Form SEND20B UK: Review a SEND Tribunal Ruling

What this document is

Form SEND20B is the official application form used to ask the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) to review a decision it has already made. It is not a fresh appeal and it is not the same as asking for permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal.

A review is a mechanism for the tribunal to reconsider its own decision in limited situations, for example where something has changed or where there may have been an error in how the decision was reached. The form captures who is applying, details of the original appeal or claim, the date the decision was sent out, and the reasons the applicant believes a review is justified.

Because tribunal reviews are discretionary, the quality of the explanation you give on the form often carries real weight. The form sits alongside the wider SEND Tribunal process dealing with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans, refusals to assess, and related disability discrimination claims in schools.

How to use this document

1. Confirm who is making the application. Decide whether the applicant is a parent, a person with parental responsibility, or the local authority. Record full contact details, and where there is more than one parent involved, note the other parent's details too so the tribunal knows who should be kept in the loop on correspondence.
2. Add representative and correspondence details. If a solicitor, advocate, or other representative is acting for the applicant, include their name and contact information and make clear whether they are a legal representative. State clearly which person or party should receive tribunal correspondence, to avoid letters going to the wrong address.
3. Set out the original tribunal decision. Provide the appeal or claim reference number, the child or young person's name, the name of the local authority involved, the hearing date, and the date the written decision was sent to you. These details let the tribunal pull the correct file quickly and avoid delay in considering your request.
4. Explain why a review is justified. Describe clearly what has changed since the decision was issued or why you believe the tribunal should revisit its ruling. If you are applying more than 28 days after the decision was sent, you must also set out the reasons for the delay, because the tribunal will need to decide whether to extend time.
5. Sign, send and keep a record. Sign and date the form, attach a copy of the decision together with any supporting documents, and keep a full copy for yourself. Send it to the SEND Tribunal office using the contact details on the current gov.uk page, and obtain proof of posting so you can evidence the date it was sent.

Common questions