What to do if you disagree with a decision about SEND

Often the easiest way to resolve a problem or to answer your questions is to speak to the staff who are supporting you or your child.

Disagreement resolution arrangements are in place to resolve a wide range of disagreements including:

• performance of duties
• the provision for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
• disagreements over health and social care provision
• disagreements between health commissioners and local authorities

Disagreement resolution concerns all children and young people with SEND. It is not just those who are assessed for, or have an education, health and care (EHC) plan.

The SEND mediation process can be used to resolve disagreements in the early stages of the EHC needs assessment process and the development of the EHC.

How to make a complaint

If your concerns can't be resolved or you want to make a formal complaint, the following links will provide guidance on how you can do that:

• complain about childcare – GOV.UK
• complain about a school – GOV.UK

For information on how to make a complaint about health services, go to:

• Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust
• Imperial College Healthcare Trust Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

To complain about services provided by the council, go to:

• children's services complaints
• adult social care compliments, comments and complaints