SEND Law Retainer

Supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities requires careful planning and compliance with a complex legal framework. Educational institutions must navigate evolving statutory guidance, Education, Health and Care Plans, admissions issues, equality law obligations, parental challenges and increasing scrutiny from local authorities and tribunals.

Our SEND Law Retainers provide direct access to experienced SEND solicitors who understand the challenges facing schools, academy trusts, colleges, universities, independent schools and education sector organisations across England and Wales.

Through our Geldards Education SEND Law Core and Enhanced Retainer packages, you can access practical, pragmatic advice whenever you need it, helping your organisation meet its SEND law duties, respond confidently to parental concerns, manage legal risk and deliver appropriate support for pupils and students with additional needs.

SEND Law Support Designed for the Education Sector

Our retainer is specifically tailored to educational institutions and their leaders, governors, trustees, SENCOs, inclusion teams and safeguarding professionals.

We advise on:

Special educational needs and disability law
Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
SEND Code of Practice compliance
Admissions involving children with SEND
School placement disputes
Reasonable adjustments
Disability discrimination claims
Equality Act compliance
Accessibility obligations
SEND policies and procedures
Exclusions and suspensions involving pupils with SEND
Alternative provision
Parental complaints and challenges
SEND Tribunal proceedings
Local authority engagement
Funding and resource issues
Attendance and persistent absence concerns
Medical needs and healthcare plans
School transport issues
Behaviour management and SEND
Safeguarding issues affecting children with additional needs
Ofsted and regulatory considerations relating to SEND provision

Our solicitors understand the legal, regulatory and operational pressures faced by education leaders and provide advice that is practical, proportionate and focused on achieving positive outcomes for pupils and students.

Core and Enhanced Retainer Options

Our SEND Law Retainer is offered at two levels, Core and Enhanced, allowing your organisation to choose the package that best reflects the volume and complexity of support you are likely to require.

Both packages provide direct access to specialist education and SEND lawyers. The Enhanced package is designed for organisations seeking more regular access to expert advice and strategic support across a broader range of SEND-related matters.

Enhanced Service

Every Enhanced Service client is assigned a dedicated relationship manager who acts as the main point of contact and principal adviser for SEND law and inclusion matters. Your relationship manager will be a senior solicitor with specialist SEND expertise who understands the practical challenges faced by educational institutions.

Under the Enhanced Service, you can contact your dedicated adviser by telephone, video call or email.

The retainer includes routine SEND and disability law enquiries that can typically be resolved in about an hour. This may include reviewing EHCP related issues, advising on reasonable adjustments, assisting with parental concerns, considering exclusion risks, discussing potential discrimination issues or reviewing SEND related policies and procedures.

Where a matter requires more substantial work, such as tribunal proceedings, complex disputes, detailed investigations or representation in contentious matters, we will agree a separate scope of work and fee arrangement with you in advance. Enhanced Service clients benefit from discounted rates for additional support, providing greater value and budgeting certainty.

We will identify as early as possible where a matter may require support beyond the retainer, ensuring that you remain in control of costs and decision making throughout the process.

Enhanced Service clients are also entitled to preferential rates for SEND law training, inclusion workshops and specialist briefings for leadership teams, governors and trustees.

As part of our commitment to building a long-term partnership, your relationship manager will conduct an annual review of the service to ensure it continues to meet your institution’s needs and deliver value.

Core Service

Core Service clients also receive a dedicated relationship manager who serves as their primary contact for routine SEND law queries and day-to-day legal support.

The Core Service is designed for educational institutions that require occasional specialist advice and wish to have access to experienced SEND solicitors when issues arise.

It provides access to legal support for straightforward SEND and disability law enquiries, helping schools and trusts obtain timely guidance on matters such as EHCP processes, reasonable adjustments, admissions questions, parental concerns and compliance obligations.

Should your support requirements become more extensive than anticipated, we can discuss alternative arrangements to ensure your institution continues to receive the level of assistance it needs.

Why Choose Geldards?

Our education team advises schools, academy trusts, colleges, universities, independent schools, educational charities and other learning providers throughout England and Wales.

By working with us, you gain access to lawyers who understand not only SEND law but also the realities of delivering inclusive education. We recognise the challenges of balancing legal compliance, available resources, parental expectations, educational outcomes and wider organisational responsibilities.

Contact our team to discuss our Core and Enhanced Education SEND Law Retainer packages and discover how ongoing specialist support can help your institution manage SEND issues confidently, minimise legal risk, maintain compliance and provide effective support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.