attend the mediation and help present their position
They want to understand their options if an agreement is not reached, including their right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal
Our SEND Options
Mediation support options
The support you need will depend on the decision being challenged, whether this is a refusal to assess, refusal to issue an EHCP, or disagreement with the plan’s content or named placement.
We help you understand the legal test, identify the key issues and review the evidence supporting your case. Support ranges from advice and preparation to an advocate attending mediation with you.
Refusal to Assess Mediation Support
This support is for families who want to challenge a Local Authority’s refusal to carry out an EHC needs assessment and need support preparing for mediation.
We will review the decision, consider the evidence already available and help you set out why you believe an assessment is necessary. The focus will be on the legal test and the evidence that supports your request.
This service may include
Explaining the relevant legal test and how it applies to your child or young person
Reviewing professional reports, school records and other supporting documents
Preparing you for the mediation meeting, including the points and questions you may wish to raise
Considering the Local Authority’s decision and the reasons given for refusing to assess
Advising you on the next steps if an agreement is not reached
Identifying the strengths of your case and any areas where further evidence may help
Attending the mediation with you and representing/advocating on your behalf
Preparing a written mediation statement or summary of the main points, where appropriate
Where the dispute is not resolved at mediation or if there are any outstanding issues that need to be resolved then much of the work completed at this stage can also be used to support a subsequent appeal to the SEND Tribunal.
Refusal to Issue Mediation Support
This support is for families challenging a Local Authority’s refusal to issue an EHC plan following an EHC needs assessment.
We review the assessment evidence and the Local Authority’s reasons, helping you show why an EHC plan is necessary and how the legal test is met.
Preparing a written mediation statement or summary of the main points, where appropriate
Reviewing the assessment reports and other supporting documents
Explaining the relevant legal test and how it applies to your child or young person
Considering the Local Authority’s decision and the reasons given for refusing to issue an EHC plan
Preparing you for the mediation meeting, including the points and questions you may wish to raise
Assessing how the evidence relates to the legal test
Advising you on the next steps if an agreement is not reached
Identifying the strongest parts of your case and any areas where further evidence may help
Where the dispute is not resolved at mediation or if there are any outstanding issues that need to be resolved then much of the work completed at this stage can also be used to support a subsequent appeal to the SEND Tribunal.
Content and Placement Mediation Support
This support is for families challenging the contents of a final EHC plan, including the identified needs, specified provision, named placement or a request for EOTAS/EOTIS.
We review the plan alongside the available evidence, identify the sections requiring amendment and assess whether the provision is specific, reflects professional recommendations and can be delivered by the proposed placement.
Assessing the strength of the evidence and identifying where further evidence may help
Reviewing the EHC plan and available professional evidence
Explaining the relevant legal framework and how it applies
Cross-referencing the plan against professional reports and recommendations
Preparing written submissions and helping you prepare for the mediation meeting
Identifying the sections in dispute and amendments being sought
Advising on next steps or attending the mediation to advocate on your behalf
Checking whether the provision is sufficiently detailed, specific and quantified
Where the dispute is not resolved at mediation or if there are any outstanding issues that need to be resolved then much of the work completed at this stage can also be used to support a subsequent appeal to the SEND Tribunal.
All mediation support is underpinned by the SEND legal framework. We will help you understand the issues in dispute, consider the available evidence and present your position in a clear and structured way.
Before any work begins, you will receive our Terms of Business setting out the agreed scope of support.
Our process
How our mediation support works
1.
Get in touch
Tell us which Local Authority decision you want to challenge and the date of your mediation. We will discuss your circumstances, recommend the most appropriate level of support.
2.
We review your evidence
We review the Local Authority’s decision, professional reports and relevant correspondence. We identify the main issues in dispute, consider how the evidence supports your position and explain the legal test that applies.
3.
We prepare your mediation report
Where this is included within your chosen service, we prepare a detailed mediation report setting out the relevant legal test, the evidence supporting your case and the outcome you are seeking. We will refer to legal authority and case law where relevant.
We will then meet with you before the mediation to discuss the report, answer any questions and agree the points that should be raised during the meeting.
4.
You attend the mediation prepared
You will attend mediation with a clear understanding of the issues in dispute, the evidence supporting your position and the outcome you are seeking. If you have asked us to attend, our advocates can join you, present your position and respond to issues raised during the meeting.
If matters remain unresolved, we can advise you on your right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal, using much of the work already completed at mediation to support the appeal.
Is this the right support for you?
This service may be helpful if you are considering mediation or already have a meeting arranged and would like advice about how best to approach it.
We can help you understand the strength of your position, prepare for discussions with the Local Authority and consider the options available if the issues are not resolved.
This service is usually most helpful when…
You are starting the process of mediation or already have a date arranged
You remain concerned about the Local Authority’s decision and need support presenting your position with reference to the available evidence
Your evidence needs to be organised and presented more clearly before the meeting
You want to understand the relevant legal test, how it applies to your circumstances and the main points that should be raised with the Local Authority
You would like to understand your options if mediation does not resolve all of the issues
This service may not be the right option if…
You have not yet received a formal decision from the Local Authority, in which case our EHCP Support services may be a better starting point
Your mediation has already taken place and you are now preparing a full appeal to the SEND Tribunal
Your Tribunal appeal is already underway and you need Tribunal Support and Representation
Free download
7 Things to Check Before You Accept a Draft EHCP
A practical guide to help you identify unclear wording, missing provision, and the key sections that matter before your EHCP is finalised.
Trusted by families across England
Real reviews from parents and carers we’ve supported through EHCPs, appeals and Tribunals.
Questions & answers
Frequently asked questions about SEND mediation support
Still unsure about something? We’re always happy to talk it through.
Why families choose us
You are in safe, experienced hands
We are a multi-award-winning team of independent SEND advocates and consultants with backgrounds in healthcare, education and law.
Every member of our team has personal experience of navigating the SEND system, either as a neurodivergent person, as a parent advocating for their own child/ren, or both. That lived experience sits alongside our professional knowledge and shapes the practical, compassionate support we provide.
Our team holds Advanced IPSEA SEND Law Level 3 training at a minimum, undertakes ongoing professional development and keeps up to date with relevant case law, statutory guidance and developments in SEND law. Where appropriate, we may also seek specialist legal input on more complex matters.
We are proud of the recognition our work has received, but we are most proud of the families who continue to place their trust in us and the outcomes we have helped them achieve for their children.
SEND GUIDANCE
Helpful guidance for families navigating SEND
Explore related support
Other ways we can help
Refusal to Assess Appeals
Support with challenging a Local Authority’s refusal to carry out an EHC needs assessment.
Refusal to Issue Appeals
Support with challenging a Local Authority’s decision not to issue an EHC plan following an assessment.
Tribunal Support and Representation
Support where mediation has not resolved the dispute and an appeal to the SEND Tribunal is required.
Here when you’re ready
Mediation can be an important opportunity to resolve a disagreement with the Local Authority but preparation is key.
If you are considering mediation or already have a date arranged, contact us to discuss the decision being challenged and the support you may need.
We can review your circumstances, explain how the law applies and help you prepare for the meeting or attend alongside you.