Evidence is one of the most important parts of your SEND tribunal appeal. It helps the tribunal understand your child’s needs, what support is required, and whether the local authority (LA) has made the right decision.
You will be asked to gather and submit your evidence, and the LA will do the same. Everything sent by both sides is brought together in a single digital or paper bundle, which everyone uses at the hearing.
Good, clear evidence can make a real difference to the outcome of your appeal.
What happens, step-by-step
- the tribunal registers your appeal and sets evidence deadlines
- you gather your evidence, including reports, school information and statements - ones you already have or new ones you get especially for this appeal
- you send your evidence to the tribunal and the LA
- the LA gathers and sends its evidence too
- the LA prepares the final bundle, which includes all documents from both sides
Key timescales
- final evidence deadline: listed in your registration letter
- late evidence: can only be submitted using a request for change (SEND7). If it’s sent within 5 working days of the hearing, the tribunal may reject it unless you can explain why it should be accepted
What you need to do
- review what evidence you already have
- request updated or missing reports
- commission professional reports if needed, (this could be private occupational health or speech and language therapy)
- only send relevant, up to date documents
- write a short position statement to explain your views
- submit all evidence by the deadline in your tribunal directions
- use SEND7 if you need to ask permission for late evidence or extra pages
Who is responsible?
- you: gathering and submitting your evidence, checking the bundle is complete
- the LA: including all your documents in the bundle
- the tribunal: setting the deadlines
Types of evidence you can include
Educational evidence
- school reports (progress, attendance, behaviour)
- SEN support paperwork
- IEPs or provision maps
- EHCP drafts or final versions
- consultation responses from schools
- exclusion records or behaviour logs
- samples of work
Professional assessments
- educational psychology reports
- speech and language therapy assessments
- occupational therapy reports
- physiotherapy assessments
- private assessments
Health and medical evidence
- GP letters
- consultant reports
- CAMHS or mental health assessments
- diagnosis letters (autism, ADHD, dyslexia etc.)
- medication records
- hospital summaries
Voice of the child
This means sharing your child’s thoughts, feelings and experiences in whatever way works best for them.
This matters because it ensures the tribunal decision is based on real evidence, real experiences, and your child’s own perspective.
This can include
- written views
- drawings or letters
- a simple conversation written down
- videos or recordings (if appropriate)
You should help your child express their views in a way that suits them.
The voice of the child evidence could be gathered and recorded by
- teacher
- teaching assistant
- yourself
- relative
- professional who works with your child
Parent evidence
- parent statement
- chronology of events
- emails and letters to and from school or LA
- logs or diaries showing needs or difficulties
Legal and procedural evidence
- subject access requests
- complaint outcomes
- tribunal correspondence
- previous tribunal decisions (if relevant)
Placement evidence
- school prospectuses
- visit notes
- cost breakdowns
- funding refusal letters
Useful links
IPSEA guidance on evidence and bundles What happens after I submit my appeal: evidence and the bundle
Documents to keep safe
- registration letter and directions
- all evidence you submit
- all evidence you receive from the LA
- your parent statement
- SEND7 forms (if used)
FAQs
Can I submit additional evidence after the evidence deadline? Late evidence can be submitted to the SEND tribunal, but you must ask the tribunal for permission using the SEND7 - Request for change and explain why it was not submitted earlier. The tribunal will consider whether to accept the evidence, taking into account fairness to all parties and whether there is enough time for everyone to review it before the hearing. Wherever possible, it is best to submit all evidence within the stated deadlines to avoid delays or the risk of it not being considered.
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Tips
- start early — reports take time
- use drawings or videos to help your child share their views
- keep everything in one folder
- use bullet points in your parent statement
- don’t include irrelevant or duplicate documents