Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service: ASN Tribunals for Scotland (ASNTS)

The tribunal will hear and decide your appeal against our decision about your child’s co-ordinated support plan (CSP).

If you have a dispute:

• talk to staff at your child's school, and/or
• talk to an officer of West Dunbartonshire Education department for advice and options.

In exceptional circumstances:

The tribunal will hear and decide your appeal against our decisions about your child's co-ordinated support plan (CSP).

Tribunal hearing

The tribunal hearing is made up of three people, a lawyer and two people who know about learning support and education.  These people ask questions of the parent or young person and the local authority. They listen to what everyone has to say. They clear up what the disagreement is about and make a decision as to what should happen.

What issues can you refer to the tribunal

You can only refer disagreements that relate to co-ordinated support plans and certain placing requests.

You can make an appeal if there is a dispute about getting a co-ordinated support plan (CSP) and if:

• we have not replied when you asked us if your child has additional support needs that would entitle them to a CSP
• you have been told your child needs a CSP but the authority have not drawn one up within 16 weeks
• you have been told your child does not need a CSP and you disagree with this decision
• your placing request for a Scottish Special School has been refused.

You can refer to the Tribunal if there are disputes about what a co-ordinated support plan says or how it is reviewed if:

• you do not agree with the information in the CSP
• we decide your child no longer needs a CSP and you disagree
• we decide your child still needs a CSP and you disagree
• your child's CSP has not been reviewed for more than one year
• we take more than 12 weeks to review your child's CSP once the review has started
• we have said no when you have asked for an early review of your child's CSP due to big changes in your child's life.

You can appeal decisions about a placing request when:

• we refuse your placing request
• you do not get a reply to your placing request for more than two months
• you have already made an appeal because the authority has refused your child a co-ordinated support plan
• we have refused you placing request for a Scottish Special School and your child has additional support needs.

How do I make an appeal

The booklet Additional Support Need Tribunals for Scotland (ASNTS) tells you everything else you need to know. A copy can be obtained from:

Additional Support Needs Tribunal for Scotland

Europa Building, 450 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G2 8LH

• Telephone: 0141 302 5860
• ASNTSadmin@scotcourtstribunals.gov.uk

Where can I get support to make an appeal

An advocacy service is available to parents and young people making an appeal to the Additional Support Needs Tribunal for Scotland (ASNTS). This service is free and can support you or your child as soon as you make an appeal to ASNTS.

To request help from the advocacy service contact:

• Enquire on 0131 313 2322 or www.childreninscotland.org.uk

• the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance Ltd on 0131 260 5380