Qaisar Sheikh, Head of Education Law at Coram Children’s Legal Centre (CCLC), was announced as one of the winners of the prestigious Legal Hero Awards 2023 on 7 September. The awards, run by the Law Society, recognise the solicitors who have made the biggest difference to the lives of others, their local communities and society…
On 2 March 2023, the Department for Education (DfE), after much anticipation, issued its SEND Improvement Plan: An initial overview. The plan is a follow-up to the March 2022 green paper SEND Review; Right Support, Right Place, Right Time and explains what the Government intends to do to make sure more children and young people…
The Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, today met with staff from Coram Children’s Legal Centre (CCLC) and Coram Family and Childcare (CFC) at CCLC’s Leeds office, to hear about Coram’s work to support families in a number of key areas. Rachel Reeves, the MP for Leeds West, was welcomed by Coram CEO Dr…
Qaisar Sheikh, head of Education Law at CCLC, has been named Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year in the category of public law at the Legal Aid Practitioner Group’s 20th Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards which took place on the 12th of July. Qaisar received the award from Baroness Helena Kennedy and said:…
CCLC successfully defends taking a holistic approach to section 9 of the Education Act 1996, in an important decision on Education, Health and Care plans (EHC plans). Qaisar Sheikh, Head of Education Law at CCLC, was instructed by the parent of a boy with complex needs in the case of London Borough of Croydon v…
Qaisar Sheikh, head of education law and senior solicitor at Coram Children’s Legal Centre, outlines the key proposals and flaws in the government’s intended reforms to the special educational needs system in an article published in Children & Young People Now. For further media information please contact Dominique Fourniol: Dominique.fourniol@coram.org.uk Telephone: 07999 877 413 Find…
Coram Children’s Legal Centre (CCLC) is today publishing details of its successful legal challenge to Norfolk County Council’s unlawful policy to slash speech and language therapy provision for children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) by 50%. The new policy, which Norfolk introduced to its Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) provision for children with…
Qaisar Sheikh, Head of Education Law, has been ranked in Band 1 of Chambers and Partners in the category of Education Law. He is joined by only two other solicitors in this prestigious band. Chambers and Partners comments: Qaisar Sheikh is very highly regarded in the field for his broad practice representing parents, children and young…
CCLC has successfully challenged a local authority which left a child with special educational needs out of education for years. CCLC’s Head of Education Law, Qaisar Sheikh, acted for the child in H v London Borough of Hillingdon, instructing Counsel Jake Rylatt of No5 Chambers. Multiple failures to provide education H has complex special educational…
CCLC’s Head of Education Law, Qaisar Sheikh, has been ranked amongst leading solicitors for the second year in Chambers and Partners, in the category of Education Law. Qaisar leads our Education Law Team having worked in this field for the best part of a decade. He is highly experienced in education law, particularly special educational…
Following a successful appeal by Coram Children’s Legal Centre, the Upper Tribunal has provided guidance on how the registration of discrimination claims should be made. In F v Responsible Body of School W [2020] UKUT 112 (AAC), Head of Education Law Qaisar Sheikh acted for the Appellant through his mother. The Appellant is young person…
The Coronavirus Act 2020 has now passed through Parliament and received Royal Assent on 25th March 2020. We previously examined how the draft proposals will impact children with special needs and Education Health and Care Plans (EHC plans) and families going through the appeals process. The information below is intended to update our previous article…