海角破解版

海角破解版 education duo successful in CCLC legal challenge on speech therapy cuts

1st March 2022

Two of 海角破解版's well-known education team, specialist barristers Emma Waldron and Alice de CoverleyAlice de CoverleyCall: 2014 - featured here left to right - have assisted law centre in their successful legal challenge to get Norfolk County Council to reverse its huge cuts to a boy鈥檚 speech therapy. Coram Children鈥檚 Legal Centre (CCLC) and the two counsel represented H, an 11-year-old boy, who was told he would only receive only 25% of the therapy he had previously, after the local authority slashed children鈥檚 speech and language therapy by 50% to help reduce waiting lists. The decision could have significant implications for other councils.

The two barristers acted pro bono and helped contest the council's special educational provision as outlined in H鈥檚 EHCP in accordance with section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014. CCLC said it was unlawful to review children鈥檚 EHCPs outside of the statutory timetable and it should be based only on a change in the child鈥檚 needs rather than motivated by the needs of the service.

Waiting lists for speech and language therapy are growing in many areas following disruption caused by the pandemic and funding cuts. , the head of education law at CCLC, said: 鈥淭he local authority鈥檚 withdrawal of the unlawful policy was a great outcome not only for H but all children who access speech and language therapy through their EHCPs in Norfolk. Following this legal action, we have already been contacted by parent groups in at least one other local authority who have seen similar cuts in services and are looking for legal support.鈥�

The case attracted widespread publicity including the .

To instruct Emma Waldron or Alice de Coverley, please contact their clerk Gemma Faulkner on [email protected] or by calling her on 020 7583 8055.