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Education Law and SEND Law Support
Get specialist Education and SEND law guidance from experts who understand the realities of when the education system isn’t working as it should.
Our legal experts will face the challenges in the education system with you
Comprehensive legal support for parents and schools
Navigating the education system can be challenging, whether you’re a parent, carer, or a school leader. We provide clear, compassionate guidance and stand by your side at every step, helping you address issues and move forward with confidence.
For parents: We understand that protecting your child’s rights and securing the lawful, effective support they deserve is paramount
For schools: We know how important it is to guide your school to meet legal obligations confidently while safeguarding every child’s needs.
Trusted Education and SEND legal support
Our Education & SEND legal team include SEND parents, school governors and safeguarding and SEND Tribunal specialists who understand both the law and the reality of supporting a child with additional needs.
We provide parents, carers, schools and colleges with clear, responsive and collaborative guidance. We know that timely communication and seamless coordination are key to achieving the best outcomes and we structure our support to make the process as straightforward and effective as possible.
From the moment you work with us, you’ll benefit from a client-first approach with dedicated points of contact, proactive updates and transparent guidance at every stage.
We collaborate closely with all parties involved, including experts and counsel, so every decision is fully informed and focused on securing the best possible outcome for you.
How we can support you
We support parents, carers; and schools with a wide range of education law challenges, from Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) advice and support, safeguarding, school admissions and exclusions, through to policy development and compliance, independent review panels and clerking. We can support you with:
- Education, Health, Care Needs Assessments (EHCNA)
- Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) SEND Appeals
- Annual Reviews
- Pre-Action / Judicial Review
- Complaints – School, Local Authority, LGSCO
- Permanent Exclusions and Suspensions
- Disability Discrimination
- Admission Appeals – Schools, Universities, Phase-Transfer
- Clerking
- Policy Review and Drafting
- Independent Review Panel Hearings
- Safeguarding
Why choose Tees for your Education matters?
When you are dealing with education or SEND issues, you need advice that is clear, practical, and focused on achieving the right outcome quickly.
Our Education and SEND team supports parents, carers, schools and colleges with complex and sensitive matters including EHCP’s, exclusions, safeguarding concerns, admissions appeals, disability discrimination, and policy compliance.
Recognised by the Legal 500, we combine specialist education law expertise with a collaborative approach that keeps communication straightforward and proactive throughout your matter.
As a full-service law firm, we can also connect you with specialists across employment, dispute resolution, family law, and financial planning where additional support is needed.
View our key services
The areas our education law solicitors can help you with include:
A hard working and committed team with deep expertise in education law litigation, including disability rights law.
Our experience in education law
Our experience in education law
- Tees acted in a complex EHCP appeal for a young adult with severe disabilities, autism, and treatment-resistant epilepsy, successfully challenging a proposed day placement. The team secured a 52-week out-of-county residential placement in Yorkshire with a comprehensive therapy and healthcare package, coordinating education, health, and social care, safeguarding welfare, and relieving family caring pressures, valued at £500,000 per year.
- Tees acted for the family of a child with epilepsy, ASD, and suspected ADHD, securing a tailored EOTAS package from Lincolnshire Council after the child was unable to attend the mainstream EHCP placement due to frequent seizures. The team achieved a settlement on the hearing morning, providing specialist tuition, therapy, enrichment activities, and pre-empting fines, valued at £70,000 per year.
- Tees acted for the family of an 11-year-old with autism, dyslexia, and speech and language disorder, challenging Cambridgeshire County Council’s failure to meet statutory phase transfer deadlines. Through strategic negotiation, the team secured the parents’ preferred out-of-county boarding school, updating the EHCP, safeguarding the child’s secondary school transition, and avoiding a Tribunal, with an annual value of over £53,000 plus VAT.
- Tees acted for the family of a previously looked after child with complex trauma, autism spectrum disorder, and a severe speech and language disorder in an appeal against Isle of Wight Council concerning Sections B, F, and I of the child’s EHCP. During the appeal, Tees identified failures by the local authority to deliver the Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy specified in Section F of the EHCP, requiring the family to fund provision privately. Through pre-action Judicial Review correspondence and ongoing strategic support, the team secured £23,500.20 in reimbursement and compensation. The appeal later settled by consent shortly before the hearing, securing a substantial therapy package and placement at the family’s preferred specialist setting.
- Tees acted for the family of a child who was self-harming and out of education in pre-action proceedings and a subsequent EHCP appeal against a London Borough. The local authority continued to name an unsuitable placement and refused to name the parents’ preferred specialist school, citing purported safeguarding concerns. Through strategic challenge and investigation, Tees established that the concerns were unfounded and secured an early settlement approximately 11 months before the hearing.
- Tees acted for the family of a young child with autism spectrum disorder, speech, language and communication difficulties, and sensory sensitivities in an appeal against Bedfordshire County Council’s refusal to issue an EHCP. Despite previously funding 1:1 support to enable the child to access education, the local authority withdrew that support following its refusal decision. Tees secured expert evidence strongly supporting the child’s needs and, following strategic submissions and notification of potential wasted costs, the local authority conceded the appeal and issued an EHCP providing appropriate specialist provision, including 1:1 support.
- Tees act for a school in the Worcestershire County Council area regarding an ongoing claim in the First Tier Tribunal. They are providing ongoing support and representation to the Senior Leadership Team and Governing Body of the school through a protracted claim.
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