"The hope you give parents ​is nothing short of a miracle"
[a previous client]

What Experts Need To Know

Here's a video where Douglas talks about:

What Experts Need To Know

regarding:

 "The Practice Direction On Procedure For
The Preparation Of Bundles In The Special Educational Needs And Disability
And Disability Discrimination In Schools
Jurisdictions Of The Health, Education And Social Care Chamber" 
​ ​(3m 59s) ​ 

(read the transcript below)

Experts involved in SEND appeals or DD claims need to be aware of the following key requirements outlined in the Practice Direction:

Expert Reports:

Compliance with Tribunal Guidance:

• Expert reports must follow the Tribunal’s expert witness guidance, available at: SEND Tribunal Expert Witness Guidance. ​

Content Requirements:

• Include an executive summary of no more than 2 pages of A4. ​
• Reports must have numbered paragraphs for clarity. ​
• The total length of the report must not exceed 15 pages of A4, including the executive summary. ​
• Reports must not be more than 3 years old, unless required in exceptional circumstances. ​

Formatting:

• Reports must be typed or printed in a font no smaller than 12-point and must be legible. ​

Grouping:

• Expert reports must be grouped by specialism (e.g., Educational Psychologist reports together, Speech and Language Therapy reports together) and arranged in chronological order. ​

Professional and Expert Evidence: ​

Relevance:

• Evidence must be directly relevant to the issues in the appeal or claim. ​
• Irrelevant or outdated reports (e.g., older than 3 years) should not be included unless exceptional circumstances apply. ​

Page Limits:

• Experts must ensure their reports fit within the page limits set for the bundle:
  • SEND appeals: Core bundle (100 pages) and EHC plan appendices (150 pages). ​
  • DD claims: Core bundle (100 pages) and additional evidence (200 pages per party). ​

Witness Statements:

Requirements:

• Witness statements must be provided by any expert giving oral evidence at the hearing who has not submitted a written report.
• Statements must be grouped together and divided into numbered paragraphs. ​

Page Limits:

• Statements must not exceed 10 pages of A4 (exclusive of exhibits), unless there is a good reason for exceeding this limit. ​An accompanying note must explain why the statement exceeds 10 pages. ​

Formatting:

• Statements must be typed or printed in a font no smaller than 12-point and must be legible.​

Key Considerations for Experts:

Clarity and Conciseness:

• Reports and statements should be clear, concise, and focused on the specific issues in the case.
• Avoid unnecessary repetition or inclusion of irrelevant information. ​

Chronological Order:

• Ensure all reports and evidence are arranged in chronological order within the bundle. ​

Deadlines:

• Submit reports and statements by the final evidence deadline to ensure inclusion in the bundle. ​

​Late Evidence:

• If submitting evidence late, an explanation must be provided, and the Tribunal will decide whether to admit it. ​

By adhering to these guidelines, experts can ensure their evidence is properly considered and contributes effectively to the Tribunal’s decision-making process.

Further Info:

- What Parents Need To Know
- What Witnesses Need To Know
- What Local Authorities Need To Know
- What Parent Representatives Need To Know
- What Schools Need To Know

​T: 020-8349-7700 

E: [email protected]
​
Or: Make An Enquiry Online