**Education appeal (MQS) - Managing a Quality Service Flashcards
Education SEN appeal
What was the situation?
S1:
- Managed a quality service when providing litigation support to parents advocating for children with special educational needs (SEN).
S2:
- Urgent appeal - child was out of school, unable to receive mainstream education. Court needed to approve extra SEN provision to minimise disruption to child’s education.
Education SEN appeal
What was the task?
T1:
- Task - preparing education SEN appeal for parents to challenge the local authority’s refusal to fund the child’s essential SEN support..
Education SEN appeal
What actions did you take to complete the task?
(Took instructions, set up file)
A1:
- Took instructions from parents, creating clear plans from outset
- Set up a new file, drafted client care letter outlining scope of work and fixed fee rate
(Case analysis to prepare and deliver legal advice)
A2:
- To deliver quality legal advice - conducted case analysis to identify factual circumstances, legal grounds, challenges. Researched educational policies and statutory provisions to support decision-making for case.
- Under sol’s guidance, prepared legal advice on negotiation options and remedies. Simplified legal concepts, parents unfamiliar with SEn appeals.
A3:
- Advised parents on challenges to the appeal: LA budget constraints, special school availability, expert costs. Notifed LA of appeal, kept all stakeholders updated. Managed parents’ expectations while waiting for LA response - regularly addressed queries through phone and email.
(Turning point, assessed case merits and lodged app)
A4:
- Turning point: LA rejected our pre-litigation proposals but clients insisted on pursuing legal action
- Reviewed case merits with supervisor: identified that we had sufficient evidence and had exhausted ADR options to pursue litigation
- Kept in mind appeal deadline, proactively drafted application to secure required approvals in time. Lodged appeal with the court to formally issue the case.
Education SEN appeal
What was the result?
(Effect of high-quality legal support and lodging app)
R1:
- Managed a quality service - parents received high-quality legal support. Proactively considered all options, risks, wider implications - confidently proceeded to lodge an app that directly addressed child’s needs.
R2:
- Balanced efficiency with detailed case preparation to deliver cost-effective service that met client’s needs. Tribunal app was issued, underwent judicial scrutiny and enabled child to move to specialist school with SEN support.
R3:
- Move to the school allowed child to regain her confidence back, mental health and wellbeing, her ability to make friends and achieve her learning outcomes in a more suited environment.
(Feedback from parents and impact on department)
R4:
- Received praise from the parents, they were relieved with the successful appeal. Deeply valued our service as they stated how daunting it was to navigate the law to achieve child’s educational needs. Gave positive feedback publicly to the law firm.
R5:
- My experience - learning outcome - managing a quality service can have a far-reaching impact on your organisation. Positive feedback had strong benefits for my department - increased department’s rating and reputation as a leading national provider of educational law services.
