TAKE ME! - Estuary LIFE Magazines

How much is my
child’s Statement
of SEN worth?
Samantha Hale,
education solicitor
at local law firm
Fisher Jones
Greenwood LLP,
comments.
A Statement of SEN is invaluable for many parents as the Local Authority
will have a legal duty to ensure that the provision included in Part 3 is
put in place. If the provision is not put in place then parents can talk to a
solicitor about a potential legal remedy that they may be able to pursue.
However, this may not be recommended if the statement is not written well,
as it would be difficult to prove that the provision is not being provided.
Therefore the value of a statement will depend on how well it is written.
For a statement to be written well, the provision in Part 3 should specify
and quantify the provision the child will receive. If parents are concerned
whether or not their child’s statement is written well, they should contact
a solicitor who can advise whether or not it is well written and how to try
and improve poorly written statements.
Parents, whose children are due to transfer to secondary school
in September 2012, should be issued a final amended statement
by 15 February 2012. It is easier to try and amend a statement
within 2 months of its issue and we therefore recommend that these
parents seek advice regarding the contents of their child’s statement
immediately upon receipt of this.
Samantha Hale can review and provide detailed advice on proposed
and final statements under public funding or at a fixed fee. Contact
her on 01206 835230 or at education@fjg.co.uk for more information.
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