The education law team in the
human rights department at Leigh Day & Co has a experienced team of education law lawyers and is recognised by Chambers guide to the legal profession 2012 as showing ‘dedication to defending human rights and it is particularly active in cases relating to
SEN, as well as matters concerning the effects of maintained schools converting to academies’, while Legal 500 2011 notes that partner
Alison Millar is a ‘leading figure for education matters’.
Leigh Day’s education law specialists advise on a range of education law matters, but focuses particularly on the educational needs of children and young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities. The team has extensive experience in representing families who wish to appeal against their local education authority’s assessment of their child’s special educational needs or ‘statement’ (SEN). Our lawyers have experience in successfully challenged LEA assessments which has resulted in the alteration of the contents of a number of SEN statements for clients. Our specialist education lawyers also have experience of bringing appeals to the SENDIST (Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal). We have experience in working with families whose children have wide-ranging and complex learning disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, dyslexia, dyspraxia, hearing difficulties and visual impairment.
The human rights lawyers at Leigh Day are recognised nationally as being experts in bringing judicial reviews on behalf of local groups who are concerned about the establishment of
academy schools in their area, and have successfully challenged plans by local education authorities to replace existing schools with city academies. The team has also advised on free schools and admission and exclusion matters. Our education lawyer use judicial review to ensure that children receive all the education provision they are entitled to and we help people and groups who believe that their rights have been infringed by government bodies and other public authorities acting unfairly or unlawfully.
We also bring cases on behalf of adults who have suffered
abuse, neglect, psychiatric harm and other injury or loss as a result of their local authority’s failure to provide education appropriate to their needs.
News
First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) Tribunal judgment published following appeal
Specialist education lawyer Alison Millar successfully challenges contents of SEN statement
Ruling may make it difficult for students with special educational needs to finish their education
The LSC has terminated its contract with Coleg Elidyr leaving vulnerable students stranded
Human rights law firm Leigh Day & Co recently hosted a seminar given by barristers from Hardwicke Building.
Leigh Day & Co has been instructed by the British Humanist Association (BHA) to intervene in a controversial case concerning the admissions policy of JFS, a Jewish school in North London
Leigh Day & Co has been instructed to challenge the decisions taken by the Secretary of State and Camden Council to set up an academy in the borough
Luke Humphreys, a client of human rights partner Alison Millar, was delighted when Alison succeeded in her challenge to obtain a place for him in an appropriate school.
A Bristol family have successfully challenged their local education authority over omissions in their daughters ‘Statement of Special Educational Needs’. The family were represented by solicitor Frances Swaine in the Human Rights department at Leigh Day & Co.
A child with cerebral palsy and learning difficulties had his whole educational and community care package withdrawn by the local authority leaving his Mum to pick up the pieces.