Free legal guidance for parents navigating the EHCP and SEND tribunal system. A former Headteacher and SENCo with 25 years inside the system will review your case — and send you a written report on your legal position. No obligation.
“He stood firm against the legal representation of the LA — and now our son has a place at the school we wanted him to have.”
Parent — Tribunal win, June 2026
Book a free 30-minute legal guidance review — and receive a written report on your case. Know exactly where you stand before you spend a penny.
Book My Free 30-Min Review →Written report included. Sent to you after the call.
"He stood firm against the legal representation of the LA — and now our son has a place at the school we wanted him to have."
Parent — Tribunal win, June 2026. LA directed to name specialist school.
"I cannot recommend Stephen Mallett highly enough. From the very beginning of our SENDIST tribunal appeal, Stephen provided exceptional support, expert knowledge, and clear guidance throughout the entire process. This result will make a life-changing difference to our son’s future."
Ryan O’kane ★★★★★ — Specialist placement secured, June 2026
But that's exactly what the system asks of you. The Children and Families Act 2014 gave families real legal rights — and put those rights inside a process that can take years to navigate, with two-year clinical waiting lists, a different language at every meeting, and decisions that feel made before you sit down.
If you're here, you've probably already been told no. Or yes — but with a plan that doesn't actually describe your child, doesn't specify the support they need, and doesn't bind anyone to anything.
You don't need a hundred-page handbook. You need someone who knows the system, will look at your specific case, and will tell you the truth about where you stand and what to do next.
Fixed prices. Transparent scope. Built to give you control of the process again. Start with a free 30-minute legal guidance review — and receive a written report on your case at no charge.
Flexible expert time — for specific questions, document reviews, or ongoing guidance billed by the hour.
A focused deep-dive into your case — pre-read, call, written next steps.
A professionally drafted letter to the LA, school, or other authority — grounded in CFA 2014 and the Equality Act.
Preparation and support for your child's EHCP annual review meeting.
Comprehensive support for a first application, or a refusal to assess.
For an EHCP that fails to describe your child or specify the right provision.
A structured written document setting out your child's needs, your concerns, and the provision required — for use in meetings, reviews, or correspondence.
Expert support completing Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment forms for children with SEN.
Preparation and support for mandatory SEND mediation before tribunal.
When a school has treated your disabled child unlawfully under the Equality Act 2010.
When your disabled child has been excluded and you need to challenge it.
Full support when the LA has refused, issued a plan you disagree with, or named the wrong school.
Complete written preparation for the First-tier Tribunal (SEND).
Everything in the Preparation Pack, plus Stephen attends and represents you at the hearing.
For cases involving multiple issues, complex diagnoses, or significant LA legal resource.
Ongoing monthly advisory support — for families navigating a long-running case or who want expert guidance on call.
All services include free email follow-up for the duration of the engagement. Payment plans available for larger packages — discuss on your free call. Attendance at a tribunal hearing in person is included in the Tribunal + Representation and Complex Tribunal packages.
Whichever package is right for you, the shape is the same. Plain English. Clear timelines. No surprises.
You tell me where you are. I give you honest legal guidance on your position — and send you a written report after the call with your options and next steps.
EHCPs, LA letters, reports, emails — whatever you have. I review every page before our first proper session.
Drafted submissions, written analysis, evidence summary — depending on the package. You see everything in writing.
Ongoing email and call support throughout the engagement. I tell you what to expect at every stage so nothing is a surprise.
Former Headteacher & SENCo
25 years in education
Author of Parent Shield
I spent 25 years in UK schools as a teacher, SENCo and Headteacher. I've written EHCPs, sat in annual reviews, made the calls to LAs, and watched parents try to navigate a system that does not see them as equal partners.
I wrote Parent Shield because the same patterns kept coming up: families with strong cases losing them on technicalities; vague plans signed off because nobody told the parent what to push back on; tribunals lost on evidence problems that were entirely avoidable.
This is the support I wanted those families to have. Practical. Specific. Built from the inside.
No. I am a SEND specialist with 25 years of inside experience, not a regulated legal professional. I do not provide legal advice in the regulated sense. What I provide is practical case-building, drafting and coaching grounded in CFA 2014 and SEND tribunal procedure. For many cases that's the level of help families actually need — and at a fraction of the cost of a specialist solicitor. Where a case clearly needs a regulated solicitor, I will tell you.
It depends on the package. An Initial Consultation is delivered within 7–10 days of you sending documents. Application and Review packages typically run alongside the LA's statutory timeframes, so usually 8–16 weeks. Appeal and Tribunal packages run to the dates set by the tribunal — usually 12–20 weeks from the LA decision letter.
No, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling you something. What I will do is give you an honest assessment of the strengths and risks of your case, build the strongest possible written submission, and prepare you fully for the process. Most parents who lose tribunals lose them on evidence problems that were avoidable — and that's where I work hardest.
I work with the full range of SEND — autism, ADHD, dyslexia, SEMH, speech and language, dyspraxia, moderate learning difficulties, and combinations of all of these. The packages are designed for the structure of the legal process, not for any one diagnosis. Book a free 30-minute call and we'll talk through your specific situation.
Yes. All packages are delivered remotely — video call, email and phone. The First-tier Tribunal (SEND) operates the same statutory framework across England, and most hearings now happen remotely or with a hybrid option. In-person attendance at a hearing is available by separate arrangement.
For the larger packages (Appeal and Tribunal), yes — typically split across two or three instalments tied to project milestones. We'll discuss what works for your situation on the free call.
For the free 30-minute call, just a brief description of where you are. If we move forward I'll send a short intake form and a secure link for uploading documents — typically the EHCP if you have one, any LA decision letters, recent reports and assessments, and a timeline of what's happened so far.
Real outcomes for real families — from parents who came to us when they felt they had nowhere left to turn.
“I cannot recommend Stephen Mallett highly enough. From the very beginning of our SENDIST tribunal appeal, Stephen provided exceptional support, expert knowledge, and clear guidance throughout the entire process. His professionalism, patience, and understanding gave us confidence every step of the way. Thanks to Stephen’s expertise and dedication, we achieved the outcome we had hoped for — securing a specialist educational setting that meets our son’s special educational needs. This result will make a life-changing difference to our son’s future.”
“This would not have been possible without Stephen’s help. He took over our case when we thought we had nowhere to turn. Every time the LA tried to manoeuvre us into sending our son to the state school, he fought them back and ensured that our rights were upheld. He represented us at the tribunal and stood firm against the legal representation of the LA — and now our son has a place at the school we wanted him to have.”
“After months of getting nowhere with the LA, I reached out to SEND Navigate. Stephen responded the same day, spent time understanding our situation, and produced a detailed report that gave us a clear roadmap for the first time. We finally felt like we understood what we were entitled to and what we needed to do next. The free consultation alone was worth more than I expected.”
Start with a free 30-minute consultation — no obligation, no commitment required.
If you have agreed a fee with Stephen, use the secure Stripe link below to make your payment. Simply enter the amount confirmed during your consultation. All major cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay accepted.
No obligation. No upsell. You'll receive a written report on your case after the call — your legal position, your options, your next steps. Free.
Book my free 30-min reviewUse the calendar to book your free 30-minute slot directly — or send a message using the form.
📅 Book a time now — see live availabilityEmail: stephen@sendnavigate.com
Hours: Mon–Fri 9am–6pm. Evening calls available by arrangement for working parents.
All conversations are confidential. Documents are stored securely and deleted at the end of the engagement unless you ask otherwise.