Girl and mum awarded £14k over education failures – BBC News

‘A council that did not provide a girl who has special educational needs with suitable schooling for two years will pay her and her mother £14,300 in compensation.’

Full Story

BBC News, 18th November 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

“Shocking” lack of urgency to trace children missing from education, Children’s Commissioner warns – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel De Souza, has warned that more than 11,500 children in England went missing from education over the course of one year, having “fallen off the radar” of their local authorities.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th September 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Teenager with significant support needs left days from homelessness due to ‘unfathomable’ council failings: Ombudsman – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has found fault in the actions of Devon County Council after it left a teenager with needs including Autism and ADHD less than a week away from being made homeless because the council had not decided where he should live when he became 18.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd August 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Upper Tribunal allows appeal as it could not be inferred First TierTribunal had considered child’s view about appropriateness of local authority’s preferred school – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Upper Tribunal has allowed an appeal made by the parents of a 7-year-old boy with autism, finding that a decision by the First-tier tribunal did not take the child’s negative feelings about the local authority preferred school into account, which was an error of law.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 2nd August 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Disabled children denied education right – report – BBC News

Posted July 16th, 2024 in disabled persons, news, reports, special educational needs, Wales by tracey

‘Many children with disabilities or additional learning needs are being denied the right to an education, a report has found.’

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BBC News, 16th July 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New practice guide: Supporting children and young people with communication needs – Family Law

‘Communication difficulties are a core characteristic for people with a learning disability. A new four-part practice guide aims to enable decision-making by children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).

The practice guide offers guidance, tips and practice pointers for practitioners to involve a child or young person with SLCN in making decisions about their lives. The primary focus is to ensure the voices of children and young people with SLCN are heard.’

Full guide

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Family Law, 8th July 2024

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Ex-charity workers still awaiting tribunal payout – BBC News

‘Former workers at a failed charity say they have not received any money despite being awarded significant sums at an employment tribunal.’

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BBC News, 8th July 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judicial Review launched over Bristol SEND “safety valve” deal – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 4th, 2024 in judicial review, local government, news, special educational needs by sally

‘A judicial review claim has been launched against Bristol City Council, challenging its decision to enter into a “safety valve agreement” with the Department for Education.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st July 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

The test for ceasing to maintain an EHCP – Local Government Lawyer

‘Abby Buttle reports on a successful appeal to the Upper Tribunal on the test for ceasing to maintain an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Tribunal “erred in law” by failing to recognise young person lacked capacity to litigate and failing to appoint his mother as alternative person – Local Government Lawyer

‘An Upper Tribunal judge has ruled that the First-tier Tribunal “erred in law” by failing to recognise that a young person lacked capacity to litigate and consequently his mother should have been appointed as his alternative person.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Pupils mocked and put in headlocks by school staff – BBC News

‘A senior staff member at an independent school for children with special educational needs has been recorded by BBC Panorama saying how he wanted to drown a pupil in a bath “like a kitten”.
An undercover reporter spent almost seven weeks at Life Wirral in Wallasey and witnessed staff using offensive language to mock pupils for their neurodiversity or learning disabilities, as well as manhandling them into dangerous headlocks.’

Full Story

BBC news, 17th June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Extended appeals in SEN cases – Local Government Lawyer

‘Leon Glenister analyses a recent judicial review on “extended” appeals in special educational needs.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 5th April 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Family lawyers join forces to support neurodivergent community – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Family lawyers from different firms and chambers have joined forces to set up a specialist group dedicated to ensuring the neurodivergent community has equal access to justice.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 3rd April 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Claimant fails in judicial review over SEND Review consultation and information on available remedies for tribunal in disability discrimination cases – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has rejected a judicial review challenge brought on behalf of a 12-year-old boy with special educational needs to one of the 22 consultation questions contained in the SEND Review, the Government’s consultation Green Paper.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th March 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Council decision on needs of teenager quashed in High Court after failure to assess “all relevant considerations” – Local Government Lawyer

‘A High Court judge has quashed a council’s decision in relation to the needs of a teenage boy, after it failed to assess “all relevant considerations” having departed from recommendations by the SEND tribunal.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 20th March 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge rejects challenge to council declining to conduct EHC assessment – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 5th, 2024 in local government, news, special educational needs, young persons by tracey

‘The High Court has rejected a challenge against a council’s decision not to undertake an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment, after the local authority had expressed the view that the claimant was aged approximately 10 years older than his claimed age of 17.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 4th March 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Council told to pay £15k after failings led to child missing education for two years – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 13th, 2024 in compensation, families, local government, news, ombudsmen, special educational needs by tracey

‘The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has called on North Northamptonshire Council to pay nearly £15,000 after the local authority’s failings led to a child missing out on education for two years.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 12th February 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

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.’

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BBC News, 14th January 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

South Gloucestershire families needing respite care failed by council – BBC News

‘Almost a third of families with SEND children needing respite care have been failed by a council, according to a watchdog.’

Full Story

BBC News, 12th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Review into 50-year-old laws on social care for disabled children – Law Commission

‘Law Commission aims to simplify and strengthen the law, allowing children with disabilities to access the support they need. The review will ensure the law is fair, modern and accessible, works for parents, care givers and local authorities.’

Full Story

Law Commission, 17th October 2023

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk