Special Educational Needs
This page provides information on our SEN services in England. Please visit our Additional Learning Needs in Wales page for further information if you are living in Wales.
Our education team are leading experts in special educational needs (SEN) and disability law. We work with children, young people and their families to ensure that every child has access to an education that helps them achieve the best possible outcomes.
A child or young person has special educational needs and disabilities if they have a learning difficulty and/or a disability that means they need additional or special health and education support.
This includes autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD or dyspraxia), hearing or sight loss and physical disabilities.
Some children with SEN and/or disabilities in England may need an Education Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan or EHCP) in order to meet their needs at school and allow them to reach their full potential. This a legal document prepared by the local authority that states the SEN support, special educational provision and accommodations that must be provided by a school in order to meet that child’s specific learning needs. It applies to all schools, including mainstream schools.
In Wales, there are Individual Development Plans (IDP) in place instead of EHCPs. Please visit our Additional Learning Needs in Wales page for further information.
Unfortunately, many children go without the EHC Plan they need or are provided with plans that are not suitable and do not provide the correct additional support. We help our clients to challenge these decisions so that their child can access the right support.
Our experienced and specialist team has helped thousands of families get their child the education they deserve, including, where necessary, appealing decisions to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.
Our services include:
- Advice on whether the current provision your child’s school is providing is meeting their needs and your options.
- Advice on whether your child requires an Education Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) by the local authority. This has to happen before an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) can be made.
- Conducting appeals over decisions not to conduct an EHCNA or not to issue an EHCP following an assessment.
- Conducting appeals over the contents of an issued EHCP if you feel it does not meet your child’s needs.
- Conducting appeals against a decision to cease to maintain an EHCP any further.
Talk to our friendly team today to see how we can help you.
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