IW SEN Funding and 'The Safety Valve' - with very Special Guest SEN Specialist Solicitor and Campaigner Michael Charles

Join us for a FREE informative session with special guest - SEN Specialist Solicitor Michael Charles Facebook - as we explain and explore Island SEN Provision and ' Safety Valve' agreements.

What is a 'safety valve' agreement? How does it relate to education provision for children with additional needs? How might it impact island children and families? Will my child and family be impacted? What can we do about it?

Michael is a solicitor specialising in education, and Senior Partner and now CEO at Sinclairs Law - SinclairsLaw: Meet the Team. He has worked in a number of high profile children and education law cases including the infamous “internet twins case”. He specialises in Education Law and Human Rights. He has has worked successfully on cases such as S -v- YP School that established the burden of proof required in child exclusion cases, and important cases that have defined the meaning of “suitable education” in school transport and home tuition. He has also worked in some of the most important SEN cases including X -v- Caerphilly County Council (acknowledging the importance of Occupational and speech therapy being regarded as educational needs. Recently, he has been campaigning to raise awareness and action regarding the Safety Valve program and it's relevance to SEND provision and local councils.

The IW County Council is one of 34 local authorities so far to have signed a safety valve agreement with the Department for Education. There are real and valid concerns that these agreements will make it even more difficult for SEND children to access appropriate and suitable education support, as £££s are pulled away from SEND budgets to make savings

This agreement allows the local authority to access funding for education provision (£1 million per year) - but with (unlawful?) strings attached (the council must cut £10 million per year from the deficit) that may threaten the rights of vulnerable children, and their ability to access appropriate education.

This in-person event will be held at Newport Congregational Church. Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights and guidance on how we can come together as a community to ensure our children's rights are protected and maintained, and they are supported to access suitable education.

You can submit questions re: the safety valve program for Michael via Isle of Wight SEN Support on Facebook or to [email protected], and Michael will address these at the event. The deadline for submission is Friday 21st June.