Concerns, Mediation and Exclusions

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If you are unhappy with a service or the help your child is getting in an early years setting, school, or post-16 setting you should speak with someone as soon as possible. 

For concerns about support in school

The first thing you should do if your are unhappy about the help your child receives is speak to a member of staff at the setting, for example:

• 👩‍🏫 their teacher (or for an Early Years setting their keyworker)
• 🧑 the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO)
  
• 👩‍🦳 the headteacher 

You will likely need to arrange a meeting so you have time to discuss your concerns. 

For concerns about SEN services provided by the local authority

You can contact the relevant service in the first instance to explain your concerns, you can find contact details for SEND services using the who can help, search a service tool here. (INSERT LINK) 

You can read more about raising a concern or complaint about a BMBC service here: 

BMBC Complaints & Compliments

Safeguarding Concerns

If the child is in danger call 999

If the child is not at risk of immediate harm

If you're concerned about a child, but they're not in immediate danger, it's still important to share the information as soon as possible. If your call is not urgent contact Children's Social Care on (01226) 772423. Offices are open between Monday and Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Out of hours emergencies

If you want to report your concern urgently and the offices are closed, you can contact the emergency duty team on (01226) 787789. They work on weekends and bank holidays and deal with issues that can't wait until usual office opening hours.

You may wish to speak to SENDIASS who will give you the chance for you to talk things through and say what your concerns are before you take things further with the school, or local authority. 

• Support when writing letters to school, early years and post-16 settings, and the local authority.
  
• Help with statutory assessments and the education, health and care plan process.
  
• Understanding local policy and practice.
  
• The law on SEN and disability.
  
• Health and social care.
  
• Advice or issues around school or setting placement.
  
• Support at meetings.
  
• Advice on transport arrangements.
  
• Help when things go wrong. Including resolving issues and providing support to manage appeals, exclusions and complaints on SEN matters.

Find out more

💻 Barnsley SENDIASS

📱  01226 787234.

📧 sendiass@barnsley.gov.uk 

Mediation is an informal way of settling disagreement with the local authority and in Barnsley this is provided by Collis Mediation.

If you are thinking about appealing these local authority decisions…

• refusal to carry out an EHC needs assessment;
  
• refusal to issue an EHC plan;
  
• the contents of a final EHC plan or amended plan;
  
• decision not to amend an EHC plan;
  
• decision to cease to maintain an EHC plan
  

…you must first consider mediation by contacting Collis Mediation. 

If you decide it’s not for you, they will issue you a certificate which enables you to appeal to the SEND Tribunal. You have two months from the decision letter or issue of the final EHC plan to decide to go to mediation and/or appeal. 

Find out more

💻 Local Offer EHCP information pages

💻 Collis Mediation