Disability discrimination claims

The Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SEND) also considers parents’ claims of disability discrimination in schools. You can make a claim if you think your child has been discriminated against in relation to:

• admission arrangements for a school
• exclusion from school
• education and associated services provided by a school.

If your child has not got a statement and has been turned down for a place at a state school, then you should make your claim to the local admission appeal panel.

And if your child has been permanently excluded from a state school, you should make your claim to the independent appeal panel set up locally. In all other cases, your claim must go to the Tribunal within six months of the time the alleged discrimination took place.

Contact the Tribunal on their disability helpline – 0870 241 2555 – for more information on how to make a claim, or refer to their booklet, Disability Discrimination in Schools – How to Make a Claim (PDF 164KB).