Behind every SEND tribunal is a story of a child failed by the system and a parent fighting tooth and nail to make it right. And right now, those fights are multiplying. The government are trying to reform this without consideration to the SEND child. In my humble opinion which is based on stats, personal experience of navigating this process and my professional SEND Law training, this is about MONEY!
Tribunal Stats Speak Louder Than Promises
According to the latest DfE figures:
- 24,000 SEND tribunals occurred in 2024/25—an increase of 36% from the previous year.
- The vast majority of rulings still favour parents, showing how many EHCPs are unlawfully refused or insufficiently drafted.
- EHCPs themselves have surged by 11.1%, with 482,640 pupils now on a plan.
- Yet autistic children and those with speech, language and communication needs remain underprovided for in early years and mainstream settings.
These figures reflect a system that isn’t just creaking, it’s cracking wide open.
SEND Spending Hits £2.5 Billion—But Where’s the Impact?
Councils are now spending £2.5 billion on SEND transport alone and that’s before we count provision costs, tribunal legal fees, or consultancy bills.
This is unsustainable and misdirected. Families aren’t asking for luxury; they’re asking for lawful, accessible support. The billions should be building trust, not defending refusals. Here at SEN Parent Support Group we EMPOWER SEN Parents to advocate efficiently – “cutting to the chase” and ensuring their CYP’s needs are met from the outset! Join us here:
It would seem that the DofE are trying to save money by the proposed RISE teams which are currently being tested and by blocking support from the outset putting more pressure on schools to deliver under OAP and by not holding them to account within law. Frankly, If Law was upheld then they wouldn’t need to reform!
Under consideration the Governments proposals are:
Whether tribunals should remain central to resolving EHCP disputes.
Concern: Proposals to replace tribunals with non-judicial mechanisms have sparked alarm.
Our Position: Keep tribunals accessible and hold local authorities accountable for unlawful refusals.
Councils argue funding pressures justify reduced provision.
Concern: £2.5 billion spent on SEND transport alone, yet provision gaps persist
Our Position: Law must be upheld regardless of budget -SEND is a legal duty, not a discretionary spend.
Push to place more children in mainstream settings without adequate support.
Concern: £740 million investment in specialist places may not reach those most in need.
Our Position: Inclusion must be meaningful not just placement without provision.
Lack of consequences for repeated unlawful EHCP refusals.
Concern: Tribunal wins for parents are high, yet LAs face no penalties.
Our Position: Introduce mandatory improvement plans and financial accountability.
The SEN Parent Support Group Responds – Now You Can Too!
In our SEND Reform Response, we will make it clear:
“Every unlawful refusal is a breach of the law not a funding issue. Accountability must be built into every layer of the system.”
Our community of 20,400+ parents is united in calling for: Mandatory accountability for unlawful EHCP refusals. Tribunal access that doesn’t exhaust families emotionally or financially. Early years provision that matches need, not postcode
But to turn response into reform, we need every parent’s voice. We need to reach far and wide and obtain as many competed parent questionnaire as possible. The SEND Reform white paper will be the last stage before Royal Ascent and we need to be prepared. Its publication is imminent. We have gained a massive response thus far – but we need your voice too!
Complete the Questionnaire & Shape the Future
We’ve created a concise, targeted group questionnaire to feed into the reform response and amplify what families really need.
Click here to complete our SEND Reform Questionnaire You can voice your opinion anonymously should you wish.
It takes under 4 minutes, and every answer feeds directly into evidence we’ll present to policymakers this autumn.
Your Voice. Your Experience. Your Child’s Future. Together, we can rewrite the story.
Complete the questionnaire. Share the blog. And let’s ensure that next year’s stats show more support, less struggle and fewer children & parents struggling!
Navigating the SEND Process for better OUTCOMES, TOGETHER! ™ SEN Parent Support Group
We are SEND Educational Experts, trained in SEND Law and are here to support you on your journey!
Click here to access our socials & renowned free support via our closed Facebook Group!
For more information message info@senparentsupportgroup.org
