Education disputes

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Education disputes can be very distressing for everyone involved, and the consequences may be far-reaching if matters are not handled appropriately. Stirling Ackroyd Legal is a leading law firm with a dedicated litigation team, who have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the education sector. We will take the appropriate action to secure the standard of education that your child deserves, always putting their interests first. If you are involved in a dispute over education at any level, we have the skills and expertise to help.

Our team have diverse experience in helping parents and families who are aware that the needs of their child are not being sufficiently met. We will act in education disputes involving state schools, faith schools, independent schools, colleges and higher education institutions. We will look at all of the facts and provide sound legal advice, fully explaining the processes involved and helping to minimise the stress that these situations can inevitably cause to you and your child. You can also rely on us to provide robust representation when needed, with a view to achieving the best outcome for you, your child and your family.

Our services include, but are not limited to:

• Admission appeals
• Complaints of bullying and harassment
• Exclusion appeals
• Judicial review of a local authority decision
• Allegations of plagiarism
• Allegations of academic misconduct in higher education
• Disciplinary matters in higher education

It is important to seek legal advice as soon as a situation arises as matters can escalate quickly, causing further stress and uncertainty to you and your child. Our specialist solicitors will provide sound legal advice with a view to reaching the right resolution, based on the facts of your individual case. Please contact us for more information on how we can help you.

Education disputes and special educational needs (SEN)

If you feel that the school or local authority is failing to meet the special educational needs of your child, we can help you to achieve the right support via the tribunal process. When concerns arise, the first step is usually to talk directly to the school or local authority concerned, to explain the problem and ask for the help that the child needs, although in some cases this proves to be ineffective in resolving the issue, and it becomes necessary to seek expert advice.

Your specialist solicitor will explain all of the options available to enable you to make an informed decision on what is right for your child.

There is a broad range of diagnoses that can affect your child’s education, and these will have a considerable impact on the educational provision that will need to be made in order to enable them to achieve their full potential, including:

• Autism
• Asperger’s syndrome
• Social communication disorders
• Dyslexia and dyspraxia
• ADD and ADHD
• Learning difficulties
• Visual impairments
• Deafness and hearing loss
• Speech and language disorders/impairment
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Epilepsy
• Down’s syndrome
• Cerebral palsy
• Profound and multiple learning difficulties
• Selective mutism
• Sensory processing difficulties
• Prader-Willi syndrome
• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
• Duchenne muscular-dystrophy
• Emotional behavioural difficulties
• Sickle cell anaemia

Whatever the nature of your education dispute, we can advise on the best course of action, and will always consider your child’s interests to be paramount. If your child is not receiving the standard of education that they deserve, please contact  a member of our team to talk about what has happened, and we will be very happy to help you.

Should you wish to know more about the services we offer, please feel free to contact our client services department via our enquiries page, or give us a call 0203 058 3365.