We’re writing to parents and carers who are affected by a decision that we’ve made regarding SEND Tribunal appeals.
Here is a copy of the message.
Dear parents and carers,
I want to start by offering our sincere apologies for not communicating sooner changes that we’re making to the Tribunal appeals process. We know how important clear, timely communication is, especially when it relates to your child’s SEND support.
We know that some parents in the appeals process have been surprised recently and concerned at being approached without introduction from us by a firm of solicitors, working on our behalf. This message aims to provide an explanation for this.
Over recent months we’ve experienced a particularly challenging period, with a rise in the number of SEND Tribunal appeals alongside reduced capacity within our Tribunal team.
To ensure that all cases are managed properly and without delay, we have decided to outsource all SEND appeals scheduled for hearings in January, February and March to Weightmans Solicitors.
Weightmans is a trusted and respected firm that has supported the council for many years across both adult and children’s services. We understand that you may be concerned that information is being sent to a firm of solicitors. Please rest assured Weightmans are a professional organisation, whose activities are regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. They also have various measures in place to protect the data we may provide to them, including certification to the international security standard ISO27001, which is seen as a gold standard for information security. As such, we have confidence in their ability to ensure the highest security is applied to the information we provide to them.In addition, Weightmans are acting as our agent and we are satisfied that sharing information with them that is necessary to represent the Council on SEND Tribunal matters is proportionate to enable them to assist us in meeting our statutory obligations. For this reason, we are satisfied that the sharing of any personal data that is necessary for this service is lawful and in accordance with our obligations under Data Protection Laws. If you have specific concerns regarding please raise them with us.
Our inhouse SEN Tribunal team will continue to work on other ongoing matters and prepare cases due to be heard after March 2026.
This means that if you have an appeal scheduled in the coming months, you can expect to hear directly from Weightmans as part of the process.
Alongside this temporary arrangement, we are continuing to work hard to reduce the number of cases that need to progress to tribunal at all. This includes strengthening our mediation offer and resolving more concerns earlier and collaboratively wherever possible.
We will keep you updated as the situation develops and appreciate your understanding and patience.