Fiducia TogetherWhat to do when you disagree
A practical order of escalation, and the mistake that costs the most time.
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.
What it is
Disagreements with a school or council follow defined routes, and they are not interchangeable.
Where it applies
Any parent or young person.
How it works
The routes: the class teacher, then the SENCO or head of year, then the headteacher, then governors. For the council: the caseworker, then a formal complaint, then the Ombudsman. For the CONTENT of an EHCP or a refusal to assess: mediation and the Tribunal.\n\nThe expensive mistake is choosing the wrong route, because each body will send you to the other and months pass.
What you can ask for
Work out which body has the power to give you what you want, before writing.
Escalate in order, and say in writing that you are doing so.
Keep it factual and dated. Anger is understandable and it makes a complaint easier to dismiss.
Get advice early rather than after a deadline has passed. Most of it is free.
Where to get help
SENDIASS for free local advice, IPSEA and Contact nationally.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.