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Education & Judicial Review News
Members of the Watkins Solicitors Education Law team recently attended the Together for SEND conference, held on 16 March, where they met with families, education professionals and local organisations to share information about legal support for children...
Parents sometimes contact us after being told that if they want a residential school or college placement for their child, they must sign a Section 20 agreement. Section 20 of the Children Act 1989 allows a local authority to accommodate a child through...
Parents sometimes contact us after receiving a decision from the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability). This is the independent court that hears appeals about Education, Health and Care Plans, including refusals to assess, refusals...
Parents sometimes contact us with questions about what happens after a young person turns 19 and still has an Education, Health and Care Plan. There can be confusion about whether support continues and what types of provision are available at this stage. ...
Parents and young people sometimes contact us with questions about what happens if a young person with an Education, Health and Care Plan receives an offer from a university. There can be uncertainty about whether the EHCP continues and what support will be...
Parents sometimes contact us with questions about whether developing life skills can count as education within an Education, Health and Care Plan. This can be particularly important for young people who may struggle with independence and daily living tasks....
Parents sometimes contact us asking which statutory deadline applies in February for children transferring from primary school to secondary school, and what happens if that date falls on a weekend. For children moving from primary to secondary school,...
Parents sometimes contact us asking about the difference between an Individual Education Plan, often referred to as an IEP, and an Education, Health and Care Plan. The two documents can sound similar, but they are very different in legal terms. In a...
Our February Education Newsletter Is Now Available We are pleased to share that our February Education Newsletter has now been published, bringing together key updates, guidance and resources for families navigating the SEND system. At Watkins...
We are pleased to share that Watkins Solicitors has launched a new Education Law flyer and brochure! Our Education Law team works with families across England to support children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. We...
When a parent or carer takes their case to the SEND Tribunal to challenge a decision made by the local authority regarding their child’s EHCP, they may ask the Tribunal to order an EOTAS package. EOTAS is typically considered when a child or young...
Last year the SEND Tribunal put restrictions on expert reports when they will be filed as evidence in SEND Tribunals. These changes are important for families going through the SEND Tribunal process, particularly when expert evidence is being presented....
The government has acknowledged that the current SEND system is under pressure and there are ongoing discussions about potential reforms and changes to EHCPs. Official Labour documents do not confirm any details about changing EHCPs and therefore it is...
The latest SEND Tribunal statistics are from 2024-2025 and detail the increasing number of appeals lodged by parents against decisions made by local authorities and content of EHCPs. The data shows that appeals continue to be resolved however, the number of...
The EHCP process has specific deadlines for February and March each year that are important for parents and carers to be aware of. These deadlines help ensure that children and young people receive timely and appropriate support. Here's a summary of the...
Parents often contact us feeling after receiving a late amended Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), particularly where a phase transfer for September is approaching and an appeal has already been lodged. In a recent video on our Education Law TikTok...
Parents often ask how an upcoming phase transfer affects the timing and purpose of their child’s EHCP Annual Review, particularly when they are trying to plan ahead for a change of school. In a recent video on our Education Law TikTok channel,...
Parents often ask who is responsible for arranging their child’s EHCP Annual Review meeting, particularly when communication feels unclear. @watkinssolicitors.sen Who is responsible for organising an EHCP Annual Review meeting? Parents often ask...
After receiving a SEND Tribunal decision, some parents are left feeling that the outcome does not reflect their child’s needs. A common question we hear is whether a Tribunal decision can be challenged if a parent believes it is wrong. ...
Parents preparing for a SEND Tribunal appeal sometimes ask whether legal advice is helpful, particularly as the Tribunal system was originally designed to be accessible and parent-friendly. @watkinssolicitors.sen Do parents need legal advice for a SEND...