SEND tribunal statistics hit record high

The Ministry of Justice has published its latest quarterly tribunal statistics. It revealed a sharp rise in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) appeals for the 2024/25 academic year. The figures highlight growing pressure on the system and persistent challenges for families seeking support.

Key Findings

• 25,000 registered SEND appeals in 2024/25. This is an 18 per cent increase on the previous year and the highest level ever recorded. This marks the ninth consecutive year of growth.
• 20,000 appeals resolved, up 19 per cent from 2023/24. However, incoming appeals continue to outpace resolutions.
• Open caseload reached 15,000 cases by September 2025 which is another record high.
• Nature of disputes: 61 per cent concerned disagreements over Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan content; 24 per cent related to refusal to assess.
• Section I (school placement) outcomes: 31 per cent resulted in parent preference being upheld; 24 per cent saw local authorities agree with parents at hearing; 13 per cent upheld the local authority’s preference.

These figures underline the strain on families and local authorities, as demand for SEND provision continues to rise across England. The increase reflects both growing awareness of rights and systemic delays in meeting needs.

Ministerial Response

Schools Minister Georgia Gould commented:

“Each tribunal case reflects a family forced to fight just to get their child the right support. We have already made progress reforming the system – creating 10,000 new school places for children with SEND, funding early language support for 20,000 children and ensuring professionals trained in supporting additional needs across 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs.

“We’re determined to make support routine, not a battle. Strong legal safeguards will remain, but families shouldn’t have to reach crisis point to get help. Parents and children deserve, and will get, better – which is why we are running the biggest national conversation on SEND in a generation to transform the support families receive.”

As appeals surge, the government faces mounting pressure to deliver timely, accessible support and reduce reliance on tribunals as a route to provision.

Schools operate within fixed budgets, which are supplemented by local authority top-ups. Increasing demand places significant strain on their ability to provide high-quality provision for all pupils with SEND. Local authorities argue that this pressure risks diverting resources away from those with the most complex needs. This highlights the challenge of balancing parental expectations with fair allocation of support.

The latest figures underline a system under significant strain. Rising appeals and record caseloads point to deep-rooted challenges in meeting SEND needs. While government reforms aim to expand provision and reduce conflict, the persistent growth in tribunal cases suggests that structural issues remain unresolved. Balancing parental expectations, legal entitlements and finite resources will be critical to ensuring fair and sustainable support.