More about Disagreement Resolution
The SEN Code of Practice states that ‘every local
education authority must make arrangements, that include the appointment
of independent persons, with a view to avoiding or resolving disagreements
between authorities (on the one hand) and parents of children in their area
(on the other) about the way LEAs and maintained schools carry out their
responsibilities towards children with special educational needs.
A local education authority must also make arrangements with a view to avoiding
or resolving disagreements between parents and certain schools about the
special educational provision made for their child.
LEAs must take whatever steps they consider appropriate to make disagreement
resolution services known to parents, head teachers, schools and others
they consider appropriate’. See Section 332B, Education Act 1996.
The SEN Code of Practice sets out certain standards for disagreement
resolution services which can be found in Paragraphs 2.22 to 2.30.
You can download a copy of the Parents and Carers Guide to the SEN
Code of Practice here [link to pdf Parents and carers Guide to the
SEN Code of Practice] or order a copy of the full version here.
SEN Mediation is an interactive website that explains how disagreement resolution works and when it may be helpful. It even includes a quiz!
Your Parent Partnership Service may also be able to lend you a training video all about disagreement resolution called SEN Disagreement Resolution in Action. This was produced by the London SEN Partnership to inform LEAs, schools and parents about mediation as a form of disagreement resolution. You can order a copy from:
DfES Publications
PO Box 5050,
Sherwood Park,
Annesley,
Nottingham,
NG15 0DJ
Tel: 0845 6022260
Fax: 0845 6033360
Email: dfes@prolog.uk.com Quote reference 0262/2002