South Tees Sendiass

30/08/2026

📚 Back to School with SEND Starts Tomorrow! 📚

As the new school term begins, many children and young people with SEND may be experiencing a mix of excitement, uncertainty and nervousness about returning to school.

That's why this week we'll be sharing our Back to School with SEND Information Series, covering key topics to help parents, carers and young people feel informed, prepared and supported.

Over the week we'll be looking at:

🏫 Preparing for a successful return to school
🤝 Understanding SEND Support in school
📋 Returning to school with an EHCP
🔄 Managing transitions to a new class or school
📅 Attendance and SEND

Whether your child is starting a new school, moving into a new class, or returning to a familiar routine, we hope these posts will provide useful information, practical tips and reassurance.

If you find our posts helpful this week, please:

📌 Save them for future reference
📢 Share them with family, friends and professionals
👥 Tag someone who may benefit
👍 Follow our page for more SEND information, advice and support

📞 01642 310806
📧 [email protected]

29/08/2026

Throughout this week, we have explored a range of SEND appeal topics, including:

✅ Decisions not to carry out an EHC Needs Assessment
✅ Decisions not to issue an EHCP
✅ Appealing the contents of an EHCP
✅ Educational placement appeals
✅ Mediation and disagreement resolution
✅ Health and social care recommendations
✅ The SEND Tribunal process

We hope this week's information has helped increase understanding of SEND appeals and the rights available to children, young people, parents and carers.

Remember, you are not alone. If you need impartial information, advice or support regarding SEND processes, South Tees SENDIASS is here to help.

💚 Let us know in the comments:

💬 Which topic did you find most useful?
❔ What SEND topic would you like us to cover next?

If this week's posts have been helpful, please:

📌 Save this post for future reference
📢 Share it with your network
👥 Tag a parent, carer or professional who may benefit
👍 Follow our page for future SEND information and updates

📞 01642 310806
📧 [email protected]



✨ Coming Next Week: Keep an eye on our page as we continue sharing information, advice and resources to support children and young people with SEND and their families. ✨

28/08/2026

💚📋 What happens if a Local Authority decides to cease an EHCP? 📋💚

A Local Authority may decide to end, or "cease to maintain", an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). If this happens, the EHCP will come to an end and the Local Authority's duties under the plan will stop.

Before making this decision, the Local Authority must follow a legal process, including consulting with the family or young person and considering their views. 🗣️

✅ A cease decision must be provided in writing.

✅ There are only specific legal grounds on which an EHCP can be ceased.

✅ Parents and young people have the right to challenge the decision through mediation and/or appeal. ⚖️

📊 As we come to the end of our SEND Appeals Week, ceasing appeals are an important reminder that appeal rights do not only apply when requesting or amending an EHCP. Families also have rights when a Local Authority proposes ending a plan. 📊

✨ We hope this week's posts have helped improve understanding of the different types of SEND appeals and the rights available to children, young people and families. ✨

28/08/2026

27/08/2026

💚 🤝 What is SEND Mediation? 🤝 💚

If you disagree with certain SEND decisions made by a Local Authority, mediation is often the first step before submitting an appeal to the SEND Tribunal. ⚖️

Mediation involves an independent mediator helping both parties discuss the issues and explore whether an agreement can be reached.

🟢 Most SEND appeals require mediation to be considered first.

🟢 You do not have to take part in mediation if you do not wish to.

🟢 A mediation certificate is usually needed before lodging an appeal.

🟢 Section I only appeals (school placement appeals) are exempt from the requirement to consider mediation.

✨ Understanding the mediation process can help families make informed decisions about the next steps in resolving SEND disagreements. ✨

27/08/2026

We often get asked about sleep support in the Tees area, have a look at this from Contact - For families with disabled children 💚

Is your child struggling with sleep? Would you also like to feel more confident accessing support and information online? 💤

Join our FREE workshop for practical advice on supporting your child’s sleep.

The session will help parent carers better understand sleep difficulties, explore strategies that may help their family and learn more about accessing digital services and support.

Find out more and book your free place at the link in the comments 👇🔗

27/08/2026

FREE WORKSHOP 📣💚

'Early Years educational support for children with SEND' will help you understand the educational support available during the early years and how you can work with your child’s setting to make sure your child's needs are recognised and supported.

Designed for parent carers at the beginning of their SEND journey, the session offers practical information to help you feel more informed and confident about your child’s early education.

Find out more and book your free place at the link in the comments 🔗👇

26/08/2026

🩺🤝 Did you know that some SEND appeals can include health and social care? 🩺🤝

When an appeal involves the educational elements of an EHCP, parents, carers and young people may also ask the SEND Tribunal to consider health and social care needs and provision. These are known as extended appeals. ⚖️

This can include:

🟩 Section C - Health Care Needs
🟩 Section D - Social Care Needs
🟩 Section G - Health Provision
🟩 Sections H1 & H2 - Social Care Provision

✅ Extended appeals allow education, health and social care issues to be considered together.

✅ There must be an educational appeal alongside the health and/or social care concerns.

✅ The Tribunal can make recommendations about health and social care provision as part of the appeal.

📊 We find that many families are unaware that health and social care can form part of a SEND Tribunal appeal. Understanding these rights can help ensure all aspects of a child or young person's needs are considered.

25/08/2026

💚❔ Do you disagree with the school or setting named in an EHCP? ❔💚

Section I of an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) identifies the school, college, or educational setting a child or young person will attend. 📚

Parents and young people have the right to request a particular educational setting. If the Local Authority names a different setting, or does not name a specific setting, an appeal can be made to the SEND Tribunal.

✅ Appeal the placement named in Section I
✅ Request a different school or setting be considered
✅ No requirement to consider mediation for a Section I only appeal
✅ Be aware of the relevant appeal deadlines ⏰

📊 In our experience, Section I appeals are among the most common types of EHCP appeals we support. Many families seek advice when they feel a different educational placement would better meet a child or young person's needs.

Understanding your rights can help you make informed decisions about educational placement and the options available through the appeals process. 💚

24/08/2026

💚💬 Do you disagree with the contents of a final EHCP? 💬💚

Parents, carers and young people have the right to appeal certain sections of an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to the SEND Tribunal.

A contents appeal is appealing sections B, F and I

🟩Section B - Special Educational Needs
🟩 Section F - Special Educational Provision
🟩 Section I - School or educational placement

You may consider an appeal if:

📝 Important needs are missing from the plan.
📚 The provision described is unclear, vague or incomplete.
🏫 You disagree with the educational placement named by the Local Authority.

Understanding your appeal rights can help you make informed decisions about the next steps for your child or young person.

☎️ 01642 310806 ☎️

📧[email protected]