Mediation

Also called SEND mediation, Mediation certificate

A funded meeting with the council before an appeal. You must consider it; you do not have to do it.

What it is

Before appealing most EHCP decisions to the SEND Tribunal, you must contact an independent mediation adviser and get a certificate confirming you have done so.

Mediation itself is voluntary. The certificate is what is compulsory.

Where it applies

Parents and young people appealing an EHCP decision, except where the only issue is the school named in Section I.

How it works

Contact the mediation service named on the decision letter. If you decide not to mediate, the adviser issues a certificate within **3 working days** and you can appeal.

If you do mediate, it must happen within **30 days**, and the certificate is issued afterwards. The council must attend and any agreement reached is binding on it.

Your appeal deadline is 2 months from the decision or one month from the certificate, whichever is later — so mediating does not cost you the right to appeal.

What you can ask for

Ask what specifically is in dispute before you go in, and write it down. Mediation works on narrow, concrete disagreements and stalls on general ones.

Ask for anything agreed to be put in writing at the meeting and reflected in an amended plan with a date.

You can take somebody with you, including SENDIASS.

Where to get help

The mediation provider is named on your decision letter. IPSEA advises on whether it is worth doing in your case.