We support schools through the EHCP process. We help schools with requests for Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNAs), challenge local authority decisions and address non-compliance with statutory timescales.

We support schools with the EHCP statutory consultation process including drafting or reviewing responses to consultation to ensure they're comprehensive and legally sound.

Where EHCPs are already in place, we often advise our clients with queries around funding, training and resource. 

We advise clients on challenging placement decisions. We can help you prepare complaints under the local authority’s internal complaints procedure, support escalation to the Secretary of State and, where appropriate, Judicial Review. Our team help you assess the merits of any challenge and prepare your complaint or claim.

We’ve developed a comprehensive SEND support pack for schools, including template letters and practical resources.

We provide training to many of the largest academy trusts in the country and local authorities on topics including the legal framework around SEND, managing complaints relating to SEND, responding to consultations, the EHCP process among others. We can tailor our training to tackle the key issues you're facing.

Our specialist lawyers have extensive experience supporting trusts and schools, with deep understanding of the processes and challenges surrounding SEND.

We can help you by:

• Accessing our SEND support pack for schools.
• Drafting and reviewing policies.
• Advising you on your legal obligations around SEND and ensuring these are being met in your school, both in relation to individual pupils and holistically. 
• Advising you on parental complaints relating to SEND including helping you investigate these complaints lawfully.
• Drafting or reviewing requests for EHCNAs.
• Drafting or reviewing letters challenging Local Authority decisions relating to EHCPs. 
• Drafting or reviewing letters challenging non-compliance with statutory timescales relating to EHCPs. 
• Drafting or reviewing EHCP consultation responses and providing you with templates to support this process. 
• Challenging local authority decisions on placement, including within their internal complaints procedure, to the Secretary of State and beyond.
• Providing training on the legal framework, SEND management in school or specific areas of challenge as tailored to your needs.