SEND System Under Pressure

When the SEND system is strained, decisions can become slower, tougher and more contested.  This legal update focuses on the practical steps schools and trusts can take to work effectively with local authorities, understand SEND reform, and strengthen their position when requesting support and challenging decisions. We will also highlight what the expected changes will mean for the existing and future arrangements with the local authority for SEN funding and support.  You will leave with a clearer view of the new SEND landscape from a legal standpoint, plus how to evidence provision and cost so funding discussions land faster, with fewer surprises for reserves and contingency.

In this session we explore

• What is changing, and what is not, in SEND reform and LA decision making.

• What matters now, what to watch next, and likely operational pinch points.

• Getting the basics right early, evidence, chronology, records and decision logs.

• Funding routes in practice, what to ask for, how to frame it, and how to evidence need, provision and cost.

• Challenging decisions, informal resolution, complaints, mediation and escalation routes, including common time traps.

Take home points

Pre-legal checklist.  Template chronology.  Evidence prompt list.  Escalation map. Common SEND scenarios.

This session is for

Chief Executive Officers, school business leaders and trust operational teams dealing with EHCP funding, LA decisions, complaints, appeals and funding challenges

Miriam Carrion Benitez