Blog | The Children's Legal Practice

The latest updates from our specialist practice in child and family law.

Posted: 15th January 2021
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker

SEND NEWSFLASH: Further guidance for special schools, specialist post-16 providers, and alternative schools (including hospital schools) during the national lockdown period.

The Department of Education has today issued further guidance for special schools, specialist post-16 providers, and alternative schools (including hospital schools) during the national lockdown period

Click here to learn more

Further, please see below the open letter from Vicky Ford MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families

Open Letter from Vicky Ford MP

Posted: 4th January 2021
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

All of us at CLP hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!

We look forward to working with colleagues and client’s all over Hampshire and neighbouring counties throughout 2021 benefitting from our two outreach offices in Farnborough and Southampton

Our Main Office details are;

4 The Gardens,

Posted: 10th November 2020
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker

SEND NEWSFLASH: Minister Ford Open Letter to the SEND Sector 9th November 2020

Vicky Ford, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families has provided new guidance on several issues, including school attendance, children who are clinically extremely vulnerable, remote education, face coverings in education settings, respite, health services for children and young people with SEND, and the new winter package to provide support for children and young people and their families

Click the link to learn more

Minister Ford Open Letter to the SEND Sector 9th November 2020

Posted: 2nd September 2020
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker

SEND NEWSFLASH : Letter from Minister Ford

Vicky Ford, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families has today written an open letter to children and young people with special educational needs (SEND), their families and carers and those who work to support them

The letter provides advice and guidance on several issues, including behaviour, risk assessments, face coverings, specialist and visiting practitioners, mental health and wellbeing, aerosol generating procedures and hospital schools, as well as linking to some of the support available to help

Please see the link below to the letter

Vicky Ford letter to SEND Sector 2nd Sept 2020

Posted: 27th August 2020
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker

Welcome Shannen and Kim!

We would like to say a big welcome to Shannen Dewis who joins CLP as a valued member of our Education Team

Shannen joins the team as an Education Solicitor alongside Sarah Palmer and looks forward to assisting and advising our clients with education issues in relation to SEN

Shannen qualified as a solicitor in 2020 and brings with her a wealth of experience having worked in the legal profession for over 5 years

Posted: 21st July 2020
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker

SEND NEWSFLASH: DfE/DHSC Ministerial Letter to Children and Young People with SEND and their Families

The Department of Health and Social Care has released a letter outlining the next steps regarding children and young people with SEND returning to school in September Click the link to read the letter

DfE & DHSC Joint Ministerial Letter

Posted: 2nd July 2020
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker

SEND NEWSFLASH: September Opening Guidance

Earlier today, the Secretary of State announced plans for the full re-opening of schools in September Set out below is guidance that sets out the actions that various educational settings need to take to enable children and young people with SEND to return to full-time provisions

Guidance for full opening: special schools and other specialist settings to support special schools, special post-16 institutions and other specialist education settings, such as hospital schools, to prepare for this;
Separate guidance explaining the action that mainstream settings need to take:

Posted: 18th June 2020
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker

SEND NEWSFLASH: National Trial to extend the powers of SEND announced by The Department for Education

The Department of Education have just announced that the National Trial to extend the powers of SEND to make non binding recommendations about health and social care aspects of an EHCP has been extended until 31^st August 2021 This is very good news for families and children and we very much hope that the extended trial will lead to permanent powers over the health and social care aspects of an EHCP

For more information please see the link below to the letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families, Vicky Ford MP

Minister Ford letter to DCSs SEND Tribunal Trial 18th June

Posted: 16th June 2020
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker

NOTICE: New Contact Details for Farnborough Outreach Office

Please note that with immediate effect the contact number for our Outreach Office in Farnborough is 01252302166

The new address is;

The Hub,
Fowler Avenue,
Farnborough Business Park,
Farnborough,
GU14 7JF

We apologise for any inconvenience caused

Posted: 9th June 2020
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker

UPDATE: The Family Court and Covid-19

The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew MacFarlane has prepared an updated report on the Family Court system as we look forward to getting things back to “normal”

The report titled “The Road Ahead” can be found here The Road Ahead – President of the Family Division 9 June 2020

The report details ways in which the Court intends to “get back to normal” including;

Active thought must be given to lay parties being able to engage in the proceedings from a location other than at home
Family Courts will be gradually reopening so that by early July, the Family Courts should be fully open for public use, however the impact of social distancing will remain for the foreseeable

Read more...