Hundreds of appeals lodged over support for children with special educational needs
Hundreds of appeals were lodged against Hampshire County Council over support for children with special educational needs in a single year, new figures show.
The data collected from a freedom of information request show that 686 special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) tribunal appeals were lodged against the council during the 2024/25 financial year, up from 590 the previous year and 484 in 2022/23.
At the same time, the amount spent by Hampshire County Council defending tribunal cases has climbed sharply.
The council spent £69,957 on SEND tribunal defence costs in 2022/23, rising to £188,913 in 2023/24 and £222,999 in 2024/25.
The figures mean the number of appeals has increased by around 42 per cent over the three-year period, while legal defence spending has risen by more than 218 per cent.
SEND tribunals allow parents and carers to challenge council decisions relating to education, health and care plans (EHCPs), including disputes over specialist support and school placements for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Responding to the figures, Hampshire County Council said the rise reflected increasing pressure on SEND services both locally and nationally.
Across England, ministry of justice figures show around 25,000 SEND appeals were registered across England in 2024/25 — the ninth consecutive annual increase.
Government figures also show families succeeded in 99 per cent of resolved cases.
A council spokesperson said: “There has been a significant increase in appeals both in Hampshire and across the country.
“This is a nationally recognised issue and is due to the growing number of children with identified special educational needs and disabilities, and the associated pressure on placements in the education system.
“While it is not possible to predict future numbers, we endeavour where possible to resolve appeals without the need to resort to formal hearings and continue to do all that we can locally to address challenges in the SEND system.
“This includes our ongoing work to build expertise in schools, improve support for children with complex needs, and invest in new special schools and specialist places in mainstream settings.”