Carrie Grant’s shock over Norfolk council’s SEND tribunal spend

Victoria Trattles, from Norwich, went to a tribunal over Norfolk County Council’s provision for her daughter Maria, who has autism and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).

Maria,13, said she found school challenging.

“Sometimes when I go to school, I’m happy, but sometimes when I go home I feel a little let-down,” she said.

“Sometimes when I’m at school I can’t cope, sometimes I feel a bit panicky and lock myself in the toilets.”

Ms Trattles said the process of trying to secure additional support and preparing for a tribunal had taken its toll on her own health.

The case was eventually settled before it reached the hearing stage.

“I was physically ill with it all. I went grey, because of the pressure,” she said.

She described the whole experience as “almost like a game of chicken,” as often cases are resolved just before they got heard.

“Are you prepared to go that distance, are you prepared to tolerate that paperwork, to go through those hoops to get the best for your child?”