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HCB to Host A Free Question and Answer Session Regarding the Special Educational Needs System in England for Parents On 11 November 2024, between 7.30pm and 9pm Holly Blacklaws and Mark Glen of HCB Widdows Mason are teaming up with Chris Wade of Wade...
Recent reports have highlighted alarming failures in the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process, which have contributed to tragic outcomes for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). A recent inquest in to the tragic death of...
As parents, you want the best for your child’s education, and sometimes decisions made a public body may seem unfair or contrary to your child’s needs. Whether it’s about school placements, support for special educational needs (SEN), or...
When the school is not the right fit; Navigating challenges for children with Special Educational Needs and associated Learning Difficulties Every child deserves an education that not only meets their unique needs but aids them to thrive within the...
Hundreds of Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs are Missing from Education You may have seen the news Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, has commissioned a report looking at the number of children who are out of or...
What is Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014? Section 41 of the Children and Families Act (S41 CFA) 2014 is a key piece of SEN law. It provides the Secretary of State for Education with authority to approve independent special and special...
B uckinghamshire County Council Informally Notifies Parent Forum it Will No Longer Provide Top-Up Funding for Pupils without an EHC Plan A Buckinghamshire parents’ forum has advised they have been informally notified by Buckinghamshire Council it...
Research brief.pdf (senedd.wales) A recent research brief published by the Senedd Cymru has highlighted the unforeseen consequences that have arisen due to the implementation of the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Code for Wales 2021, which is currently...
As September 2024 approaches, many parents are preparing their children for the new school year. For parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), this period can be particularly challenging, especially when it comes to ensuring...
On 15th August 2024, students across the country who have taken A-Level examinations will be receiving their results. It will be a stressful day for many, especially because University offers for admission are often conditional upon receiving certain...
Following our article last month regarding the proposed removal of VAT exemption for private schools and the subsequent success of Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour party at the latest general election, the government has now published a technical consultation...
As the school year comes to an end, Department of Education latest figures report record numbers of school suspensions and exclusions in England for the academic year 2022/23. Persistent disruptive behaviour was the most commonly reported reason, accounting...
According to the UK Government website, in the academic year 2022/23, the Tribunal Service recorded 14,000 registered special educational needs appeals, highlighting the increasing number of appeals lodged with the SEND Tribunal, which has gone up by a...
Deciding between taking over an existing lease through an assignment or entering into a new lease is a significant decision for any tenant. Each option comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages and understanding these can help you to make an...
The County Councils Network (CCN) and the Local Government Association (LGA) recently commissioned a 166-page report exploring the need for fundamental reform of the SEND system in England; ‘Towards an effective and financially sustainable approach to...
The Children and Families Act 2014 (CFA 2014) is fundamental in governing Special Educational Needs (SEN) law in England. Some aspects of the CFA 2014 are widely known, for example the sections relating to EHCP’s. However, a lesser known, but still...
If your Child has Special Educational Needs, you may have made a request to your Local Authority for an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) or, you may already be in receipt of an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) which provides Special...
Each Local Authority has a legal duty to provide suitable education to all children of compulsory school age who are not able to access school.
As most will be aware by now, the UK will be heading to the polls on the 4th of July to vote in a general election, which many predict will see Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour party replace the Conservative party in Government. Labour’s proposal...
Councils in England forecast a shortfall of almost £1bn in school funding for supporting children with special needs: - A recent BBC Report into local authorities’ budgetary shortfall for supporting children with special needs has cast light on...
Going through a relationship breakdown can be an extremely stressful situation. However for those either serving in the armed forces or married to someone in the armed forces, there are additional considerations to factor in. This blog aims to set out these...
The short answer is yes. In 2022 the law changed to a no fault divorce system. This means that, provided you have been married for over a year, parties can apply for a divorce without one party having to blame the other for the breakdown of the marriage....
Parents, advocates and lawyers have co-produced a guidance document – which can be downloaded here – for families to use when deciding if they need a representative, what type of representative they need and who specifically to use. The...
As a parent the summer holidays can be a chance to spend quality time with the children ahead of the new school term. Often it’s the time most families plan their annual trips away. This process can become difficult for separating couples as the...
Sunday 31st March 2024 was the final date for Local Authorities to fulfil their statutory duties in finalising all Education Health Care Plans (EHCP’s) for young people with special educational needs and disabilities who plan to transition to Post-16...
The phase transfer deadline for Local Authorities is fast approaching. This means that, if your child has an EHCP and is due to transfer to another phase of education in September 2024, your Local Authority should finalise their decision in respect of your...
The government’s annual SEND statistics for 2022/23 have recently been released, revealing overwhelming figures and somewhat alarming results. The statistics can be accessed directly here . As a starting point, in the 2022/23 academic year, 14,000...
Parents may have seen the recently released campaign from the Government targeting children’s attendance at school. This is further to the announcement that school non-attendance is now a key concern for the Government following the news that there are...
We have all heard that the government is considering scrapping inheritance tax in their spring budget of 2024 with some suggesting this is a move to win over voters ahead of the next election. But don’t get our hopes up just yet, this isn’t the...
With January, a sad trend known as Divorce Day happens on the first working day of the year. This article aims to answer some of the key questions you may have and hopefully provide some reassurance. How long will a Divorce take? Will I be...
With Christmas just around the corner it’s really important to start the preparations early, making sure everything for the special day is in place. For separated couples, one of the most important considerations will often be the arrangements for...
In August 2022 we published a blog post detailing what was known at that stage of the Government’s plans to abolish ‘no fault’ evictions under Section 21 Housing Act 1988. That post can be accessed here and also summarises what...
It is sad to say that in many relationships domestic abuse is becoming a more common feature. Sadly, this does not always end on the relationship breaking down. This article aims to help identify the 7 different types of abuse that can happen after a relationship ends and what can then be done to assist people.
It has recently been revealed that the government has signed a contract targeting 20% cuts to the number of new Education, Health and Care Plans (“EHCPs”) being issued for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities...
A REFUSAL TO ATTEND SCHOOL – WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES The Guardian recently published an article titled “Children are holding a mirror up to us’: why are England’s kids...
What does Birmingham’s declaration of financial distress mean for its vulnerable children and Young People? Today, Birmingham City Council has declared itself effectively bankrupt and issued a Section 114 notice which prevents all but essential...
Today on GCSE results day, thousands of students across the country anxiously await their exam results. Understandably, this is a nerve-wracking and emotional time for both students and their families. If your results are not as expected – do not...
Alarmingly, a recent study by The House Magazine highlights that in 2022, children in the UK waited an average of 16 months for an ADHD or autism screening. The longest average wait in the UK was reported in Belfast, with children waiting 5 years for just an...
The latest annual statistics regarding Special Educational Needs and Education, Health and Care plans (“EHCPs”) have recently been released by the Government. It is no surprise that the total number of children and young people with EHCPs has...
Binita Thobhani from our Commercial Property Team advises on the Latest Energy Efficiency Standards
The Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal has substantially amended the directions that they provide at the outset of an appeal, for the first time in recent memory. This substantial change to the appeal process is likely to have a significant...
On the 24th March the Ministry of Justice announced their plans to make mediation mandatory in all family cases unless there are allegations or a history of domestic violence or safeguarding issues. To help families we will see the government’s Family...
31 March EHCP deadline for transition to Post-16 placements in September 2023 – We answer frequently asked questions on this deadline, process and appeals. What is the 31 March deadline? Local Authorities must issue Final Amended EHCPs...
There is a common myth, which I have heard clients repeat that “If I built the asset up before the marriage, it can’t be claimed against”. Unfortunately this is not necessarily the case, and with multiple and later life marriages becoming...
1st March is National Offer day for secondary school placements for September 2023 (Year 7). We answer frequently asked questions on this deadline, process and appeals. What is the 01 March deadline? If your child is due to start secondary...
We answer frequently asked questions on this deadline, process and appeals. What is the 15 February deadline? Local Authorities must issue Final Amended EHCPs for children who are due to transition to a secondary school placement in September...
If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (‘EHCP’) and will be transferring between phases of education in September 2023, you may be aware that the phase transfer deadline is fast approaching. The statutory deadline for Local...
What is Mediation? Mediation is a place where you and your ex-partner can discuss your issues with a trained mediator present who can facilitate a constructive conversation, stop your emotions taking over, try to help you see both sides of the issue and...
I have written last year, about the change to the Divorce Law, which was implemented on 6th April 2022. The change that many wanted, and that after years (possibly decades) of lobbying we now have. I spent some time exploring how the change in the law has...
The University and College Union (“UCU”) has announced that university staff will strike on the 24th, 25th and 30th November 2022 over pay, pensions and working conditions. The strikes will take place at 150 universities across the UK, with an...
