Section 07 · Evidence Bundles
Tribunal bundles
A tribunal bundle is a compiled PDF built to SENDIST standards, with a cover page, table of contents, numbered exhibits, and page-stamped footers. This article explains what they are and how they differ from standard evidence bundles.
After reading this article you can
- Understand what a tribunal bundle is and when you need one
- Know the difference between a tribunal bundle and a standard evidence bundle
- Understand what the compiled PDF contains
A tribunal bundle is a specific type of evidence bundle designed for SENDIST appeal hearings. Where a standard bundle is a curated collection of documents you can share or export, a tribunal bundle compiles those documents into a single structured PDF that meets the presentation standards expected at tribunal.
When you need a tribunal bundle
If you are appealing an EHCP decision to SENDIST (the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal), you will typically be required to submit a bundle of evidence in advance of the hearing. This bundle must be paginated, exhibit-referenced, and structured so that all parties, including the panel and the LA, can locate specific documents quickly during the hearing.
A tribunal bundle is not required for:
- Annual review meetings
- School concern meetings
- DLA applications
- LA correspondence
For those purposes, a standard evidence bundle with a secure share link or PDF export is more appropriate.
What a compiled tribunal bundle contains
When you compile a tribunal bundle in SENVault, the output is a single PDF with the following structure:
Cover page: child's name, appeal reference number, hearing date, bundle version number, and the compilation date.
Table of contents: lists every exhibit by number, title, and starting page number.
Exhibit divider pages: each document in the bundle begins with a divider page showing the exhibit number (E1, E2, E3...), the document title, and category.
Document pages: the full content of each included document, embedded in order.
Page footers: every page (except the cover) is stamped "Page N of M" in the bottom right corner.
Note
The EHCP is automatically recognised and placed as the working document (Exhibit 1) when you use Suggest Order. See the compilation guide for details.
Versions
Each time you compile a bundle, SENVault creates a new version. Previous compilations are preserved in the compilation history so you can download earlier versions if needed. The cover page shows the version number so the panel and all parties can confirm they are working from the same version.
Advocate access
If you have granted an advocate access to your Vault, they can view your tribunal bundle and compile it on your behalf. Advocates can also download compiled PDFs directly.
What to do next
- 1
Compile your tribunal bundle
The next article walks through the full compilation process: setting hearing details, ordering your exhibits, running the health check, and compiling.
- 2
Understand the ordering logic
SENVault can suggest an order for your exhibits based on how SENDIST bundles are typically structured. The compilation article explains how this works.
Next in this section
Compiling a tribunal bundle
Step-by-step guide to setting hearing details, ordering your exhibits, running the health check, and compiling a paginated tribunal bundle PDF in SENVault.
Related articles
What is an Evidence Bundle?
Evidence bundles are curated collections of documents from your Vault, assembled for a specific recipient or purpose. This article explains what they are and when to use them.
Choosing a bundle template
How to select the right evidence bundle template for your situation, annual review, tribunal, DLA application, or school transition.
Building a bundle
How to add documents to an evidence bundle, organise them into sections, and structure the content for your intended audience.
Open the app
Try this in SENVault
Build, annotate, and share structured evidence packs for meetings and tribunals.
Open SENVault