Child Law Hub – Children's Law Centre

FAQs

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COVID-19 and Children

Impact of COVID-19 on education, family contact and employment issues for young people.

Parent/child contact (COVID-19)

Can I still see my child during lockdown if we don’t live in the same household?

I am worried about the health risks of sending my child to contact with their other parent. How do I communicate that I wish to temporarily halt direct contact? (COVID-19)

If I have a Contact Order but am not being permitted contact during the COVID-19 pandemic, what can I do?

What if my child/someone in my household qualifies as high risk during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Education (COVID-19)

Special Educational Needs

Pupil Support

Are EA Pupil Support Services still available during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Can my child still access ETI Information and Resources during the COVID-19 pandemic?

My child had exceptional teaching arrangements, can they still access this during COVID-19?

SEN Legal Duties

Can I still make an appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST) during the COVID-19 pandemic?

What legal duties are affected by COVID-19 in relation to SEN?

EMA

My child did not receive their EMA payment as the school did not confirm their attendance; will they be entitled to a back payment?

My child received EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) prior to school closures; will they still receive this?

Will COVID-19 affect my child’s EMA payment being backdated to the start of term?

Will my child’s EMA Bonus Payment be affected by COVID-19?

Employment (COVID-19)

Can my family use a foodbank if I lose my job because of COVID-19?

How does Furlough work?

My child has been furloughed; are they guaranteed their job back again after lockdown?

My child has been furloughed. What does this mean?

My child has lost their job because of COVID-19 can they get universal credit?

My child has lost their job because of COVID-19 what are their rights?

My child is an Apprentice, can they be furloughed?

My child is on a zero hours contract; are they entitled to be furloughed?

Where can my child get help about benefits if they can’t work because of COVID-19?

Employment

Legal rights for the employment of children and young people

Child Worker

How many breaks are children under 15 entitled to?

How many hours can a 15/16 year old work whilst in school?

How many hours can children under 15 work?

What is the minimum age of employment?

Special Educational Needs

Legal rights for children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Special Educational Provision

Parent / Carer Information Sheet

What is the special educational needs register?

What support are children with special educational needs entitled to?

Code of Practice

What are the “Stages of the Code of Practice”?

What is the “Code of Practice”?

Statutory Assessments

How do I get a statutory assessment for my child?

How long does a statutory assessment take?

What can I do if I am refused a statutory assessment?

What is a statutory assessment?

When is a statutory assessment likely to be carried out?

Statements

What details should be included in a statement of special educational needs?

What is a statement of special educational needs?

SENDIST

Are there time Limits for Special Educational Needs Appeals to the SENDIST?

Can I appeal a decision of the SENDIST?

Do I have to wait for a SENDIST hearing to resolve the issues?

How are children's rights considered at the SENDIST?

How do I lodge an Appeal with SENDIST?

How is a decision reached by the SENDIST?

How long does a SENDIST appeal take?

In what circumstances can I make a special educational needs appeal to the SENDIST?

What happens at a SENDIST hearing?

What is the SENDIST?

Definition of Terms

What is a learning difficulty?

What is a special educational need?

What kinds of problems fall into the definition of “learning difficulty”?

Education

Legal rights for children and young people's education

Suspensions

Can my child appeal their suspension?

How long can a suspension last?

I feel like my child has been unfairly suspended, what can I do?

What is the maximum amount of days my child can be suspended for?

What should my child do if they are suspended from school?

Who can suspend my child from school?

Will my child still have to do school while suspended?

Will the school tell me that my child has been suspended?

Expulsions

Can my child appeal against their expulsion?

Can my child’s school expel them without any warning or alternative consequence?

How long does my child have to make an appeal against their expulsion?

I feel like my child has been unfairly expelled, what can I do?

If my child makes an appeal can they attend the Tribunal?

What happens when my school have decided to expel my child?

What will happen before my child is expelled?

What will the Expulsions Appeal Tribunal consider?

Will my child need a solicitor for an expulsion Tribunal?

Care

Legal rights of children and young people in care

Care Orders

How long does a Care Order last?

Is a Care Order temporary or permanent?

What is a Care Order?

What is a Care Plan?

What is a Guardian Ad Litem?

What is a Supervision Order?

What is an Adoption Order?

What is an Assessment Order?

What is an Education Supervision Order?

What is an Emergency Protection Order?

What is Voluntary Care?

Who can make a Care Order?

Who decides if a child needs to have a Care Order?

Looked After Children - Placements

What are the different types of placement?

What is a children's home?

What is Foster Care?

What is Kinship Foster Care?

What is suitable accommodation?

Will a child be placed close to where they lived?

Will a child be placed with their siblings?

Will a child have any say in where they go?

Will a child need to change School if they are placed in Trust accommodation?

Family Contact in Care

Can a child have contact with anyone other than family?

Can a child have contact with their siblings?

Can a child refuse family contact?

Can a child stop being in care and move back in with their family?

If a child is in care, can they speak to their parents? When, how often, will it be supervised?

Ask Your Question

Special Educational Needs

Pupil Support

SEN Legal Duties

EMA

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