Derby City Council to pay compensation over SEND student delays – BBC News

‘Derby City Council has been ordered to pay thousands in compensation after it took too long to arrange alternative education for a special needs student.’

Full Story

BBC News, 14th January 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Schools in England ‘face legal risks if they follow new transgender guidance’ – The Guardian

‘Schools in England could face legal action if they follow new guidance on how to treat transgender children, ministers’ own lawyers have reportedly warned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 20th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Strikes: what will minimum service levels look like in the education sector? – Local Goverment Lawyer

‘The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 came into force on 20 July 2023 and gives the government powers to make regulations to set minimum service levels in specified sectors during strikes. This includes education. Joanne Moseley looks at the implications for the sector.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 15th December 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court grants permission for legal challenge over lack of legal aid for school exclusion appeals – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has granted permission for a claimant to challenge the lack of legal aid for appeals before an Independent Review Panel (IRP), the independent body that reviews the lawfulness of permanent exclusions.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 29th November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Home Office publishes new policy instruction on lifting NRPF conditions for those on student leave following concession in test case – Garden Court Chambers

‘Following judicial review proceedings brought by a destitute woman and her one-year-old daughter who were denied access to public funds, the Home Office has published a new policy instruction setting out the circumstances in which no recourse to public funds (‘NRPF’) conditions will be lifted for those on student leave.’

Full Story

Garden Court Chambers, 10th October 2023

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Inquiry says Ofsted viewed as ‘not fit for purpose’ – The Independent

Posted November 20th, 2023 in education, inquiries, news, ombudsmen, school children, teachers by tracey

‘Ofsted is in need of major reform and is seen as “not fit for purpose” according to an inquiry into the education inspectorate for England. The Beyond Ofsted inquiry called for “transformational change” and said it found Ofsted as “having a detrimental impact on schools which some perceive as toxic”.’

Full Story

The Independent, 20th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Overseas students and workers targeted in illicit UK visa trade – The Guardian

Posted October 30th, 2023 in education, employment, government departments, immigration, news, visas by tracey

‘UK visa appointments are being booked up by brokers and sold on for hundreds of pounds in an illicit trade targeting overseas workers and students.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 29th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

MXX v A Secondary School [2023] EWCA Civ 996 – 3PB

‘In the ever-increasing cases concerning grooming/abuse, the Court of Appeal’s decision provides helpful guidance in the context of work experience employment and vicarious liability.’

Full Story

3PB, 5th September 2023

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Berrow Wood: The abusive school where boys were just a number – BBC News

‘Nine former members of staff at a school for boys with behavioural difficulties have now been convicted of physically and sexually abusing pupils over four decades. The BBC spoke to 10 survivors of the defunct Berrow Wood School about their ordeals, with questions remaining over how the abuse was able to continue for so long.’

Full Story

BBC News, 3rd October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Local authority challenges Tribunal costs awards decision following specialist school legal battle – Local Government Lawyer

‘East Sussex County Council has submitted a request for permission to appeal a decision ordering it to pay school fees costs to the family of a young autistic boy.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 29th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Lessons learnt: Handling a vexatious complaint – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 28th, 2023 in complaints, education, electronic mail, families, news by tracey

‘Victoria Hatton provides a case study on how a school dealt with a vexatious complaint by a parent.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 27th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Councils accused of “wasting” £60m in a year on tribunal battles over support for children with special educational needs – Local Government Lawyer

‘Councils wasted £60 million in a year on “unsuccessful court disputes” with parents and carers seeking support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), according to research by Pro Bono Economics, commissioned by the Disabled Children’s Partnership.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 27th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Councils ‘wasting millions’ on special educational needs legal disputes – The Independent

‘Councils in England have been accused of “wasting” millions of pounds in court disputes with parents and carers over disability and educational support for their children.’

Full Story

The Independent, 26th September 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Watchdog updates technical guidance for schools regarding pupils with protected characteristics – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has updated its technical guidance for schools in England and Scotland, outlining the obligations the Equality Act places upon schools regarding pupils with protected characteristics and the provision of their education.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 26th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Why The RAAC Scandal Is A Human Rights Issue – Each Other

‘Since 1994, people relying on the use of public buildings in the UK have, without knowing it, been let down by the use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC): a cheaper, lightweight alternative to traditional concrete, but one that has an average lifespan of only 30 years. Now, as some schools face closure ensue at what would have been the beginning of term, the Department for Education has come under fire for its timing and for its previous lack of action. But it’s not just a safety issue: it’s a human rights issue.’

Full Story

Each Other, 6th September 2023

Source: eachother.org.uk

Legal services T-Levels to be taught for first time this month – Legal Futures

Posted September 1st, 2023 in education, legal education, legal services, news by sally

‘The first teenagers to take the legal services T-Level, a new vocational alternative to A-Levels, are to start courses this month at half a dozen schools and colleges.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 1st September 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Administrative Justice Council makes recommendations on improving local authority SEND decisions – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Administrative Justice Council (AJC) has set out recommendations to improve the quality of local authority decision-making for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 21st August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court rejects challenge over SEND, transgender needs and Public Sector Equality Duty – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has rejected a claim brought by a transgender young person that the defendant council failed to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty regarding his needs as a transgender person with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 21st August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Council fails in Upper Tribunal appeal over mentoring support during non-term time periods – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Upper Tribunal has found that a decision made by the First-tier Tribunal regarding autism mentoring support during non-term time periods did not involve an error on a point of law.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 21st August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Suitability s202 reviews and ‘minded to’ regulations – Nearly Legal

Posted August 14th, 2023 in appeals, children, education, families, homelessness, housing, local government, news by tracey

‘Elbhiri v Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. 9 December 2022. Central London County Court (Unreported – copy of judgment )
This is a s.204 appeal judgment that I have been sitting on for an inexcusably long time, ever since I was kindly sent the judgment. This is particularly inexcusable as it is a very interesting point at issue in this appeal. The brief background was that RBKC owed Ms Elbhiri the full housing duty following her homeless application. Ms E had been placed in temporary accommodation under s.193 Housing Act 1996. She then sought a review under s.202 of the suitability of the accommodation. The review upheld the suitability of the accommodation and Ms E brought a s.204 appeal.’

Full Story

Nearly legal, 13th August 2023

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk