Norfolk County Council's £1.2m legal bill for parent appeals

In the past two years, more than 420 parents have lodged appeals against decisions to decline additional support for children with special educational needs and disabilities. 

Of these, just four have seen rulings made in the council's favour, with the vast majority resulting in agreements being made before tribunals have taken place.

However, the legal cost of fighting these appeals for Norfolk County Council has passed £1.2m in just two years.

This figure includes £747,6000 spent in the 2022/23 financial year - a 50pc increase on the previous year when the amount fell just shy of £500,000. 

Maxine Webb, Labour councillor and spokesman for SEND (Image: Newsquest)

Labour councillor Maxine Webb said: "This is money that is just being thrown away. We are paying legal fees, solicitors and barristers taxpayers' money for no reason.

"The months local authorities let appeals rumble on is time that children do not receive the help they need and families go through incredible stress.

"This is something parents should not have to do."

Penny Carpenter, cabinet member for children's services at Norfolk County Council (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Penny Carpenter, cabinet member for children's services at the Conservative-run council said: "I deeply sympathise with the position of families who feel they have no option to appeal.

"The substantial majority of appeals lodged relate to the local authority being unable to name the special school parents have requested for children due to the ongoing and increasing demand for places against the available supply.

"The further investment being made on top of the £120m to create more special school places and increase capacity and provision in mainstream schools is in response to this challenge."

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So far in 2023, 179 appeals have been lodged. Of these, 133 are awaiting their conclusions. Of the five that have reached tribunals, three were allowed.