Email: sensap@leeds.gov.uk
Phone: 0113 376 0062
If your child has an EHCP and you are in dispute with the school or college named in your child’s plan about provision, we're here to help resolve any issues as quickly as possible. We call this disagreement resolution.
You can share your concerns with the SENSAP team using the contact information on this page.
We may, if appropriate, hold meetings where everyone involved can agree on duties, special educational needs (SEN) provision, health provision and social care provision.
Please note, the SEND Code of Practice states that Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessments must be completed within 20 weeks.
Whilst we have invested additional resources and are finalising more plans than ever, due to a range of factors, EHC plans are not currently being issued within the expected timescales. As of September 2025 the average length of time taken is 54 weeks.
We know that this will be a worrying time for some families and there is a range of support available to you from multi-agency health, education and Local Authority services.
The following resources are also available to offer support to children and families, with or without an EHC plan.
You can visit the Leeds SEND Local Offer, which is a dedicated resource for children and young people with SEND aged 0 to 25, their families, and professionals. It includes:
- support available in schools and early years settings
- local services and activities
- information about education, health, social care, transport, and leisure
- advice for parents and carers
You can contact Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Services (SENDIASS) Leeds for free, confidential and impartial advice.
MindMate also have a one-stop information resource to support all neurodivergent children, young people and families in Leeds both with and without a formal diagnosis.
Making a complaint
We have a formal complaint procedure. You can make a complaint even if you are using the disagreement resolution service.
The NHS Trusts, schools and colleges all have their own formal complaints procedures.
You will need to find your child’s school or college website to check their complaints procedure.
Monitoring special educational provision
If you are concerned about the quality of the special education provision your child is receiving, you should discuss this with the school or educational setting directly. If your concerns are not resolved, you can ask SENSAP for further advice and support. In extreme circumstances the local authority may ask a SEN Monitoring and Quality Assurance Officer to become involved.
Formal mediation
In Leeds, mediation is provided by Collis Mediation Ltd. It is a free, less formal way of trying to reach an agreement with us.
If you disagree with any of the following decisions we make, you will need to contact us within two months. This includes us deciding:
- not to carry out an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment
- not to draw up an education, health and care needs plan (EHCP)
- to issue a final or amended final EHCP
- not to maintain an EHCP
Within 30 days of you getting in touch with Collis Mediation Ltd., they will arrange for mediation with an independent mediation advisor. When you have completed mediation, you will receive a certificate as proof.
If you do not want mediation, you can request a certificate from the mediation advisor to state that you did not want to do it and you would like to make an appeal to the first tier SEND tribunal.
You have one month from receiving the certificate or two months from the decision (whichever is later) to lodge your appeal.
Make an appeal
Once you have a certificate of mediation you can appeal any decisions made about your child's education to the first tier SEND tribunal.
If the only point of disagreement is the education place named in the plan, you do not need a certificate and you can make an appeal without one.
You can also get free advice and support from Leeds SENDIASS.
Contact us
We want to work with you to provide the best service possible. If you have concerns relating to your child's application, assessment or plan, please contact us directly.
