Our CEO Melissa Davis’ judicial review challenge on SEND reform against the government has been featured in The Times.
A major legal battle is brewing over the government’s proposed “once-in-a-generation” SEND reforms, which critics argue will strip thousands of children of vital legal protections, Catherine Baksi reports in The Times. Our CEO Melissa Davis is at the centre of the challenge, on behalf of Jessica, her eight-year-old non-verbal daughter with autism.
Represented by Polly Sweeney of Rook Irwin Sweeney, Melissa has initiated a letter before action, alleging that the government’s consultation process is irrational, unfair, and unlawful.
Polly Sweeney highlights a “real concern” that replacing legally enforceable Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) with non-binding Individual Support Plans (ISPs) will leave hundreds of thousands of children without protection.
Polly states that the “whole process is completely flawed and needs to be started again with absolute clarity over the proposals and their impact, including questions that allow parents and others to properly respond”.
The government has attempted to clarify its position, but the consultation document has not yet been updated – a matter of great concern.
Read the article in The Times (£)
LinkedIn posts and media coverage
- Law Society Gazette: ‘Unfair and unlawful’ SEND consultation facing challenge
- Special Needs Jungle: Legal challenge launched against government SEND proposals
- Read the letter to the Guardian
- Read Melissa’s initial LinkedIn post
- Read Melissa’s second post
- Read Melissa’s third post
- Read the initial press release issued by Rook Irwin Sweeney
- Read the second press release on Rook Irwin Sweeney’s website
- Read the follow-on story in the Law Society Gazette
- Read the third press release on the Rook Irwin Sweeney website
- Read Melissa’s fourth LinkedIn post
