Navigating the SEND Tribunal: Insights From a SEND Tribunal Lead
14 Feb, 20251-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- About the responsibilities of a SEND Tribunal Lead.
- About the legislative changes and key challenges facing local authorities in 2025.
- How to find and apply for the best local authority SEND jobs.
The Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) sector is shaped by legal reforms, funding challenges, and the growing demand for support. With increasing pressure on local authorities and families, navigating the system is more important in 2025 than ever before.
SEND Tribunal Officers play a crucial role advocating for adequate resources in special education and keeping within the SEND legislative framework.
In this interview with a SEND Tribunal Lead we discover how to navigate complex cases and build strong relationships to ensure children and young people receive the education and support they deserve.
Discover the evolution of the SEND landscape as well as the key legislative changes, challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in 2025.
Tell us about your experience in the SEND sector so far
Although I have always been passionate about the legal sector, my path to law was not conventional. After completing my Bachelor for Lawyers and pursuing further studies, I gained experience working for various high-street law firms across multiple areas.
However, before stepping away from the sector in 2018, I had the opportunity to work within the SEND department of an in-house legal team. Although I was initially unfamiliar with the area, my director - who was incredibly supportive - encouraged me not to leave the sector. Reluctantly, I agreed to give it a try, and it was truly an eye-opening experience!
Since then, I’ve worked with other legal teams and local authorities within their SEND and Special Educational Needs Assessment and Review (SENAR) services, overseeing or supporting Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST) appeals. This role has involved a steep learning curve, as each local authority handles appeals differently.
Nevertheless, the challenges have not deterred me. As a good friend once told me, “You need to be in it if you want to make a change.”
The most fulfilling part of this work comes when a resolution is reached and a parent expresses their gratitude for listening to them and giving their child a chance at a better life despite challenging circumstances.
What does your current role as a SEND Tribunal Officer consist of?
In my current role, I manage a caseload of 28 cases (and counting) within a specific locality. I oversee appeals from allocation to resolution, which often occurs without the need for a hearing. I work closely with parents, professionals, colleagues, and educational settings to understand the child or young person’s special educational needs and any recent updates, so I can assess whether the local authority has valid grounds to defend the appeal.
I hold discussions with management and continue to progress the case, gathering additional evidence if necessary. If a resolution isn’t reached through ongoing discussions with professionals and parents (or their representatives), I organise pre-tribunal meetings to prepare all parties for the hearing. However, my goal is to resolve cases as early as possible, avoiding hearings where feasible.
How has the local authority SEND sector evolved over the past 12 months, and where do you see it heading in 2025?
The SEND sector has continued to face significant challenges, with pressures intensifying rather than easing. Although the average caseload of a SEND Case Officer has decreased compared to previous years, the pressure on staff remains high, with many officers struggling to manage long, stressful hours.
According to GovUK, there has been a rise in the number of children and young people identified as having SEND (from 17.3% in 2023 to 18.4% in 2024), leading to an increase in Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs). Local authorities continue to overspend on SEND budgets, exacerbating the financial strain.
Meanwhile, the First-Tier Tribunal has seen a 55% increase in registrations from the previous year. The current situation is unsustainable, and even with proposed changes in legislation, these may not address all of the key issues in time to make a meaningful impact.
How do you keep up-to-date with changes in the industry?
I stay informed about changes through the SEND section of GovUK, as well as newsletters from organisations like IPSEA, NASEN, the National Autistic Society, and the Council for Disabled Children.
The Office for National Statistics provides helpful insights on trends and I attend IPSEA’s annual SEND Law Conference. As a local authority employee, I also have access to LASEN, which is a highly valuable online resource for ensuring proper application of the law in SENDIST appeals.
What recent or upcoming legislation is expected to have the biggest impact on local authority SEND in 2025?
One of the most significant challenges facing local authorities is the expiration of the statutory override on SEND deficits. This will particularly affect those authorities already struggling with a cumulative deficit of £4.6 billion.
Many local authorities have faced difficulty balancing SEND budgets and without prompt action to implement sustainable strategies, the expiration of this override will likely lead to further financial and service delivery issues.
What challenges or obstacles have you faced in your career and how did you overcome them?
My decision to leave the legal sector was largely due to the toxic environment I had encountered. While working in SEND, I also encountered challenges when I had to work alongside individuals who misrepresented themselves and took advantage of opportunities for personal gain.
Fortunately, management identified these individuals and took appropriate action, preventing a mass exodus and ensuring the department’s continuity. I am grateful for a Senior Leadership Team that genuinely cares about both their staff and service users, as well as for the supportive colleagues who stepped in to rectify the damage.
What excites you the most about the future of local authority SEND?
Although it may lead to fewer contracting roles, it is encouraging to see many local authorities investing in permanent staff, particularly within their Tribunals and Mediation Teams.
I hope this shift will allow local authorities to invest in better training for new recruits, which will, in turn, help ensure families receive better support and that poor decisions are addressed before they reach the appeal stage. Ultimately, this will benefit children and young people by providing earlier, more targeted support.
What changes would you like to see to better support the needs of children and young people with SEND in 2025?
The SEND system needs a comprehensive overhaul, including a standardised national framework to eliminate the inconsistencies in support that families currently experience across different local authorities.
SEND Case Officers and other professionals are often limited by a lack of resources, and funding must be ring-fenced to ensure that there is adequate support for early intervention. We know that many children fall through the cracks and need support earlier, which would ultimately reduce costs if addressed sooner.
The introduction of coordinators to ensure adherence to statutory obligations and promote collaborative working would also be a step forward. Additionally, I believe further investment is needed to train more qualified professionals such as Educational Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, and Speech and Language Therapists.
What’s next for you in your career?
Despite the challenges posed by ongoing legislative changes in SEND, I remain optimistic about the future. One of the key lessons I’ve learned early in my career is the lack of support available to parents navigating the SEND system.
Each local authority imposes its own restrictions on the level of support it can provide, and Legal Aid is often not an option for many families. While this is disheartening, I am committed to continuing to make a positive difference for those I support. Watch this space!
SCG educational psychology report
As specialists in SEND recruitment, we work alongside hundreds of Educational Psychologists throughout the UK and are mindful of the challenges they face in their ever evolving role.
After commissioning our own research from Educational Psychologists in both local authorities and private practice, we published the SCG Educational Psychology Workforce Insights Report 2024.
The report delves into trends within educational psychology, funding and resources, industry challenges, policies and legislation and the future of educational psychology.
Read the SCG Educational Psychology Workforce Insights Report 2024 here.
SEND jobs
If you’re searching for your next local authority SEND job, why not take a look at the latest vacancies, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant position becomes available.
Discover more exclusive interviews with SEND professionals:
- Insights and expert advice from a SEND Tribunal Officer
- An interview with a SEND Tribunal Lead.
- An interview with a SEND Case Officer
Local authority recruitment services
As specialist local authority SEND recruiters, we support local authorities nationwide with their temporary, interim and permanent staffing needs.
We can supply SEND staff for service redesign, tackling annual review backlogs and SEND/EHC Case workers to amend plans or hold annual review meetings.
If you’re struggling to fill a vacancy, why not get in touch with one of our team to see how we can help?
South of the UK - Richard Shorrock
Midlands & North of the UK - Adam Zyda
Share your experience
Every individual brings a unique set of experiences, thoughts, and insights to the table. We believe in giving a voice to a community of professionals to inspire positive change and champion reform in the SEND sector.
If you work in the SEND sector and would like to share your own personal and professional experiences, we’d love to hear from you. Perhaps you have a different perspective, could offer a fresh angle, or want to challenge assumptions.
Simply reach out to our Head of Content, Nicole Sherwood, to discuss a collaboration which makes your voice count.
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations.
In 2024, we were named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the prestigious Recruiter Awards, an accolade we are extremely proud of.
We operate in two sectors:
In eleven specialisms:
Healthcare, Social Care & Nursing
Corporate Functions & Business Support
