Information for Children, Young People and Families 

The SEND Tribunal is running a six-month pilot to make more use of hearing dates during school holiday periods. This is being introduced because the number of appeals being received by the Tribunal continues to increase, and the aim is to reduce waiting times for children, young people and families. 

What is changing? 

From October half term 2026, the Tribunal may list some hearings during: 

  • October half term 

  • Christmas holidays 

  • February half term 

  • Easter holidays 

Some hearings that are already scheduled may also be moved to an earlier date during a school holiday period if this helps the appeal be heard sooner. 

Why is this happening? 

The pilot is designed to: 

  • Reduce waiting times for appeals. 

  • Help cases progress more quickly. 

  • Make better use of available Tribunal hearing dates. 

  • Support children, young people and families to receive outcomes sooner where possible. 

Will school staff have to attend during school holidays? 

No. The Tribunal has confirmed that there is no expectation that school staff, SENCOs, teachers or other education professionals who would not normally work during school holidays will be required to attend hearings during these periods. 

During the pilot, holiday listings will generally be used only for cases where specialist educational witnesses are not required. 

What if my case needs a school or specialist witness? 

If a hearing is listed during a school holiday and it becomes clear that school staff or specialist educational witnesses are needed, the case can be relisted to a more appropriate date outside the holiday period. 

What does this mean for families? 

Families may be offered a hearing date during a school holiday period. In some cases, this could mean an appeal is heard sooner than expected. If your hearing date changes, the Tribunal will notify all parties in the usual way. 

What happens next? 

The pilot will run for six months and the Tribunal will review how well it works, including whether it helps reduce delays while continuing to meet the needs of families, schools and other professionals involved in appeals. 

The overall aim is to help children and young people receive decisions on their appeals as quickly as possible, while ensuring the process remains fair and practical for everyone involved.