Local authorities do not always follow the law when making decisions about children with special educational needs. When they do get it wrong, we are here to provide expert advice to parents and to challenge such decisions by appealing to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SEND) on your behalf.
Disabilities requiring special education
Should your child be born with a disability, it is highly likely that they will require special educational arrangements to assist with their education. Such disabilities include:
- Cerebral palsy
- Down’s Syndrome
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Asperger’s Syndrome
- Autistic Spectrum Disorder
- Dyslexia/Dyspraxia
- Sensory processing disorder
- Speech and language difficulties
Choosing the right school
Choosing a school to meet your child’s needs can be difficult, especially when the local authority turns you down. It can also be difficult to ensure that the local authority provides the right help for your child in school.
We understand how stressful and upsetting it can be when local authorities make poor decisions about your child and what they need in school in order to learn and progress.
Managing your appeal
Our Education Law solicitors can offer expert advice and prepare your appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SEND). We have established links with the following experts who we can instruct on your behalf to provide independent reports about your child:
- Educational psychologists
- Clinical psychologists
- Speech and language therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Physiotherapists
We also draft key documents, instruct expert barristers when required and, where possible, negotiate with the local authority to settle the appeal on favourable terms for your child, saving you the stress of having to attend an appeal hearing. We will also ensure that the local authority carries out the decision of the tribunal fully and within the stipulated time-frame.
Important things to consider
You may wish to contact your local authority in the first instance to see if you can resolve any issues without the need for legal action.
We would not advise parents to attempt to lodge an appeal on their own without any legal help. There is only one chance to appeal, and in order for your case to have the best chance of success we strongly recommend you seek specialist legal advice.
The SEND Tribunal also deals with claims about Disability Discrimination in schools, for example where a child has been placed on a fixed-term exclusion by reason of disability.
We have prepared a factsheet about the SEND process. Please click here for more information.
You may wish to visit the SEND website for more information.
If you are unsure whether you have sufficient grounds to lodge an appeal, we would be pleased to look at your documentation and advise you.
For our fees, please visit the Education Law Fees page.
Why use Fisher Meredith?
Fisher Meredith is an award winning London law firm with offices in Richmond, Surrey and Kennington, London. Our Education Law solicitors have an outstanding reputation for acting on behalf of individuals with highly successful results.
For 35 years, Fisher Meredith has developed a reputation for being approachable and “going the extra mile” for its clients whilst maintaining ethical and socially responsible standards.
Fisher Meredith’s Education Law Department has a dedicated team of solicitors with years of experience dealing with appeals to SEND and advising parents on all aspects of special education. With our expertise and up-to-date knowledge of case law, we can help and guide you through the appeal process.
Fisher Meredith is ranked as a Tier 3 firm in the Legal 500 for practising Education Law.
What should I do now?
If you have a child with special educational needs and wish to make an appeal to a SEND tribunal, our Education Law Department can provide you with quality advice to achieve the best possible outcome.
For initial advice or to arrange a meeting with one of our solicitors, please contact our helpline on 0800 014 7445.
