Parents are also increasingly appealing EHC plan decisions with the proportion being taken to a tribunal, parents’ final recourse for complaints, increasing from 1.6% in 2018 to 2.5% in 2023. The number of decisions appealed increased from 6,000 in 2018 to 15,600 in 2023. Nearly all (98%) were decided in favour of families, which the Department explained by decisions being recorded in their favour should they win on any aspect.19 With one in 40 cases going to tribunal, the Department confirmed the SEN system was not operating sensibly and did not represent value for money.