SWL
EDUCATION LAW
Our specialist team is headed by John Peake and Kate O’Brien supported by our Consultant Brian Cox.
We recognise that every person has a right to be educated and to have the opportunity to reach their potential. We also recognise that this right continues after they have left school. For most people their educational experience at school is appropriate to their needs and they benefit from their schooling but not for every child.
There is an increasingly large number of young people who for various reasons do not get the support they need and are either excluded from school or fail to achieve their potential. It is a major worry that the Government themselves accept that there are many children who transfer to secondary education without having the ability to read or write to a level which enables them to access their education.
We have from the experiences built up by our Lawyers recognised that a failure to provide appropriate education and/or failing to understand the reasons for a person’s lack of progress, failing to identify educational difficulties or addressing bullying problems, often results in behavioural problems, reluctance to attend school or simply not participating in the whole educational process.
We are able to help those children who have educational needs of all descriptions and assist their parents in achieving access to appropriate education for their children. We can assist in all areas of education law including those areas listed below, and have access to Barristers who specialise in working in these areas. We regularly instruct Independent experts including: Educational Physiologists’, Speech and Language therapists and Occupational therapists.
- Exclusions and Admission Appeals
- Preparing for and attending Special Educational and Disability Tribunal Hearings.
- Negotiating Statements of Special Educational Needs and assisting to seek and obtain the correct support for all children who are failing to meet their potential at school or College.
- Attending Annual Reviews and other School meetings.
- School transfers
- Bullying and other unacceptable conduct against the child by other pupils or the school.
- Problems with a University or College placement and obtaining funding from the Learning Skills Council.
We can help and support you in all educational matters; please contact John or Kate:
Telephone 01173146401
Email: education@southwestlaw.org.uk