Introduction
To resolve disagreements about any aspect of Special Educational Needs provision (whether the Education Health and Care process is happening or not), you may want to approach a disagreement resolution service. In Somerset, the mediation and disagreement resolution service is provided by Global Mediation and is independent, free and confidential.
Disagreement resolution services are free, independent of the local authority and confidential. Parents, carers or young people can choose to use a disagreement resolution service. This is something that is voluntary and everyone involved must agree to it.
The service helps children and young people with Special Educational Needs resolve the following types of disagreement or prevents them from escalating.
- How the early years setting, school, college or local authority is carrying out its education, health and care duties for children and young people with special educational needs. This can include any of the Special Educational Needs duties – not just those concerning Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments or Education Health and Care plans.
- The provision that the early years setting, school, or college is making. This applies to children and young people with any kind of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, not just those going through an Education Health and Care needs assessment or with an Education Health and Care plan.
- The health or social care provision during an Education Health and Care needs assessment, while Education Health and Care plans are being drawn up or reviewed, while awaiting an appeal or when children or young people are being reassessed.
In these cases, the disagreement will be with the local authority or Integrated Care Board, rather than the early years setting, school, or college.
The Disagreement, Resolution and Mediation is free and confidential. It is a voluntary process for parents and young people which can be used if an agreement cannot be reached about Education, Health and Care plans.
The animation below explains more.
Find out what the experience is like for a young person in the video below.