How we source and verify claims

1. Evidence comes before wording

We prefer primary sources: legislation, statutory guidance, official tribunal material and the public records of the body responsible. A source copy is fingerprinted so the evidence checked later can be compared with the evidence originally reviewed.

2. Incomplete evidence blocks publication

In the gated publication workflow, every material evidence row must verify against its primary source before a candidate can become publishable. A parked, rejected, skipped, stale or missing row produces a blocked review item, not a public guide. Human approval cannot turn that blocked item into published text.

3. Approval belongs to one exact artifact

An eligible candidate carries a manifest that binds the wording and source evidence with cryptographic hashes and records the successful gate versions and verdict. A person then reviews that exact candidate. If substantive wording changes, it becomes a revision request: the new text must pass the evidence and content gates and receive a second human approval. Line endings and surrounding whitespace are the only formatting differences that do not change the wording.

4. The site is checked before and after release

The exact approved artifact must pass the site's content checks, targeted tests and production build before it is committed. A release is not treated as complete until the deployed production commit is verified. Failed validation or deployment stays queued for investigation rather than being silently marked complete.

Automation boundaries

Software and AI can help collect evidence, test claims and prepare a candidate, but they do not remove the evidence requirements or human approval. No real child document or identifying family material belongs in this publication workflow.

Corrections

Sources and law can change, and mistakes can still be found. If you spot one, email hello@notourjurisdiction.co.uk. Please identify the public page and source, but do not send a child's documents or identifying details. Confirmed material errors are corrected or the page is withdrawn.

Who can help with your situation

For advice about your own case, contact IPSEA, SOS!SEN or your local SENDIASS through your council's Local Offer. See also our sources index.

Outside England?

NOJ covers the SEND system in England only. The law and the organisations that help are different elsewhere in the UK — start with the advice service for your nation:

• Enquire (Scotland) — the national advice service for additional support for learning.
• SNAP Cymru (Wales) — free, independent advice for families of children with SEN or disabilities.
• SENAC (Northern Ireland) — the Special Educational Needs Advice Centre.