What Should Parents Expect After a SEND Tribunal Hearing?

After preparing evidence and attending a SEND Tribunal hearing, families understandably want to know when they will receive the decision and what happens next.

You will not usually leave the hearing knowing the final outcome.

In a recent video on our Education Law TikTok channel, Beverley Watkins, Managing Partner at Watkins Solicitors, explains what parents should expect once the hearing has finished.

When will I receive the Tribunal decision?

The SEND Tribunal will usually send its written decision within 10 working days of the hearing.

The decision should explain what the Tribunal has decided and the reasons for reaching those conclusions.

Occasionally it may take longer, but families will generally receive the outcome around two weeks after the hearing.

You may succeed on some issues but not others

SEND Tribunal appeals are not always simply won or lost as a whole.

For example, where the appeal concerns the contents of an EHCP, the Tribunal may agree with you about some amendments to Section B or Section F but not others.

If school or college placement is disputed, the Tribunal may also decide which placement should be named in Section I.

Read the written decision carefully and compare any ordered changes against the issues that were before the Tribunal.

What happens if the Tribunal orders changes?

The Tribunal’s educational orders are binding on the local authority.

Different timescales apply depending on what the Tribunal has ordered.

For example, the local authority generally has:

• 5 Weeks To Change Sections B Or F Of An EHCP.
• 2 Weeks To Change The School Or Placement In Section I.
• 5 Weeks To Make An EHCP Where The Tribunal Orders One.
• Immediate Effect Where The Tribunal Orders An Existing EHCP To Continue.

Once an amended EHCP is issued, check it carefully against the Tribunal decision to make sure the ordered changes have been made correctly.

What if I am unhappy with the decision?

Being disappointed with the outcome does not automatically mean you can appeal.

An appeal to the Upper Tribunal is concerned with an error of law rather than simply asking another Tribunal to reconsider the evidence because you disagree with the conclusion.

Examples of a potential legal error could include the Tribunal applying the wrong legal test, failing to deal properly with relevant evidence or making a decision without adequate reasons.

There are also other limited procedures, such as asking for a decision to be reviewed or set aside in particular circumstances.

If you believe the First-tier Tribunal has made an error of law, you must normally first ask for permission to appeal. The application must be made within 28 days of the Tribunal’s decision letter.

Do not delay if you think something is wrong

Appeal and review deadlines are short.

If you receive a decision and believe the Tribunal may have made a legal or procedural error, seek advice promptly rather than waiting to see what happens next.

Likewise, if the local authority does not implement a successful Tribunal decision within the required timescale, there may be further steps available.

How can Watkins Solicitors help?

Receiving a SEND Tribunal decision can be a huge relief, but it can also raise further questions about what the local authority now has to do or whether there are grounds to challenge part of the outcome.

Watkins Solicitors has a specialist, multi-award-winning Education Law team experienced in SEND Tribunal proceedings and complex EHCP disputes.

Our Education team was named Team of the Year at the Bristol Law Society Awards 2025, alongside Watkins Solicitors being named Regional Law Firm of the Year.

We can review the written decision, explain what it means in practice, check whether the local authority has implemented the order correctly and advise where there may be grounds for a further legal challenge.

Watch the video and get support

The full video, featuring Beverley Watkins answering this parent question, is available on our Education Law TikTok channel.

If you have received a SEND Tribunal decision and are unsure what happens next, contact our Education Law team on 0117 939 0350 or email education@watkinssolicitors.co.uk.