SEN Legal has an established reputation in advising Independent Schools, Free Schools, Academies, professional regulatory bodies & parents.
We advise on underfunded EHC Plans, Notional Budgets and the £6,000 cap, misuse of the statutory duty to admit sometimes requiring building works and funding to the detriment of other pupils’ (successful resistance is possible). We also advise schools about maladministration and investigation following complaints to the Standards & Testing Agency (STA), about national curriculum assessments, accuracy or correctness, Admissions & Exclusions, OFSTED, Data Protection, Contract Terms, the Equality Act, Deputyship, DOLS and Restraint.
Having gained a full understanding of all the features of an education organisation that make it different from a work place in commerce or industry, we quietly and discreetly act as legal advisers to independent, maintained and non-maintained schools.
We’re also great at cutting out excess LA paperwork. We start from the proposition that teachers are best doing what they are trained to do. We can sort out the legal minimum and give you more time to do just that.
Legal Services for all types of education provider
Ofsted inspections (including complaints, Judicial Review and Injunctions where appropriate)
Top up funding/delegated budgets and the Local Authorities’
financial obligations
Non-Payment of fees by Local Authorities
Refusal to pay fee increases or requests for fee reductions
Contractual Default Notices
Admission and Exclusion policies
Difficulties with regulatory bodies
NHS Continuing Healthcare
Underfunded EHC Plans
Misuse of statutory duty to admit
The National Contract versus
your own
Demands for cost breakdowns
Complaints to the Education Funding Agency
Disability Discrimination & reasonable adjustments
Safeguarding and DBS checks
Discreet advice and action in relation to sensitive employment and disciplinary issues
DOLS Orders, capacity issues
and best interest decisions
School registration disputes
Data protection compliance
Complaints to the Standards & Testing Agency (STAs)
