Local authorities are failing to tell parents of children with special educational needs (SEN) about their right to access independent mediation services, according to a Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) report.

Read: Parents in dark about mediation.

It wouldn't be so bad if the Local Authority Children's Directorates actually worked to the legally required Complaints system. Statutory Instrument 2006 No 1738 is a complete stranger to Stockport MBC Children and Young People's Directorate. It is still sending out a DRAFT Complaints document \(incomplete) which it recently acquired from Bolton Social Services IT Department. Only the header name has been changed - \(to protect the innocent?) No attempt seems to have been made to complete this DRAFT in line with the Act above. Compliance was required - as a matter of law - by 01 September 2006. Mediation? Where's the point? With no will to have an adequate, legal Complaints System - for when things go horribly wrong, \(which they have) - how can mediation help? Perhaps if 'tarring and feathering' were to be re-introduced..? No, there's probably a law against that.