Fiducia TogetherEvidence for a SEND meeting
What to bring, and why writing it down changes the meeting.
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
Evidence in a SEND context means anything documenting need, provision and impact: reports, letters, work samples, a diary, photographs, correspondence.
Where it applies
Any parent or young person attending a SEND meeting, review or tribunal.
How it works
Meetings turn on what is recorded. A pattern described verbally is an impression; the same pattern in a dated log is evidence, and it changes what professionals can reasonably disagree with.
What you can ask for
Keep a simple dated log of incidents, absences, meltdowns, missed provision and time taken to do homework. Facts and dates, not feelings.
Send your written contribution BEFORE the meeting so it is circulated and minuted.
Ask for anything agreed to be minuted with a name and a date against it, and ask for the minutes afterwards.
Take somebody with you. SENDIASS will often attend.
Where to get help
SENDIASS for free local advice, IPSEA and Contact nationally, and your school's own policy.
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.