SEN4You provides legal advice, support and representation to parents and carers in the areas of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). We are a service offered by Baker Small Solicitors and are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. We are recognised by the Legal 500 as a leading public sector education firm in the South East of England.
We recognise that as a parent or carer the prospect of tackling the legalistic aspect of the education system is a daunting task. However, we are here to help you face this challenge and to secure the correct level of support your child needs.
Our Experience
We are a leading law firm in the field and have been practicing for nearly 9 years.
We have significant experience of the SEND system and in acting on a wide range of SEND tribunal appeals of varying complexity. These range from securing Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments for children to securing specialist 52 week residential placements.
We have considerable experience working for parents, local authorities and with statutory services including schools, further education college, social services and health services. We are unique in this respect.
We are able to advise you on the full range of SEND appeals including:
- the refusal to assess or re-assess a child's special educational needs;
- the refusal to issue an EHC Plan following an EHC Needs Assessment;
- the refusal to amend an EHC Plan following an annual review;
- the contents of a EHC Plan;
- the cessation of a EHC Plan;
- the refusal to change the name of the educational setting named in the EHC Plan.
Why Instruct Us?
There are many people offering SEN legal services including law firms and advocates. However, many firms rely on external counsel to present cases and to support the preparation of the appeal, which increases and duplicates the costs incurred. Few have direct experience of working for a local authority. In this respect we are unrivaled and all advocacy is provided by a leading solicitor-advocate.
Although a lay advocate may provide a cost effective service, parents and carers should approach their use with caution. They tend to be 'unregulated' and if you end up in a dispute, you have no real means of being able to challenge the service you have received. You should also check that they have professional indemnity insurance, which is a requirement for all legal firms.
Parents and Carers should also be weary of instructing firms who advertise £success rates". If a minor change is made to your child's EHC Plan during the course of appeal, this will be treated as successful. Cases are won because of the quality of evidence and preparation. It is always worth talking to your proposed representative carefully and exploring their actual experience before the Tribunal.
Ultimately, you need to decide who would be better placed to support you. In this respect, we are an obvious choice and feedback from our clients testifies to the quality of support and advice we provide.
