Disputes, conflict and mediation
Conflicts at school
Disputes and disagreements at school can have a severe impact on a child's education, and on the wellbeing of their family and other pupils.
A problem can involve a child, their family, the school and the local council. It could be behavioural, academic, or both.
Mediation could be the answer. Our independent experts don't take sides; they help find a long-term solution that suits everyone.
We offer two types of mediation service:
Special educational needs (SEN) service
We can mediate if the school, the family and the local council can't agree on support available for a child with special educational needs (SEN) - as long as all parties agree to mediation.
For example a parent might think their child should have an SEN statement, while the school believes it would be better to use mainstream methods. Or, if the child has a statement, they could disagree about how the special needs are defined in it, or the type of support it offers.
Mediation in general disputes
We can mediate in general disputes between the school and a child, or the school and the child's family. The problem could be behavioural or academic. But we can't take on disputes between pupils.
How we can help
We'll meet each party on their own, and then bring everyone together to identify the main issues.
We make sure everyone has their say and is taken seriously. We help resolve disagreements without the need for more formal procedures.
If all parties agree to the solution, it means it's more likely to succeed and keep the child in school.
Ask for our help
This is a free service, but the school must be in the area covered by Manchester City Council
Please contact usfor more details.
