Compass

Proposed SEND reforms would remove the SEND Tribunal's power to order educational settings in Section I of an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.

What does this mean?

✔️ Today, families can appeal to the SEND Tribunal if they disagree with the setting named in Section I of an EHC plan.

❌ Under the proposals, the Tribunal would no longer have the authority to order a placement in Section I. Instead, it could only ask the local authority to reconsider the placement decision.

That means families could lose access to an independent decision-maker when they need one most.

Every child and young person with SEND needs to retain their legally enforceable rights, not rely on discretion and aspiration.

Read more: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/news/ipsea-manifesto-for-send-reform

How you can help ⬇️

🔷 Write to your MP: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/write-to-your-mp-protect-the-legal-rights-of-children-and-young-people-with-send

🔶 Sign the petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/764268

SEND music group returns with Horsham and Worthing sessions

⚖️ What is judicial review, and when might it be used?

Judicial review is a way of challenging whether a public body (such as a local authority) has acted lawfully, fairly and reasonably.

In education and SEND matters, it may be relevant when a local authority has failed to carry out a legal duty, implement an EHCP placement or provision, arrange suitable education, comply with required timescales or consider a child’s individual circumstances.

Judicial review is a specialist legal remedy and is not the correct route for every SEND dispute. Take a look at our poster for some examples of when it may be considered.

Upcoming SEND law training for parents and carers📣

Join us for one of our virtual training sessions this September. Delivered by a member of our legal team, our training is designed to help families of children and young people with SEND secure the education their child is entitled to by law.

Book your place today: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/Pages/Events/Category/upcoming-training-events-for-parents-and-carers

Join us for one of our virtual SEND law training sessions this September📣

Our training is delivered by a member of our legal team and is designed to help families of children and young people with SEND secure the education their child is entitled to by law.

Book your place today: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/Pages/Category/training-for-parents-and-carers

Speech, Language & Communication Drop-In Sessions

Looking for advice or support with your child's speech, language or communication? Join us this summer at Crawley Library for one of three friendly drop-in sessions.

These informal sessions are open to parent carers of children and young people of all ages and offer practical advice, support and strategies to help you on your SEND journey.

The sessions will be led by Helen and Jodie, experienced Speech and Language Therapists from the Specialist Taskforce in Crawley.

📍 Crawley Library
📅10th August
📅24th August

West Sussex County CouncilWest Sussex Local Offer Crawley Library West Sussex Libraries

School suspensions and exclusions can often be a symptom of unmet or unidentified need for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Following new guidance from the Department of Education, our website has been updated regarding the suspension and permanent exclusion of pupils from local authority maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/pages/category/exclusion-from-school

Last year, we saw a 14% increase in the number of families who contacted IPSEA because their child or young person had been excluded or suspended from school.

If you need advice about your child's legal rights, please contact our advice services: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/Pages/Category/service-overview

Schools have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate pupils with disabilities, which includes end of school year trips and events.

If a pupil is treated unfairly because of their disability, such as being excluded from an end of year trip or event, this may be disability discrimination.

A member of our Legal Team, Mitra Babic, talks more about this in her latest blog 'Days out and discos: when disabled children miss out': https://www.ipsea.org.uk/blog/days-out-and-discos-when-disabled-children-miss-out