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Special Education Law
Special Education Law at St Pauls Chambers
Special Educational Needs (SEN) can bring a number of challenges to those living with them. We understand how stressful it can be for individuals with SEN or individuals caring for those with SEN to begin legal proceedings connected to their needs. So, our SEN barristers are here to lighten the load on SEN law and achieve the best possible outcome for a child’s well-being and education.
What Does SEN Mean?
SEN, or special educational needs, refers to a child or young adult’s needs with a learning difficulty or disability such that special educational provision needs to be provided. Some examples of SEN include:
- Autism, including Asperger’s Syndrome
- Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder (ADHD/ADD)
- Cerebral Palsy
- Down’s Syndrome
- Dyslexia
- Dyspraxia
- Cystic Fibrosis
What is SEN Code practice in SEN Law?
Understanding SEN law is vital to ensure that individuals with special education needs, especially children and young people, are properly protected.
The SEN and Disability Code of Practice (SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years) provides a statutory legal framework for educational support for those with educational needs and disabilities to prevent disability discrimination. According to SEN law, all publicly funded pre-schools, nurseries, state schools and local authorities must help assess children with special educational needs. You can find out more about changes in special educational needs and disability law in our blog.
We represent local authorities and parents in SEN law cases brought under the Equality Act 2010 and Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan appeals brought pursuant to section 51 of the Children and Families Act 2014, such as:
- Appeals against the contents of Sections B, F and I of an EHC Plan (the description of a child’s needs, provision to meet the needs and the school named in the Plan).
- Appeals against a refusal to issue an EHC Plan.
- Appeals against a decision to cease a Plan.
- Disability discrimination cases.
You can find more information about the EHCP appeal process here.
We routinely act in cases affecting young people who transition from Children’s Services to Adult Services. We also have particular expertise in post-19 cases involving assessments under the Care Act 2014 and associated Court of Protection proceedings. There is significant crossover in this area with Court of Protection cases, with which St Pauls Chambers also have considerable experience.
What Does a Special Education Lawyer Do?
Our SEN barristers accept a broad range of instructions on matters relating to SEN law and family law cases, providing full representation to local authorities and parents across the country in appeals before the First-Tier Tribunal (SEND), the Upper Tribunal and the Court of Protection. Or, our SEN lawyers can offer advice on specific matters related to special education law. Please get in touch with our Education Law team for assistance with:
- Judicial reviews
- Disability discrimination
- EHCP disputes
- Unfair treatment at educational institutions, including colleges and universities
- Admissions and exclusions appeals
- Mediations
Our SEN barristers are recognised experts in special education law cases. Get in touch to find out how we can help with your case. For more information about our members of chambers who are specialists in SEN Law, please see below.

Barristers
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KCs
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Joint Head of Chambers
Sam Green KC
Call: 1998
Silk: 2015
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Associate Tenant
Nigel Sangster KC
Call: 1976
Silk: 1998
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Richard Barraclough KC
Call: 1980
Silk: 2003
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Simon Myerson KC
Call: 1986
Silk: 2003
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Bryan Cox KC
Call: 1979
Silk: 2005
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Associate Tenant
Jane Bewsey KC
Call: 1986
Silk: 2010
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Simon Bickler KC
Call: 1988
Silk: 2011
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Associate Tenant
John Harrison KC
Call: 1994
Silk: 2016
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Jonathan Sandiford KC
Call: 1992
Silk: 2020
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Associate Tenant
Cameron Brown KC
Call: 1998
Silk: 2020
There are no KCs suiting filter condition
Members
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Joint Head of Chambers
Denise Breen-Lawton
Call: 2000
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Jeremy Barnett
Call: 1980
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Philip Standfast
Call: 1980
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Nikki Saxton
Call: 1992
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Robert Smith
Call: 1995
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Associate Tenant
David Hughes
Call: 1997
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Derek Duffy
Call: 1997
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Nicholas Worsley
Call: 1998
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Alasdair Campbell
Call: 1999
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Andrew Stranex
Call: 2000
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Jane Brady
Call: 2001
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James Bourne-Arton
Call: 2001
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Danielle Graham
Call: 2003
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Hal Watson
Call: 2003
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James Lake
Call: 2005
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Andrew Nixon
Call: 2006
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Helen Chapman
Call: 2006
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Voldi Welch
Call: 2008
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Associate Tenant
Hannah Hinton
Call: 2008
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Angus MacDonald
Call: 2009
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Sophie Mitchell
Call: 2010
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Hannah Lynch
Call: 2011
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Stephen Flint
Call: 2012
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George Hazel-Owram
Call: 2012
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Kristina Goodwin
Call: 2013
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Stephen Elphick
Call: 2014
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Charlie Greenwood
Call: 2015
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Frances Pencheon
Call: 2015
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Jessica Heggie
Call: 2017
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Harry Crowson
Call: 2018
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Temitayo Dasaolu
Call: 2018
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Ayman Khokhar
Call: 2018
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Emma Handley
Call: 2019
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Matthew Moore-Taylor
Call: 2020
There are no Members suiting filter condition