We believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality education, no matter their circumstance. Our leading SEN solicitors provide expert representation and tailored legal advice to parents, deputies, solicitors and other professionals on Special Educational Needs (SEN) issues involving EHC plans.
Every student has legal rights when it comes to their education, and it is the duty of local authorities to ensure that these rights are upheld. Where the needs of pupils and parents are not met, or students are left at a disadvantage due to a lack of support for special educational needs, it is important to understand how this can be addressed.
Our education lawyers are committed to ensuring that every child gets the best start in life, with access to the educational support they need to thrive. From securing EHC needs assessments and education, health and care plans (EHCPs) to challenging the content of the plans involving special educational provision and school placements, our team of highly trained experts are here to fight your case.
Our team of highly experienced SEN solicitors provide support for families, court of protection deputies, clinical negligence solicitors and other professionals such as case managers nationwide, providing expert insight into education and SEN law.
Our solicitors have helped many clients at every stage of disputes, and can support with:
Providing expertise and advice on your legal rights in obtaining SEN support, including education, health and care plans (EHCP) via appeals and tribunals
Securing EHC needs assessments for special education needs with your local authority
Handling disputes where there are difficulties in accessing appropriate support in schools or colleges
Advising on and challenging the contents of – an education, health and care plan (EHCP)
advising on mediation
Handling appeals to the SEN tribunal
What is an EHCP?
An EHCP – or Education, Health and Care Plan – is a document created for a child or young person with special education needs (SEN), detailing their requirements for education, health and social care and how these can be met.
Learn more about Education, Health and Care Plans here.
Gurvinder Samra at Slater & Gordon has a brilliant way of asking specific questions that force local authorities to fulfil their statutory duties. After a complex two year battle, our LA agreed to fund the only appropriate provision for our child and this was expedited and seen over the line by Guv, saving our family from tribunals and further detrimental and unfair delays. She took the time to quickly understand the case and her interactions with our LA were respectful, clear and resolution driven.
5* Client review for Gurvinder Samra
We cannot thank Gurvinder Samra enough for her help securing a fantastic residential college placement for my 21-year-old daughter, who has cerebral palsy and complex needs. Before her involvement, we were struggling to get the care and resources we desperately needed, and felt lost in the process. Gurvinder navigated the complex legalities with professionalism and compassion, and truly listened and understood the needs of our family. A true advocate, she worked tirelessly and has definitely changed our lives beyond our wildest dreams.
5* Client review for Gurvinder Samra
Ensuring that your child has access to the support they need to succeed in education and later life is paramount to any parent or guardian. Our education and SEN solicitors are committed to fighting your cause and delivering successful outcomes, helping many families and experts alike through the tribunal process.
We are a national law firm and can provide support across the country. Our highly experienced SEN solicitors are regularly featured in independent, prestigious legal directories such as Chambers and Partners, and the Legal 500, with a wealth of expertise in supporting families, court of protection deputies and clinical negligence solicitors in securing successful outcomes. Principal Lawyer, Gurvinder Samra, has also been nominated for the Law Society’s Legal Hero for making a lasting and tangible difference to the lives of her clients and bringing distinction to the legal profession.
We are an award winning law firm and have a dedicated team of education law solicitors to advise and guide you – no matter how complex your situation may be.
Tailored advice
We understand that everyone's situation is unique, so we focus on providing tailored advice and guidance to suit the needs of you and your family.
Talk to the experts
With a wealth of experience and a track record of success, our experts can support in any aspect of education SEN law.
Local access
We are a national law firm, with legal experts available locally across the UK. Meetings can be arranged via telephone or video call, to suit your requirements.
How do I make sure my child gets the SEN support they need?
If you think your child, or a child you are responsible for, has special education needs, you should in the first instance speak to the SEN coordinator (or SENCO) in the child’s school or nursery, or your local authority if your child is not currently in education.
Where support is not made available, you may be able to make a compliant or appeal to ensure your child has access to the provisions they need. In this case, a specialist SEN solicitor can advise you on how to handle these discussions – you can speak to our team today on 0330 041 5869 or requesting a call back online.
Does my child need a SEN diagnosis?
No. While it is a generally held belief that a child can only access support at school if they have a formal diagnosis, you don’t need to have a formal medical diagnosis before reaching out for support.
It may be recommended that your child undergoes an assessment and potential diagnosis as part of determining the support they need, but it is not a requirement before support can be provided.
Can I appeal an EHCP decision?
Yes, you can. If you have reason to believe that the provisions set out in your child’s education, health and care plan (EHCP) do not adequately meet their needs, you can submit an appeal to the SEN tribunal to have the provision reviewed and amended. There are stages to this process – you will usually have to attend a mediation session before submitting an appeal, for example – so it’s best to speak to an expert SEN solicitor beforehand, as they will be able to tell you if you have grounds for an appeal and the likelihood of success.
Gurvinder Samra at Slater & Gordon has a brilliant way of asking specific questions that force local authorities to fulfil their statutory duties. After a complex two year battle, our LA agreed to fund the only appropriate provision for our child and this was expedited and seen over the line by Guv, saving our family from tribunals and further detrimental and unfair delays. She took the time to quickly understand the case and her interactions with our LA were respectful, clear and resolution driven. 5* Client review for Gurvinder Samra
We cannot thank Gurvinder Samra enough for her help securing a fantastic residential college placement for my 21-year-old daughter, who has cerebral palsy and complex needs. Before her involvement, we were struggling to get the care and resources we desperately needed, and felt lost in the process. Gurvinder navigated the complex legalities with professionalism and compassion, and truly listened and understood the needs of our family. A true advocate, she worked tirelessly and has definitely changed our lives beyond our wildest dreams. 5* Client review for Gurvinder Samra