SEND Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Services

Manchester City Council has commissioned three providers to deliver independent Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Services from September 2017. The providers are:

  • Link Mediation Services
  • Manchester Mediators
  • The Together Trust

What is Mediation?

  • Applies to parent/carers and young people who are considering appealing to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDist)
  • Can take place following a decision not to carry out an EHC needs assessment, not to draw up an EHC plan, after receipt of a final EHC plan or amended plan, following a decision not to amend a plan or a decision to cease to maintain a plan
  • Applies to parent/carers and young people who want mediation on the health and social care elements of an EHC plan
  • Must be accessed within 2 months of a decision letter being issued by the local authority
  • Does not affect the right to appeal to SENDist
  • Parent/carers and young people do not have to contact a mediation service prior to registering an appeal to SENDist if the appeal is solely about the name of the school, college or other institution named on an EHC plan or the fact that no school or other institution is named. In all other cases contact must be made with an independent mediator before registering an appeal
  • A Mediation Certificate is issued following discussion not to proceed to a meeting or after a meeting has taken place

What is Disagreement Resolution?

  • Covers all children and young people with special educational needs, not just those who are being assessed for or have an EHC plan
  • Available to parent/carers and young people to resolve disagreements about any aspect of SEN provision
  • Available to parent/carers and young people to resolve health and social care disagreements during the processes related to EHC needs assessments and EHC plans
  • Use is voluntary and has to be with the agreement of all parties
  • Can be requested at any time
  • Decision not to use Disagreement Resolution does not affect the right to appeal to SENDist

How do I access Mediation or Disagreement Resolution providers or advice about these services?

You can contact one of the service providers directly. See information and contact details for each provider below

You can get more information about mediation and disagreement resolution from Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Manchester. See contact details below