Posted: 2nd September 2020
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker
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
Read more...
Posted: 27th August 2020
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker
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
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
Read more...
Posted: 2nd July 2020
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker
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
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 31st 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
Read more...
Posted: 16th June 2020
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker
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
Read more...
Posted: 9th June 2020
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker
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...
Posted: 1st May 2020
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker
The Secretary of State has just issued a notice modifying the duty of LA’s to deliver provision in an EHCP This will last for the month of May and places a reasonable endeavours duty on a Local Authority
See the letter below
Joint DHSC & DFE Ministerial Letter
Read more...
Posted: 22nd April 2020
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker
Further to our previous post, the Department for Education have issued new and updated guidance
- On Sunday 19 April, the Department for Education (DfE) published new Coronavirus (COVID-19): SEND risk assessment guidance written with input and steers from SEND sector organisations – this guidance builds on the COVID-19 guidance on vulnerable children and young people guidance published on 22 March, and explains the practicalities for local authorities and other providers in undertaking risk assessments for vulnerable children and young people with education, health and care plans, in light of school and college closures The DfE are asking local authorities to work with educational providers, families and the child or young person to carry
Read more...
Posted: 3rd April 2020
Author: Kieran Brockerton-baker
The SEND Tribunal has issued recent guidance about how they are coping and progressing hearings amidst the current COVID 19 emergency Feedback is that that video hearings are working well, and the indication is that the Tribunal may be able to deal with more work and avoid postponements by using remote hearings They even have availability to offer some cases earlier hearing dates
See the link here to the bulletin issued by the Tribunal IMPORTANT UPDATE COVID Bulletin 2 020420
Below is a link to the guidance notes for parties attending SEND Tribunal video hearings along with a short video of how to login in to the Cloud Video Platform
Guidance for video hearing (parties) v11
Read more...
