Emma Booth took North Northamptonshire Council to a tribunal after it named a mainstream secondary for her daughter, who has autism and ADHD, instead of the specialist school she requested. The dispute stretched from February 2024 to May 2026, during which Booth says the council repeatedly missed deadlines and failed to communicate, causing her daughter to miss a year of school. An LDRS FOI revealed SEND appeals against the council rose from 50 in 2021 to 242 in 2025, and legal experts warn tribunal delays of up to 18 months are becoming common.
Mother Left 'Completely Broken' After Two‑Year SEND Tribunal As Appeals Against Council Soar
Emma Booth fought for two years to get the specialist school provision she needed for her daughter [LDRS/PA Media]
A mother says she was left "completely broken" after a prolonged tribunal with North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) over her daughter's special educational needs.
Emma Booth sought a place at a specialist school for her 12‑year‑old daughter, who has autism and ADHD, but NNC initially named a mainstream secondary. The disagreement led to a tribunal that Booth says lasted from February 2024 until May 2026.
A Freedom of Information request by the LDRS found a rise in SEND tribunals against North Northamptonshire Council [LDRS/PA Media]
Parents' Experience
Booth describes the process as "a complete nightmare from start to finish." She says the council repeatedly missed deadlines, failed to respond to emails and offered inconsistent support, leaving her daughter without the specialist provision she needed and effectively missing the first year of secondary school.
"They have missed so many deadlines, then ask to be allowed back in and still miss more. It felt like I was banging my head against a wall — it's really taken a toll on my mental health," Booth told reporters.
Legal Perspective and Systemic Delays
Samantha Hale, a solicitor specialising in education law at HCB, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that tribunal delays of up to 18 months are increasingly common due to rising demand. Hale said many local authorities are in "firefighting mode," prioritising only the most imminent hearings because of limited capacity.
NNC has seen "phenomenal" growth in the demand for special needs education provision [LDRS/PA Media]
"Some councils don't look at a case until just before they have to respond. In some instances this can act as a delay tactic, which can avoid the cost of alternative provision for months," Hale said.
Council Response and Wider Trend
An LDRS Freedom of Information request found SEND tribunals against North Northamptonshire Council rose from 50 in 2021 to 242 in 2025. NNC acknowledged it faces significant demand for SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) services and accepted there have been challenges around timeliness and communication with families.
The council said it has taken steps to improve the service, including establishing a permanent leadership and staffing structure within its SEND team. A spokesperson said: "We are already seeing improvement, but we recognise there is more to do. Our focus is on ensuring families receive clearer and more timely communication, decisions are made as early as possible, and disagreements are resolved wherever possible without families having to go through lengthy tribunal proceedings."
Outcome
In May 2026 the council vacated the tribunal and agreed to name the specialist school Booth requested. While that resolved the immediate dispute, Booth and legal experts say the lengthy process highlights wider pressures on SEND services and the tribunal system.
Context: SEND refers to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The case illustrates both the personal impact of delayed decisions and broader systemic strain on local authority SEND services.
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