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Special Education Needs
As a parent, the welfare of your children is of paramount importance. For children with special education needs or ‘SEN’, disagreements about what course of action is in the best interests of the child and the one that most closely matches the child’s needs can often require the services of an experienced, independent mediator if no agreement can be reached.
Global Mediation provides specialist SEN mediation in relation to disputes between parents and carers, schools and local authorities over the special education needs of your child.
Our aim is to –
- Improve the channels of communication and understanding between the parties
- Progress towards and then reach realistic, practical solutions that meet the needs of all concerned, especially the child
- Cause minimal disruption to the child’s education
Mediation is a confidential process (except in cases where there are child protection issues) and is conducted in a safe, neutral environment that allows for both parties to be listened to and understood. Our specialist SEN mediation team, all of whom have received training in SEN legislation and framework, work closely with all concerned parties to achieve a fast, pragmatic and mutually agreeable solution to all types of SEN disputes.
For more information on Global Mediation’s special education needs mediation service, please contact us or request a callback by completing the form on the right.
Examples of cases mediated
- A full Range of Parts 1-3 Statement Needs & Provision involving parents and Local Education Authority
- Assisted at dispute relating to Special Educational Needs Tribunal (SEN mediation)
- SEN dispute between local authority and parents of dyslexic child with English as second language
- Various disputes between parents and local authorities and their schools arising from learning difficulties and special education needs of children and young persons
Click here to download a copy of our latest SEN Annual Quality Report.
Mediators that specialise in Special Education Needs
Catherine Milsom
Mediator
Catherine is a highly experienced criminal barrister with the ability to quickly identify and critically analyse the relevant issues. A skilled communicator, she is able to marshal evidence in support of arguments and successful outcomes and as such, her mediation skills are highly coveted.
Sally Thompson
Mediator
Sally is a practising barrister who is highly coveted for her ability to achieve creative settlements in the most challenging of cases. Her approach is flexible and tailored to the individual requirements of each mediation and she looks for principled solutions to move towards a lasting resolution.
Charles Horn
Mediator
With an outstanding settlement rate of over 90% from more than 500 mediations, Charles is an advanced negotiation expert with multi-faceted mediation experience. Rather than evaluative or directive, his style is holistically reactive to the needs of the parties and their interactions with others.
Angela Knowlden
Mediator
Angela has been a mediator since 1979 and approaches SEN mediations with patience and empathy for the parties in dispute. She offers a safe, secure environment with the belief that they should be given support to find their own solutions that leads to productive communication and resolution.
David Hines
Mediator
David is an experienced SEN mediator with an in-depth knowledge of the needs of parents and children. He works hard to ensure all parties can speak and be listened to and constantly looks for results by exercising patience, persistence and a positive outlook in the face of potential difficulties.
Gareth Thompson
Mediator
Gareth creates trust and confidence with his ability to get parties to "buy in" to the mediation process and to take ownership and responsibility for generating a successful outcome. He deals confidently with multi-layered personal dynamics and is highly skilled in managing diverse, complex issues.
Jane Gunn
Mediator
An internationally regarded mediator, Jane has a natural affinity with users of mediation and provides valuable insight and wisdom into how to identify and manage conflict before it escalates. She tests parties? positions using diplomacy skills and reality checking as encouragement to settle.
Linda Laurance
Mediator
A previous director of Global Mediation, Linda skilfully assists both parties to identify the deep-lying issues of each dispute, to identify the common ground and to achieve an agreeable and sustainable resolution. She is very adaptable and has an outstanding track-record of successful mediations.
Cheryl Turner
Mediator
Cheryl is a highly experienced mediator with a transformational approach. She uses her skills to help parties in dispute to see the issues each side is facing as well as the emotional, financial or practical options available to them and then guides them towards a mutually acceptable settlement.
Richard Watkins
Mediator
A highly skilled mediator who takes a diplomatic approach to sensitive situations and has the skills to mediate challenging cases that have sensitive or pressured time constraints. By maintaining a sense of calm through the process, both parties can find an agreeable resolution to their dispute.
Glenn Carrasco
Mediator
An experienced barrister, Glenn is noted for his calming, relaxed style and his open approach to the mediation process. Combining authority with a facilitative approach, he has the ability to guide parties in being able to comfortable explore resolutions and to come to a satisfactory settlement.
Tracy Millard Smith
Mediator
A compassionate and highly experienced mediator, Tracy's expertise is enhanced by her training in Psychology and her background in counselling. Committed to a solution-focused approach, she understands conflict and provides parties in dispute with a supportive platform for successful mediations.
Jim Campbell
Mediator
An elected City Councillor, Jim has an ability to adapt his style dependent on the type of dispute he is mediating. He takes a carefully focused approach and uses his skills to diffuse often emotionally charged disagreements so that both parties can explore all possible solutions to their dispute.
Martha Monday
Mediator
A practicing barrister, Martha has extensive mediation experience. Assisted by her listening and negotiation skills, she has an exceptional track record of successful mediations. Martha conveys a degree of empathy whilst remaining alert to the needs of both parties to find fair, practical solutions.
Dr Terry Leigh
Mediator
Dr. Leigh is a highly skilled mediator who uses a transformative mediation style to transform the relationship between the parties through empowerment and recognition. He creates a calming yet professional environment which allows for effective communication and positive resolutions to disputes.
