Education Law Solicitors

Our nationally respected education team provides specialist advice on Special Educational Needs law in England and Additional Learning Needs law across Wales. We support parents, carers and young people in understanding their rights and securing the educational provision needed to help children and young people thrive. From early concerns through to formal legal processes, we offer clear and practical guidance to ensure needs are properly identified, assessed and met.

We have extensive experience advising on both Special Educational Needs law in England and Additional Learning Needs law in Wales. Our work includes helping families secure the right level of support, challenge decisions made by local authorities and obtain suitable placements, including specialist schools where appropriate. We take a careful, pragmatic, and strategic approach, always focused on achieving outcomes that reflect the child or young person’s individual needs.

Our expertise includes:
• Education Health and Care needs assessments
• Draft EHCP representations and securing appropriate provision
• Individual Development Plans and local authority maintained IDPs
• Annual reviews of EHCPs and IDPs
• Appeals to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal
• Appeals to the Education Tribunal for Wales
• Challenges to sections of local authority maintained IDPs
• Securing additional support and specialist placements in England and Wales

We understand how complex and overwhelming these processes can feel. Our role is to guide you with clarity, confidence and reassurance, ensuring your voice is heard and that the education system works fairly for your child.

Securing the right support through an Education Health and Care Plan or an Individual Development Plan can be complex and challenging. Our nationally respected education team provides clear and practical guidance at every stage, helping families navigate the process with confidence.

We advise on all aspects of EHCPs in England and IDPs in Wales, from requesting assessments to reviewing draft plans and challenging local authority decisions. Where a plan does not properly reflect a child’s needs or provide appropriate support, we help you make effective representations to secure the right outcome.
Our team has extensive experience representing families in appeals and tribunal proceedings, preparing cases carefully and advocating with clarity and focus.

Our expertise includes:
• Requests for EHCP and IDP assessments
• Draft plan representations and amendments
• Securing appropriate provision and placement
• Annual reviews of EHCPs and IDPs
• Appeals to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal
• Appeals to the Education Tribunal for Wales

We are committed to ensuring that each plan is complete, lawful and secures the provision and placement that the child or young person needs. We provide clear, honest, and accurate advice throughout and careful strategy to achieve the best outcomes.

Children and young people with disabilities have a range of protection in education, meaning that they should not face unfair, or unfavourable treatment, and they should receive the reasonable adjustments requires to access education and activities in school.. Our education law team advises families where schools, colleges or universities have failed to meet their legal responsibilities, providing clear guidance on rights and next steps.

We assist with issues such as failure to make reasonable adjustments, unfair treatment linked to disability and discrimination arising from a child or young person’s needs. This may include concerns relating to behaviour, attendance, exclusions or access to education.

Our team supports families in raising complaints and, where necessary, bringing claims before the appropriate tribunal or court. We focus on practical outcomes that improve support and prevent ongoing discrimination, helping ensure equal access to education.

When a child or young person is unable to attend school, whether due to illness, disability , exclusion or other circumstances, there is a legal duty to ensure that education continues. Our education law team supports families in securing appropriate home tuition or alternative provision where a child is out of education. This can be through bespoke provision, or additional support through an Education Health and Care Plan, or IDP

We advise on local authority responsibilities, including the duty to arrange suitable education within appropriate timescales. Where provision is inadequate or delayed, we help families challenge decisions and push for the support their child needs.

Our focus is on securing timely and suitable education that reflects a child or young person’s abilities and needs. We provide clear guidance and practical support to help families navigate the process and ensure no child is left without access to education.

Being refused a school place can be stressful and disappointing for families. Our education law team provides clear and practical support to help you navigate the school admission appeals process with confidence.

We advise on the strength of your appeal, help you prepare written submissions and guide you through the appeal hearing itself. Our aim is to ensure that your child’s individual circumstances are properly presented and considered by the panel.

With experience across a wide range of admission appeals, including primary, secondary and selective schools, we focus on achieving fair outcomes and giving families reassurance at every stage of the process.

Exclusion from school can have a significant impact on a child’s education and wellbeing. Our education law team advises families on both fixed term and permanent exclusions, guiding you through the review and appeals process to ensure decisions are fair and lawful.

We help prepare submissions, gather evidence and represent families at governing body reviews and independent appeal panels. Our focus is on achieving outcomes that protect the child’s right to education while addressing any concerns about the exclusion.

With clear guidance and practical support, we help families navigate the appeals process confidently, working to secure a fair resolution and minimise disruption to a child’s learning.

Bullying can have a serious impact on a child’s wellbeing, confidence and ability to learn. Our education law team advises families on schools’ legal responsibilities and helps ensure that incidents are addressed appropriately and effectively.

We support parents and carers in raising concerns with schools, pursuing complaints and, where necessary, taking further action if issues are not resolved. Our approach focuses on practical solutions that safeguard the child and promote a safe and supportive learning environment.

By providing clear guidance and steady support, we help families tackle bullying and work to ensure that children can access education free from fear or harassment.

Students making a claim against a university or college

Navigating disputes with a university, college or school can be stressful and complex. Our education law team provides clear and practical guidance to help students understand their rights and take effective action.
We advise on academic decisions, disciplinary matters, complaints about teaching or facilities, and procedural fairness issues. Our team can assist in preparing complaints, gathering evidence and representing students throughout internal processes or, where necessary, formal proceedings.

Our goal is to ensure that your concerns are addressed fairly, that your voice is heard, and that any resolution protects your academic and personal interests.
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Universities or colleges defending a claim from a student

Specialist legal support for universities managing student disputes and regulatory risk
We advise universities on student complaints, appeals and disputes, helping institutions resolve matters fairly, lawfully and with confidence. Our education law team has extensive experience in higher education disputes, including OIA complaints, academic appeals, fitness to practise issues and judicial review risk.

We support universities at every stage, from early advice through to formal legal proceedings, with a focus on proportionate resolution and sound decision making.

Disputes with private schools can involve complex issues, including admissions, fees, exclusions and complaints. Our education law team provides specialist advice to help families understand their rights and resolve matters effectively.

We guide parents through the complaint process, assist with negotiations and, where necessary, represent clients in formal Contractual proceedings to achieve a fair outcome. Our focus is on clear, practical solutions that protect the child’s education and the family’s interests.

With experience across a wide range of private school issues, we provide families with confidence and reassurance throughout what can be a challenging process.

Judicial review is a legal process used to challenge decisions made by public bodies, including local authorities and some education providers, where those decisions may be unlawful, unreasonable or unfair. Our education law team advises families on whether a judicial review is appropriate and guides them through this complex process. Our lawyers have experience in novel and complex judicial review matters, having set precedents over several years.

We provide expert support in preparing applications, meeting strict procedural requirements and representing clients throughout proceedings. Our focus is on achieving outcomes that correct errors or enforce legal duties, helping ensure that children and young people receive the education and support they are entitled to.

With careful guidance and practical advice, we help families navigate judicial review with confidence, giving them the best chance of a fair and timely resolution.

Local authorities have a legal duty to provide suitable transport for children who are eligible, yet disputes can arise over entitlement, routes, or safety. Our education law team advises families on their rights and helps challenge decisions where transport has been refused or is unsuitable.

We guide parents through the process of requesting transport, submitting appeals and, if necessary, pursuing formal challenges to ensure that children can access education safely and without unnecessary barriers.

With clear advice and practical support, we help families secure reliable school transport, ensuring that every child can attend school and benefit from their full educational opportunities.