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Education and SEND legal advice for schools and colleges
Specialist Education Law guidance to help schools, colleges and universities meet their legal obligations with confidence.
110+
years of service
30
experienced partners
200+
advisers and growing
Specialist education lawyers to support your organisation through every challenge
Expert legal advice for schools, colleges, and universities
Education leaders face constant challenges including cost-management, pressure to deliver results, staffing difficulties, safeguarding responsibilities and managing expectations from parents and regulators.
Our education solicitors will support you and your organisation on all aspects education law, including:
- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) issues
- Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
- Safeguarding concerns
- Discrimination claims
- Reputational and governance matters
- Local Authority and OFSTED complaints
"The public law team at Tees is highly approachable and composed of dedicated professionals who consistently go above and beyond to deliver exceptional results for their clients" Legal 500 2026
Practical legal solutions across the full spectrum of education law
Our education law team provides specialist legal support and strategic guidance across the full spectrum of education law matters.
Tees’ Education & SEND team advises on admissions, exclusions, safeguarding, funding, Governors’ Disciplinary Committees, Independent Review Panels, discrimination, and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision.
Our experience in SEND, combined with practical insight from working alongside education providers means our advice is both legally robust and operationally practical.
We work closely with schools and educational professionals to support policy development, dispute resolution, governance issues and risk management.
We act for maintained schools, academies, independent and specialist schools, colleges, universities and other educational organisations, providing them with the expertise, resources, and guidance they need to meet statutory obligations, safeguard students, and achieve positive outcomes.
Understanding the pressures on education providers
Schools, colleges and universities are operating in a highly regulated and demanding environment, balancing safeguarding duties, SEND provision, staffing pressures, and parental expectations.
We work closely with education providers to deliver clear, practical legal advice that fits within real-world operational constraints. Our role is to help you make confident decisions, manage risk effectively, and resolve issues before they escalate.
Why choose Tees for your school?
Recognised by the Legal 500, our Education and SEND legal team provides schools, colleges and universities with clear, responsive and practical legal advice.
Our expertise
Our legal experts support education providers through many challenging situations including:
- Admissions appeals
- School exclusion appeals
- Special Educational Needs (SEN) and disability issues
- Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP)
- Judicial Review
- Safeguarding concerns
- Discrimination allegations and breach of the Equality Act 2010
- Reputational and risk management, defamation and social media
- Allegations of professional misconduct, educational negligence or bullying
- Complaints to local authorities and OFSTED
- Data protection and compliance, including GDPR compliance
- Changes to the status of a school
- Policy drafting and consultation – best practice advice
- Recovery of fees and allegations of breach of contract (for independent schools)
Our legal experts support education providers through many challenging situations including:
- Admissions appeals
- School exclusion appeals
- Special Educational Needs (SEN) and disability issues
- Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP)
- Judicial Review
- Safeguarding concerns
- Discrimination allegations and breach of the Equality Act 2010
- Reputational and risk management, defamation and social media
- Allegations of professional misconduct, educational negligence or bullying
- Complaints to local authorities and OFSTED
- Data protection and compliance, including GDPR compliance
- Changes to the status of a school
- Policy drafting and consultation – best practice advice
- Recovery of fees and allegations of breach of contract (for independent schools)
Key people
Get in touch
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Tees Law does not provide Legal Aid. You can find more information here about Legal Aid and eligibility requirements.
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What our clients say
★★★★★
“Personable. Professional. Accurate and clear in their communications.”
Legal 500 2027
Public sector
★★★★★
“The team at Tees is fantastic: knowledgeable, technically skilled, commercially astute, and always goes the extra mile for their clients. They know how to prepare a case and provide commercial and legal advice that is exceptional.”
Legal 500 2027
Firm wide quote
★★★★★
“Very competent and professional. Explained things clearly and was able to give sound advice and recommendations. Strong communication – responsive and timely.”
Legal 500 2027
Public sector
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