Management Information Sheet

Mediation and dispute resolution are a non-adversarial processes which help to resolve disputes early, quickly and without too much paperwork. They are free at the point of access and can bring about positive outcomes enabling parents, young people and educational establishments to discuss issues, decide the way forward and agree a plan of action acceptable to all, they take a person centred approach.

This service is available is available at no cost to you to help with:

• Disagreements about Continuing (health) Care for children and young people up to age 18.
• SEND related disagreements, these may be between parents, young people, the education provider, the Local Authority including health and social care if they are involved with the child or young people.

Dispute resolution has been used very successfully in Norfolk, bringing together those who have been at loggerheads and cannot accept or understand each other’s points of view. Parents who have doubted an educational establishments motives or not fully understood what is being said have had a chance to have things explained, enable them to be understood with an impartial mediator keeping the meeting moving in the right direction. Educationalists are also able to have a greater understanding, explain and make changes in an environment where everybody can have their say and feel listened too.

Please let the family know that you are requesting dispute resolution, participation is voluntary for everybody involved. Once a date has been agreed the mediator will contact the parties and prepare a mediation summary about the key disagreements. The mediator will make sure everybody understands their role at the meeting.

The Children and Families Act 2014 has an emphasis on mediation and dispute resolution being used to enable disputes to be settled early .The LA must make these services known to parents of children with SEN, young people with SEN, head teachers, governing bodies, proprietors and principles of schools and post 16 institutions.

The Act uses the term mediation when a parent or young person can appeal against a decision of the Local Authority to the SENDIS Tribunal. Dispute resolution is used for all other cases. Both are requested and carried out in the same way.

To access the service call: 03330 062 835 or email: senmediation@kids.org.uk

For further information, visit the KIDS SEND Mediation Service website ,email sendpartnership.iass.org.uk or call the SENDIAS service on 01603 704070 which oversees the contract on a day to day basis.