26/08/2026
We rely heavily on the Tribunal to do our job. Time and again, Local Authorities ignore and disregard evidence and make decisions in direct dispute with what the evidence shows. Almost every tribunal case ends up ruling in the parent/carer’s favour - showing a deep abuse of power by Local Authorities to make decisions they know are not lawful. Taking away the Tribunal’s ability to reconsider and change these decisions would leave us in a very scary and uncharted territory.
Please consider writing to your MP and signing the petition to ask the government to reconsider.
Proposed SEND reforms would remove the SEND Tribunal's power to order educational settings in Section I of an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.
What does this mean?
✔️ Today, families can appeal to the SEND Tribunal if they disagree with the setting named in Section I of an EHC plan.
❌ Under the proposals, the Tribunal would no longer have the authority to order a placement in Section I. Instead, it could only ask the local authority to reconsider the placement decision.
That means families could lose access to an independent decision-maker when they need one most.
Every child and young person with SEND needs to retain their legally enforceable rights, not rely on discretion and aspiration.
Read more: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/news/ipsea-manifesto-for-send-reform
How you can help ⬇️
🔷 Write to your MP: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/write-to-your-mp-protect-the-legal-rights-of-children-and-young-people-with-send
🔶 Sign the petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/764268
