About Hayley
"I am a specialist Solicitor at SEN Legal; a highly successful education and disability law firm with a nationwide client base. Principally based in Suffolk but often travelling nationally, I have a vast range of expertise and have represented hundreds of parents with children/young persons with special educational needs to obtain fundamental special educational provision for them.
I originally entered this area of work after witnessing first-hand the difficulties that children with special educational needs face during my mother’s time as a 1:1 specialist disability Teaching Assistant.
Following my training (some 6 years of it) I was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors and in my firm quickly undertook the responsibility of advocating parental rights and informing them as to their legal entitlement up and down the Country.
I have featured on BBC Radio Suffolk, BBC Radio Sheffield and BBC Look North to discuss legal entitlement and parental rights in education law and the difficulties experienced in specific Local Authority areas. I also spend a lot of my time pro-bono, trying to pass information on to parents that they might not otherwise receive. I want to make a difference.
In addition to Appeals to the SEND Tribunal, Judicial Reviews, Care Proceedings and Disability Discriminations, I am also specialised in Court of Protection work. I regularly lecture in this area and was involved in the ground-breaking case of - In the Matter of H, on the application of F & M [2015] EWCOP 52, concerning the appointment of Successive Deputies in a combined Health and Personal Welfare and Property and Affairs deputyship application in July 2015. I have also contributed a chapter on Deputyship to 'Special Educational Needs and Legal Entitlement: getting out of the maze', 2nd edition which is now available to buy on Amazon."
Hayley's posts on SNJ
- EOTAS: Education Otherwise Than At School. What is it, and can I get it?with Nicole Lee, solicitor, SEN Legal Today's article is from my colleague, Nicole Lee, a solicitor at SEN Legal who…Continue reading »
- Could remote hearings be the new normal at the SEND Tribunal?SEND legal practitioners attend a periodic Tribunal User Group session - no surprises for guessing the latest was a remote…Continue reading »
- Coronavirus and SEND law: Part 4 What does my child’s EHCP still provide?This is the last group of The the 200+ questions we received. These answers will be the most important for…Continue reading »
- Coronavirus: School, attendance and exclusions. Your legal questions answered, part 3You sent over 200 questions in about your legal concerns over how the #CoronavirusLockdown was going to affect your child's…Continue reading »
- Coronavirus and SEND law: Your Questions Answered (part two – Timescales)On Tuesday it was all about how the SEND Tribunal is affected by the Coronavirus outbreak and temporary changes to…Continue reading »
- Coronavirus and SEND law:
Your questions answered (part one – Tribunals)I received more than 200 questions in the last week, sent by the wonderful parents reading Special Needs Jungle. Everyone…Continue reading »
- SEND crisis: 6000+ SEND appeals is the ‘new normal’ in a ‘broken system’As many of you will know, the SEND system is in crisis. There are more appeals than ever coming before…Continue reading »
- Phase Transfer deadline: what to do if your child’s EHCP isn’t finalised on timeThe transfer deadline day for all settings except post-16, is fast approaching! If your child is transferring between phases of…Continue reading »
- Misinformation and misconceptions: Busting some SEND law mythsAs many of you will know, half of the battle of getting support for your disabled child is getting people…Continue reading »
- Ten top tips to get a ‘good’ Education, Health and Care Plan for your childMany of you will have seen Nadhim Zahawi MP – the current Children and Families Minister, talking on BBC…Continue reading »
- The National SEND Tribunal Trial: what does it mean for families?The National Trial which extends the powers of the First-tier (SEND) Tribunal to make non-binding recommendations about the health and…Continue reading »
- Refused an EHC assessment or unhappy with the plan? Read our next steps“The Local Authority refused to assess my child for an EHC Needs Assessment," “I have an unacceptable EHC Plan”and “The…Continue reading »
- My child still has a Statement of SEN: What should I do?For all parents of children/young persons who currently have a Statement of Special Educational Needs, your local authority is required…Continue reading »
- Deputyship and mental capacity for young people at the SEND TribunalDeputyship- Don't wait till it's too late As many of you will know, the Children and Families Act (CFA) 2014…Continue reading »
