New law
From January 2015, children and young people in Wales will be able to:
- appeal certain decisions made by their local authority about their special educational needs
- bring a claim about disability discrimination
The appeal and claim rights are identical to those that already exist for parents/carers. This does not affect the parental right to make an appeal and claim. It simply means that children and young people now have the same rights as their parents/carers to make their own appeal or claim.
The Case Friend
Not all children will feel sufficiently able to make an appeal or claim. In this situation a “case friend” can act on behalf of a child to make an appeal or claim to Special Educational Need Tribunal for Wales – SENTW.
A case friend is a person who knows the young person well. It can be someone in the family or someone like a teacher or social worker or advocate.
A case friend can help and support the young person in a number of ways by:
- avoiding or sorting out disagreements with the local authority using dispute resolution arrangements, such as SNAP Cymru’s Service
- discussing the issues with the young person and deciding whether or not to make an appeal
- supporting the young person to complete the Appeal Application and sending it to SENTW, or receiving information about the appeal,
- ensuring the young person wishes and views are represented at hearings, and advising the young person on the progress and outcome of an appeal.
SENTW staff with the help of young people have produced clear and accessible information for young people, parents/carers and case friends.
SNAP Cymru can provide impartial and independent advice, guidance and support to empower young people to:
- fully participate in the planning and decision making which affects them,
- resolve disputes at an early stage
- provide case friend support and advocacy where necessary
