The Tribunal's Practice Direction requirements for expert reports, including page limits and formatting.
Since a Practice Direction took effect in 2025, expert reports submitted to the SEND Tribunal have to follow specific formatting rules, covering length, structure, and how recent the report can be.
It's possible to apply to the Tribunal for permission to submit something longer, assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Reports have to be grouped by specialism when submitted, for example, all educational psychology reports together, all speech and language therapy reports together, and arranged in chronological order within each group.
Making sure the reports you already have actually meet these rules, before a deadline, is exactly the kind of practical task SEND Assistant can help with. Try SEND Assistant free.
What happens if a report doesn't meet the format rules?
The Tribunal may raise this directly, or it could weaken how effectively your evidence is considered, formatting issues are worth resolving early.
Who typically writes these reports?
Educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and other relevant specialists.
Can I submit a report that's older than three years?
Only in exceptional circumstances, and this would need to be justified to the Tribunal.
Do I have to pay for expert reports myself?
Costs vary depending on how a report is commissioned, this is worth discussing directly with the relevant professional.
Can school-based reports count as expert reports?
Reports from within a school (such as a SENCO) are generally treated differently from independent expert reports, though both can form part of your evidence.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Access to Justice is not a law firm and cannot represent you.