Here are answers to the questions we hear most often about SEND Sage, our services, and how we work. For advice specific to your situation, the best place to start is the free discovery call.
SEND Sage is an independent SEND advocacy, guidance, and education service based in Cambridge. We help families navigate the SEND system — from first seeking a diagnosis through to tribunal preparation — providing practical support, expert guidance, and someone who will not be fobbed off on your behalf.
We are independent from the Local Authority and have no financial stake in the outcome of any case. Our only obligation is to the families we support.
SENDIASS (SEND Information, Advice and Support Service) is a statutory service funded by Local Authorities. While individual advisors can be very helpful, many families find that SENDIASS does not advocate robustly against LA decisions — partly because of funding relationships, and partly because of capacity constraints.
SEND Sage is completely independent. We are not funded by Cambridgeshire County Council and have no obligation to maintain a relationship with them. We will challenge decisions we believe are wrong, attend meetings alongside you, and pursue outcomes that are genuinely in your child's best interests.
No. SEND Sage is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. We provide advocacy, guidance, document drafting, and specialist consultancy services.
For formal legal representation at tribunal, you would need a solicitor. However, our support — including our specialist neuroscientist and paediatric nurse consultants — can significantly reduce the complexity and cost of that process. Many families succeed at tribunal with advocacy support rather than legal representation.
Every family begins with a free 15-minute discovery call. Signposting and initial guidance are always free. The initial consultation is £45 (60–75 minutes), EHCP reviews are £95, meeting support £85–£120, and monthly packages £200. Reduced fees are available for families facing hardship, single parents, and families with multiple SEND children.
See our full fees page for details, or ask us in your free discovery call.
SEND Sage is rooted in Cambridge, and most of our in-person support — including meeting attendance — is within the county. However, many of our services can be provided remotely, and we are happy to support families outside Cambridgeshire for document reviews, guidance, and consultation work.
If you are outside Cambridgeshire, get in touch and we will discuss what support we can offer.
You have the right to appeal a refusal to the SEND Tribunal within 2 months of the LA's decision. Refusals are frequently overturned — if the LA's reasons do not hold up against the legal threshold, the Tribunal will direct them to assess.
Before appealing, it is worth writing to the LA to challenge their reasoning and request they reconsider. SEND Sage can help you draft that letter and, if necessary, prepare your appeal. A refusal is not the end — it is often the beginning.
An EHCP must have specific sections covering your child's views, their special educational needs (Section B), the educational outcomes sought (Section E), and — critically — the provision required to meet those needs (Section F).
Section F is where most disputes arise. Provision must be specific, quantified, and detailed — 'access to support as appropriate' is not lawful. Every provision should state what it is, how often it happens, how long each session is, and who delivers it. Vague language is unenforceable and should always be challenged.
The LA cannot reduce provision without following the proper process, which includes an annual review meeting (to which you must be invited), a formal proposed amendment notice, and time for you to respond. You have the right to appeal any proposed reduction to the SEND Tribunal.
If you disagree with proposed changes, respond in writing immediately — do not wait. State clearly what you believe should remain in the plan and why. SEND Sage can help you prepare a written response and, if needed, support you through an appeal.
An EHCNA (Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment) is the process the LA carries out to decide whether to issue a plan. An EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) is the plan itself, which is issued if the assessment concludes one is needed.
You request an EHCNA. If the LA agrees to assess and then agrees a plan is needed, they issue an EHCP. The 20-week statutory deadline runs from your EHCNA request to the issuing of the final EHCP.
If you disagree with the school named in the EHCP, you can appeal to the SEND Tribunal. The Tribunal will consider whether the school the LA has named can genuinely meet all of your child's needs as set out in the plan.
The key is ensuring the EHCP describes your child's needs fully and specifically. If Section B and Section F are detailed and accurate, it becomes much harder for the LA to argue that a generic mainstream school can meet them. An underpowered EHCP is often the reason LA placements are hard to challenge.
Independent specialist schools are privately run schools that specialise in particular types of special educational need — such as autism, SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health), dyslexia, or physical disabilities. They typically offer smaller class sizes, specialist staff, and environments designed around specific needs.
They must be registered with Ofsted and approved by the Secretary of State to be funded by LAs. The Council for Disabled Children and specialist SEND directories such as SENDAG are useful starting points for finding appropriate schools. SEND Sage can also advise based on our local knowledge of provision in and around Cambridgeshire.
From registering your appeal to the hearing typically takes around 4 to 6 months. The process involves exchanging evidence with the LA, attending a case management call, and preparing your case bundle. The hearing itself is usually one day.
You must register your appeal within 2 months of the LA decision you are challenging. Do not wait — the deadline is hard.
The hearing is usually held at a venue near you or by video. A panel of two or three people — including a legally qualified judge and a specialist member with SEND expertise — will hear from both you and the LA. You can bring a supporter or representative.
You will have the opportunity to present your evidence, call witnesses, and respond to the LA's case. The Tribunal will usually give its decision in writing within a few weeks. If you win, the LA must act on the Tribunal's directions.
Failure to implement EHCP provision is one of the most common and most frustrating problems families face. Your options include: writing a formal complaint to the LA; referring the matter to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (who has the power to investigate and award compensation); and, in some circumstances, judicial review.
Keep records of every instance of non-implementation — dates, what was supposed to happen, and what actually happened. This documentation is essential for any formal complaint or Ombudsman referral.
Pinpoint is the parent carer forum for Cambridgeshire — an independent charity run by and for parents and carers of children with SEND. They run events, provide peer support, and feed parent views into the development of SEND services in the county.
Pinpoint is a valuable community resource and SEND Sage works alongside them. Their website at pinpoint-cambs.org.uk has information about local events and support.
Cambridgeshire has a number of specialist provisions, including: Granta School (Linton, for pupils with complex learning difficulties and autism); Meadowgate Academy (Wisbech); Spring Common Academy (Huntingdon, for autism and complex needs); and several independent specialist schools that LA-funded pupils from Cambridgeshire attend.
Placement availability and appropriateness depends entirely on your child's specific needs profile. SEND Sage can advise on local options based on your child's EHCP. See our Cambridge SEND guide for more detail on local provision.
If your question isn't here, get in touch. The free discovery call is the right place to start — no commitment, just a conversation.
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