What to do if I'm not happy (SEND)
There may be some instances where you are unhappy with a decision that has been made or how a process has been delivered. In this instance it is always best to first talk this through with the relevant professional, this will usually be an Assistant EHC Coordinator or an EHC Coordinator
To discuss your concern, you should contact the Integrated SEND Team, who will put you through to the correct team. We work across 3 areas within Buckinghamshire SEND; Chiltern and South Buckinghamshire, Aylesbury, High Wycombe, we refer to these areas as hubs. If you know the SEND ‘hub’ that you are under, select one of the following options when you call 01296 382269
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Option 1 – Aylesbury
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Option 2 – Chiltern and South Bucks
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Option 3 – High Wycombe
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Option 4 - For all other enquiries
You can also email your concern to the Integrated SEND Service on - sen@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
However, if you are still not satisfied, the information below will provide some help with your next options.
Our SEND Resolutions Team work across the Integrated SEND Service, if you have not been able to resolve a concern, they can be contacted via the email address below:
All local authorities, by law, have to provide children and young people with SEN or disabilities, and their parents, with free, confidential, impartial information, advice and support. Buckinghamshire SEND IAS Service is the information, advice and support service here.
The purpose of a way forward meeting is to work together with parents/carers, child/young person, teachers and other professionals (where appropriate) to understand the current and future programme of support for a child or young person. The meeting is usually held when a decision not to carry out an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment, or decision not to issue an EHC Plan has been made. Parents/carers and/or young person will be offered a meeting. For more information see the
The Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST) considers parents’ appeals against the decisions of Education and Library Boards about children’s special educational needs, where the parents cannot reach an agreement with the Board, and also deals with claims of disability discrimination in schools.
You can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) if you disagree with your local authority’s decisions about your child’s special educational needs. The tribunal is independent of the government and will listen to both sides of the argument before making a decision. Find out more on the gov.uk website.
The special educational needs disability (SEND) tribunal is changing (single route of redress).
Starting on 3 April 2018, the SEND tribunal will have some new powers and can look at health and social care concerns too. This is called the 'Single Route of Redress'.
If you have concerns about the education sections of an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan or about a local authority decision to not issue an EHC plan, you can go to the tribunal and ask for these concerns to be addressed. For these cases, you will now also be able to ask the tribunal to look at the health and social care sections of the EHC plan as long as the local authority decision happened on or after 3 April 2018 or the plan was issued or amended from 3 April 2018. You will still need an education complaint to go to a tribunal as they cannot look at health and social care aspects alone.
Read more about the 'Single Route of Redress'.
Mediation: If it has not been possible to reach an agreement with us over the assessment process or the provision or content of an EHC Plan, you have the right to appeal to SEND. Find out more about the mediation service and SEND Tribunal here [
Independent Health Complaints Advocacy is a free, independent advocacy service that can help you make a complaint about any aspect of your NHS care or treatment. This includes treatment in a private hospital or care home that is funded by the NHS. For more information contact SEAP
If you wish to make a complaint about adult social care, read the information and leaflet within this link
If you wish to make a complaint about Children's Social Care, read the information and leaflet in the link.
You can also contact Healthwatch Bucks, an independent consumer organisation created to gather and represent the views of the public.
The patient advice and liaison service (PALS) is the one-stop-shop for patients, carers, and relatives seeking advice and support on all aspects of healthcare.
The service is free and confidential and aims to support anyone with questions or queries about health-related issues
If you wish to make a complaint about Children's Social Care, read the information and leaflet on the Buckinghamshire Council's website.
If you have been unable to resolve your concern through the above avenues, you may wish to consider making a formal complaint. To explore this option, please follow this link
Buckinghamshire Council's Corporate Complaints and Feedback procedure.