SEND Legal services for Parents and Carers

If you are a parent or carer of a child/ young person with special educational needs (SEN) and you want to challenge a Local Authority decision, we can help.

We understand how challenging and overwhelming it can feel for parents trying to secure the right support for your child with SEN. Navigating complex systems and processes can be frustrating and, at times, exhausting. Our team is here to guide you with clear, practical advice, helping you understand your options at every step. We’re not only experienced but also dedicated to providing compassionate, personalised support, so you never feel alone in this journey.

Our exceptionally experienced team of SEN Solicitors can provide support to parents in dispute with Local Authorities in a range of issues, including:

• Securing an Education Health and Care needs assessments by making a detailed application or appealing to the SEND Tribunal.
• Securing an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or appealing to the SEND Tribunal where the Local Authority has refused to issue one.
• Undertaking comprehensive reviews of an existing EHCP or help responding to a draft EHCP issued by the Local Authority.
• SEN Appeals against the contents of an EHCP (i.e. appealing against the needs and provisions (sections B & F) specified within EHCPs or the type and name of placement – section I)
• Complex SEN appeals such as for Education Otherwise than at School, a residential educational placement, or SEN appeals with health and social care challenges
• Challenging a Local Authority that has unlawfully or prematurely decided to cease to maintain their child’s EHC plan.
• Appeals to the Upper Tier Tribunal where you believe a decision of the First Tier Tribunal is unlawful

Why choose us?

Our education team are leading experts in special educational needs (SEN) and disability law, with a strong reputation for delivering high quality legal support. We work closely with some of the best independent experts in the field, ensuring that each case is backed by the most credible and persuasive evidence. Our priority is always to work towards a swift and positive resolution with the local authority, helping to secure the right support for your child as quickly as possible while saving you time and expense. However, if reaching a resolution proves difficult, we won’t hesitate to challenge decisions tirelessly on your behalf.

The team is spearheaded by our distinguished Legal Director – Qaisar Sheikh, and closely supported by our Legal Directors Tracey Eldridge-Hinmers and Laura Martin all widely considered as being amongst the best in the sector. Our Legal Directors are also supported by an enthusiastic team of lawyers and paralegals who receive regular training and supervision. The team is led by Theresa Kerr, a partner in the Education team with years of experience advising on SEND and equality issues.

Qaisar has acted in a broad range of SEND matters, many of which were highly complex cases and involving young people with significant needs. Before joining Winckworth Sherwood, Qaisar served as Head of Education Law at Coram for several years, leading a team of 13 to 15 caseworkers on over 3000 matters. In 2023, Qaisar won the prestigious Law Society Legal Hero award for his far-reaching work securing education, health and social care support for young people. Prior to this, he won the widely respected Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year award in 2022 (Public Law category). Qaisar has been nationally ranked in Chambers and Partners since 2020 and sits in Band 1 for Education, with only a small number of other solicitors. Chambers notes his strengths as “strategic decision-maker”, “an incredible tactician” and “very clam under pressure”.

Tracey has been admitted as a Solicitor for over 30 years’ experience specialising in all areas of education law, particularly special educational needs and disability matters. She has acted for parents, schools and local authorities and able to use her broad prospective to provide well-rounded advice and support. Tracey was referred to in Legal 500 as “the star of the team” and “bringing a lifetime of judgment to bear. Unflappable good sense”.  She features in the prestigious UK Best Lawyers guide.

Laura qualified as a solicitor in 2005 before training as a primary school teacher in 2009. Prior to joining Winckworth Sherwood, Laura taught in both the maintained and independent sectors before moving into the Special Educational Needs service for two local authorities in South West London as a Deputy Service Manager with responsibility for defending the local authority in SEN Tribunals so her experience is invaluable in helping parents to challenge local authority decisions. Laura has always had a particular interest in SEN.

Adam has specialist experience in advising clients on discrimination and Equality Act issues. This includes advising schools on disability discrimination claims brought by parents of a pupil and representing them in the SEND Tribunal. Adam also has experience in delivering training sessions for clients on SEND legislation and process Adam is passionate about education and the law and continues to involve himself in championing equity in education, both in work and outside of it.

Costs & Legal Aid

Our costs start from £260 plus VAT per hour for junior caseworkers, increasing for our Legal Directors and Partners. We do not operate a fixed-fee service as we believe our clients should only pay for the service they receive. For more details on our costs or an estimate for your matter, we’d be happy to have a discussion with you – our contact details can be found below.

Legal Aid

We are not able to offer Legal Aid. To find out if you are eligible and for details of firms offering legal aid, you contact Civil Legal Advice (CLA) service on 0845 345 345.

Contact our team

If you would like to find out more about our services please contact us on sendsupport@wslaw.co.uk.