Special Educational Needs Expert Training & Advocacy Ltd
5 Gordon Terrace
Ryhope Village
Sunderland
SR2 0QR

Tel: 0191 5218655 
Email: claire@senexpertta.co.uk

2.1 We work solely in the field of special educational needs and disability (SEND).

2.2 We believe that our advice and support will help you take informed and accurate decision about your child’s future.

2.3 Where we do not have the expertise to deal with a particular issue then we will refer you on to the most appropriate provider.

2.4 We undertake to use all reasonable skill and care in our work on your case.

2.5 Advice is based on information provided by you and we cannot be held responsible should you fail to disclose information which could affect the advice.

2.6 We will not be held responsible for any acts arising from the supply by you or others of incorrect or incomplete information, or your or others failure to act on our advice or respond promptly to communications from us or other relevant authorities.

3.1 In order to be as responsive as possible we will normally communicate with you via email.

3.2 We do not accept responsibility for any errors or problems that may occur through the use of email. All risks connected with the passage of such information shall be borne by you. If you do not agree to accept this risk then you should notify us in writing that email is not an acceptable form of communication.

3.3 We do not accept service or correspondence via encrypted email.

4.1 We will update you (by telephone or in writing) on the progress of your case as often as possible.

4.2 We will communicate with you in plain language.

4.3 We will explain to you (by telephone or in writing) the work and processes required as your case progresses.

4.4 We will update you on whether the likely outcomes still justify the costs and risks associated with your case or whenever there is a material change in circumstances.

4.5 Supervision clients:

          ·       Supervision is provided face to face, typically through Zoom or MS Teams.

          ·       A summary of the issues discussed within supervision sessions is provided afterwards via email.

          ·       Advice is based on information provided by you and we cannot be held responsible should you fail to disclose information which could affect the advice.

5.1 The case will be managed by the person named in the advice letter.

6.1 You have told us that you are not eligible for help under the Legal Aid Scheme. If you are in any doubt you can check at www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid. If you are eligible for Legal Aid then you should apply for it.

7.1 The estimate shall be as indicated in the case review and advice letter. The estimate may change as work progresses through the case.

7.2 If we believe that the original costs estimate will be exceeded for whatever reason, we will write and advise you accordingly and update our costs estimate.

7.3 Supervision is charged at the rate provided at the start of a supervision agreement.

8.1 All of our work is done on a private costs basis following a case review.

8.2 All work is done with reasonable skill and care. Fees are due regardless of the outcome of the case.

8.3 SEND Tribunal work is charged at a capped fee; payment will be required monthly for any work completed. We accept payment by online bank transfer. If your case concludes early then we will charge for any work done at our standard hourly rate which may mean that the overall cost of your case is less than the capped fee outlined at the start of your case.

8.4 Non SEND Tribunal work is charged at our standard hourly rate. This does not include supervision. For non SEND Tribunal work an estimate of the work will be provided at the advice stage given as part of the case review. 

8.5 Non SEND Tribunal work will be invoiced monthly against the work we carry out. When the work is complete we will request you settle your invoice.

8.6 When signing the letter of instruction you are undertaking to pay your invoice by the date specified on the invoice.

8.7 We will suspend work on the file if your invoice is not paid by the date specified on the invoice.

9.1 Other than a case review which is set at a fixed fee, non SEND Tribunal case work is charged at our standard hourly rate. Supervision is charged at the rate provided at the start of a supervision agreement. SEND Tribunal case work is charged at a capped fee. If a SEND Tribunal appeal is an extended appeal to include health and/or social care issues, this may incur additional fees which will be explained at the case review and advice stage. If additional fees are relevant then an estimate will be provided and added to the capped fee. 

9.2 Mileage will be charged at a rate of 45p per mile or the standard rate train fare or a combination of the two covering travel to the mainline train station plus car parking and train fare. Mileage will be calculated using the fastest option.

9.3 If you choose to instruct an expert you will be responsible for the payment of all expert fees directly to the individual expert. This includes payment of their individual assessments, reports and their hearing attendance fees if applicable.

9.4 Additional costs may be incurred for all services and are as follows: 

·       Travel to any face to face meetings you ask for at 45p per mile.

·       Postage costs for any paper documentation you require returning to you.

10.1 We must stress that we cannot guarantee a case will be successful in full. The assessment may change as we progress thorough the case. When that does change we will advise you accordingly and gain your permission to proceed.

11.1 We welcome payment though electronic banking. Please ensure that you provide your client reference number. Failure to do so may cause your money to be misallocated.

11.2 Our account details are specified in the invoice.

11.3 We will not issue a receipt unless specifically asked.

11.4 We would ask that you do not send cash through the post.

12.1 As a general rule in education cases, it is very difficult to recover costs from the local authority and the threshold to do so is very high. Therefore you should be prepared to bear the costs of the case on your own.

12.2 Should you decide to stop using our services part way through your case you will be charged for the work carried out until that date. If you owe us money for the work carried out you will need to settle the account within 14 days of the receiving the invoice.

13.1 At the end of the case we will advise you of the outcome and impact of the decision

14.1 Case reviews only – The Distance Selling Regulations give you a right to cancel within 14 days of receipt of your payment to us. As our service to you will begin immediately (when we receive your papers and signed letter of instruction) you acknowledge that your right to cancel is lost.

14.2 For all other work following a case review we will consider a contract to have been formed when we receive a signed copy of the letter of instruction confirming you received our letter with an acknowledgement of our Terms and Conditions. You have 14 days from us receiving the signed letter of instruction to cancel the contract by writing to us.

14.3 Any work carried out during this period will be charged at our standard hourly rate. Supervision will be charged at the rate provided at the start of a supervision agreement. We will return any papers you have sent us. If you owe us money for the work carried out you will need to settle the account within 14 days of the receiving the invoice.

14.4 Should you decide you do not want us to act for you at any other time you must put this in writing to us. Any work carried out during this period will be charged at our standard hourly rate. Supervision will be charged at the rate provided at the start of a supervision agreement. If you owe us money for the work carried out you will need to settle the account within 14 days of the receiving the invoice.

15.1 We may decide to stop acting if:

15.2 We will write to you notifying you of our intentions.

15.3 Any work carried out during this period will be charged at our standard hourly rate. We will return papers you have sent us. If you owe us money for the work carried out you will need to settle the account within 14 days of the receiving the invoice.

16.1 Our normal hours of business are from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. We are happy to discuss the case outside those hours by appointment only.

17.1 Subject to certain statutory exceptions, we commit that everything you tell us will be kept strictly confidential.

18.1 General Data Protection Regulations form part of the data protection regime in the UK, together with the Data Protection Act 2018.

18.2 A copy of our Privacy Notice is available on our website.

19.1 We ask that you do not send us any original papers unless you are sending us electronic versions. If you do send us original papers by post it will be at your own risk and we will copy the papers and return them to you during the course of the case. You will be charged for the copying and returning of original documents.

19.2 We cannot accept papers for storage in ‘safe custody.’

19.3 Following the conclusion of the case, and after all outstanding fees have been paid, we will keep our paper files for 3 months.

19.4 After 3 months the file will then be electronically scanned and stored. The paper files will be shredded and securely disposed of. We will not write to you advising you of this unless you specifically request this in writing.

20.1 If you are in any way dissatisfied with our work please write or send an email to us for the attention of the Director, detailing the area of concern. We aim to provide a written response within 72 hours.

21.1 Before we can start work we need your agreement to our Terms and Conditions. Please read these carefully and then if you are content to be bound by them please sign and return to us one copy of the letter of instruction we have sent to you either by post or electronically through email. If applicable and requested, please also sign and return the ‘Form of Authority’ without which we cannot act on your behalf.