Disclosure Log

Question

Please provide details of total expenditure incurred by the Local Authority in relation to SEND First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) appeals, for the last five completed financial years:

• 2019/20

• 2020/21

• 2021/22

• 2022/23

• 2023/24

(If finalised figures for 2023/24 are not yet available, please provide the most recent provisional data held.)

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Information requested

For each financial year listed above, please provide total spend (rounded to the nearest £1,000 if necessary) for the following categories:

1. External legal costs

Including but not limited to:

Payments to solicitors, barristers, or legal firms relating to SEND tribunal cases

Retainer arrangements for SEND/EHCP tribunal work (please state whether a retainer exists and the annual value)

• Disbursements and associated legal expenses

2. Internal staffing and teams

Including:

Costs associated with dedicated EHCP tribunal teams, SEND legal teams, or casework teams whose work includes tribunal preparation or attendance

•Where specific tribunal teams do not exist, please provide estimated staffing costs attributable to tribunal-related work (e.g. percentage of role function)

3. Complaints and dispute resolution linked to tribunals

Including:

• Costs associated with formal complaints, dispute resolution, mediation, or pre-tribunal processes where these relate to EHCP appeals

4. Tribunal-related fees and charges

Including:

• Any payments made by the Local Authority in connection with SEND tribunal proceedings, including payments to HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), expert witnesses commissioned for tribunal purposes, or other tribunal-related charges where such costs are borne by the Local Authority

Answer

• 2019/20 Nil

• 2020/21 Nil

• 2021/22 Nil

• 2022/23 Nil

• 2023/24 Nil